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Every school district across the United States has vulnerable students who are at risk. This includes: English language learners; students with disabilities; students who live in poverty; students who identify with ethnic or racial groups that are marginalized; students who identify as LGBTQ+; students who have experienced significant trauma. This is why equity work is so important in meeting students' basic needs, giving them equitable access to resources, and designing proactive systems to support their development. With that in mind, equity is not:
a specific curriculum.
a specific purchase in the budget.
only one person's job.
described in a checklist.
isolated to only schools
Equity touches on everything that we work towards: our educational offerings, our operations, and our facilities. Equity is the foundation of our vision and mission, and it is an outcome that we strive for.
The OCSU mission statement states that all educators work “to provide an environment that celebrates diversity and creativity, promotes inclusion and integrity, and partners with parents and community members to give students access to a 21st century education.”
As educators, we have an amazing opportunity to shape the way our students view and perceive the world around them. It is important for us to teach compassion and empathy while recognizing that we have a diverse world that is worth exploring and celebrating. By doing so, we will produce citizens who will contribute to the enhancement of community life.
We are charged with promoting equitable opportunities for all students and are committed to making the world a better place. This will be accomplished through productive dialogue, as well as by providing staff with professional learning opportunities that focus on constructive conversations and opportunities to implement curriculum, teaching, and learning strategies that are well-rounded and representative of the world’s diversity.
In OCSU we believe education is the engine of equity, and we commit ourselves to stamping out racial & social injustice. Whether we face overt racism or quiet, as well as other forms of bias, now is the time. The OCSU Equity page is intended to support our work.