Equity
Juneau School District Equity Vision
The Mission Statement of the Juneau School District states that, “In Juneau we are all partners in preparing EVERY child with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to be a contributing citizen in a changing world.”
Yet, many students, including those of Alaska Native families, families in difficult financial situations, English language learners, and other sub-groups4 as defined by the NCLB act, are not successful within our district programs, procedures, and policies.
Therefore, the Juneau School District Equity Vision, Equity Standards Rubric1, and Equity Plan1 guide us towards meeting our Mission Statement.
Vision:
The Juneau School District will be an equitable system in all its parts, free of racism, classism, and all effects of bias, both intentional and unintentional.
We Believe:
• All students deserve optimal treatment, opportunities, and education.
• All students and their families have dignity and worth.
• All students are equally, while differently, gifted.
• Academic and participation outcomes, not intentions, will be the measure of whether a program meets JSD
Equity Standards1.
• Through equity2 measures, we will achieve equality3.
Therefore, in pursuit of our vision of equity in education, we, the Juneau School District, proclaim that:
• The Juneau School District, with vigilance, dedication, and focused effort, will prioritize identification and elimination of all barriers that prevent students from participating equally in any JSD programs or activities.
• Educational resources will be equitably distributed, prioritizing our resources in programs that lessen or eliminate student disparities in academic achievement and program participation.
• Employee groups, district and site committees, and central administration will reflect the diversity of our community.
• Central administration will develop a communication system that successfully informs ALL students and families, especially those sub-groups4 that have been historically underrepresented in district programs and activities, to the extent that they fully understand and make use of the many pathways to success in our school district.
• Necessary measures will be taken to undo or redress any and all inequities to ensure that all staff and students experience equality.
• All new and existing programs, policies, and activities will be evaluated on an ongoing basis using the JSD Equity Standards Rubric.
• After an evaluation using the JSD Equity Standards Rubric, an action plan will be implemented for any indicator area scoring in the “Does Not Meet” or “Serious Concern” categories.
• Programs, policies, and activities that fail to meet the JSD Equity Standards, as evaluated using the Equity Standards Rubric, for three consecutive years will be eliminated.
The Juneau School District is seeking feedback on the district's equity vision and rubric. Equity means adjusting the system, instruction and allocation of resources so students have an opportunity for the same outcomes, not the same treatment. The JSD Equity Rubric is a tool for reviewing the district's systems and programs for equity. This equity lens can be applied to all components of the district including policies, procedures, programs, schools, classrooms and resource allocation. Not all elements of the rubric are appropriate to be used in each review.