The Kent School District values its rich, diverse schools and communities and is committed to its mission of “successfully preparing all students for their futures.”
In order to achieve this, the district will identify and correct practices and policies that perpetuate both the achievement and opportunity gaps as well as institutional bias.
So begins proposed Kent School District Board Policy 1801, which had its first reading in January and goes before the school board for a final vote in March. The policy outlines the impacts of institutional, structural and individual biases that have affected students in our organization during our almost 150 years of existence. It outlines disparities in accomplishment and opportunity and well as discipline.
It also outlines hope.
It outlines the very real ways we, as a school district and as a community, can intentionally bring an end to practices that reinforce disparities and embrace achievement from each by ensuring equity for all.
The policy will proactively state that it is the intent, the expectation and, in fact, the standard of the school district to change the structural systems that maintain barriers to access to educational tools, programs and services that can make a profound difference in student’s learning and in people’s lives.
It demands that our district recruit and train our work force so that they will be successful in preparing all students for their futures. It welcomes each student and every family member regardless of their race, economic status, gender, religion, country of origin, ability level, preparation or language skills.
In short, it puts into policy the very ideals that most of us already live. It holds as truths the values most already hold as our core. It defines as standard the success we have not always attained. It means that all must succeed, if I am going to be successful as our superintendent. I will not only hold myself and our more than 4,100 employees accountable, but I will also provide the necessary supports in order to ensure that each and every child is served has an equitable educational experience – one that provides them an opportunity to learn, grow and achieve at the highest levels.
It means that we are putting into policy the practice of most and now the duty of all.
You might be saying to yourself, “But, of course, this is the standard and has been for generations.” But you will likely be surprised to know that we are only the fourth of 295 school districts in the state to have an official race and equity policy.
We have decided that equity for all can no longer be simply assumed.
This policy is now more than assumptions, aspirations or words. It is now who we are and who we must strive to become. As your superintendent, I say here plainly – it is who we will be for all, and for each of our 27,000 children.
Calvin J. Watts’ column appears monthly in the Kent Reporter.
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