Developing the district lens is a very important part of the adoption process because it can assist the Ethnic Studies Committee in selecting the best approach and possible programs for particular student populations. Before any program is developed or adopted, important decisions will need to be made to address the following:

• Will ethnic studies be implemented as a stand-alone course? If so, how will it be implemented?

  • as a one semester course?

  • as a one year course?

  • as an elective available at more than one grade level?

• Will ethnic studies be integrated into an existing course?  If so,

  • what content area(s)?

  • what grade level(s)?

• Will ethnic studies be presented through a thematic approach?

• Will the district implement more than one option?

The purpose of Step Two is to provide guidance for establishing a profile of the district’s and community’s needs and perspectives to inform a number of decisions as you move forward on this journey. An examination and discussion about the following items can inform your district’s lens.

• District Local Control Accountability Plan

• District Demographic Data

• District English Language Arts (ELA)/Literacy Data

• District English Language Development (ELD) Data

• District CAASPP Data