Networks > African American Student Success
Networks > African American Student Success
Talin Arakelian
Coordinator, Equity, Access,
and Family Engagement
tarakelian@gusd.net
Enrollment: 25,329
English Learners: 22.3%
SWD: 10.2%
SED: 50%
African American: 0.9%
Decrease the disproportionality and overidentification of African American students as Students with Disabilities
Listening and learning: We are creating additional opportunities to gather input and feedback directly from Black students so we can better understand their experiences and perspectives and make changes to our systems based on this understanding.
Mapping the Black student experience: We are examining not only academic outcomes but also the opportunities and pathways available to Black students across our system to better understand patterns and guide our next steps.
More clarity around the resources and services offered to students across school sites, student groups, and systems to better understand and calibrate system supports.
Increases in student self-reports of inclusion and belonging in school.
We joined the African American Student Success Network (AASSN) after our data showed that, although Black students represent less than 1% of our enrollment, they were identified for behavioral-related special education services at disproportionately higher rates and reported a lower sense of belonging than their peers. Through the AASSN, we are working to better understand and address these patterns.