Fostering an Equitable School Culture


How strong is your capacity to promote the voices, values, and experiences of nondominant groups as assets in your school community?

This practice challenges the assumption that student capacity is limited by race, ethnicity, poverty, or language and looks at ways to build relationships and engagement to support a culture of inclusiveness.


Practice Overview

1. Download and print the following worksheet which provides a paper activity that collects your responses and guides your next steps.

2. With your team, move thoughtfully through each entry on the rubric for this practice.

3. After reflection, discussion, and reaching consensus on each entry, choose the practice (listed on the rubric) that best represents the current state of practice in your school system or building ("where you are now").

4. next, write down your "evidence," by naming a few items that support your reasoning for the current state of practice you selected. (You don’t need to create a long list or add details.)

If your current state of practice needs work, this activity will help you identify the barriers that are hindering progress. If your status quo is proficient or exemplary, this activity will help you reflect on how you arrived there and may suggest best practices from your previous experience that will help you move toward equity in other areas.