DSST Commitments to Anti-Racism

During the 2016-2017 school year, DSST began a partnership with the National Equity Project to create a network approach to Equity. As part of that work, DSST convened a working group of teachers, school leaders, school support staff,  and home office personnel to design recommendations for representing and advancing DSST’s commitment to equity. 

That work culminated in DSST Public School’s (8) Equity Paradigm Shifts (EPS), which drive all our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion work:

1. Shared Definitions: Create a shared set of definitions for DSST Public Schools’ commitment and vision of our equity work: including diversity, equity, inclusion, integrated, commitment, and the core values. 

2. Equity is Core: Addressing issues of equity does not compete with our college-prep mission. Instead it will better prepare our students for college success.

3. Equity Mindset: Equity mindset and asset-based thinking are core competencies for all DSST staff. 

4. Space and Voice: In order to serve all students equitably, DSST Public Schools needs to value all voices in each community. Students, staff and families need to be heard and have voice in driving discussion and change. 

5. Intentionally Inclusive Systems: We recognize that people come into our community with different experiences that have either helped or hurt their trust in institutions. We design our systems to be responsive to these different experiences to ensure that space is given for every student and staff member’s identity to be celebrated. 

6. Identity: In order to prepare our students for the 21st century, DSST Public Schools needs to prepare all students and staff to understand and explore their identity. We can do this by examining and discussing privilege, power, and bias in and out of the classroom. 

7. Flexibility and Risk: We need to define the process by which schools have flexibility, so they can be responsive to the voices of their school community. 

8. Redefine Success: Redefine what success looks like for a DSST Public Schools’ campus and student, so that our guiding metrics clearly reflect our equity commitment. 

DSST DEI Commitments for Becoming an Anti-Racist Organization

DSST aspires to be an Anti-racist Multicultural organization. We aspire as an institution and wider community to overcome systemic racism. Through our full participation and shared power with diverse racial, cultural and economic groups, DSST is determined to align our mission, structure, Core Values, Core Elements, and network priorities to eliminate all forms of oppression that may be reflected in our curriculum, disproportionalities, practices, policies, and programming.

 We are committed to the following:

1. DSST commits to a collaborative partnership with Minority and/or Black owned businesses to cater and support network and school  events. EPS - Equity is Core

2. DSST commits to provide opportunities for safe space for students, families and staff as we work toward becoming an anti-racist organization. EPS - Space and Voice

3. DSST commits to relationship building through partnerships with the entire community to support the social, emotional, and wellness needs of staff, students and families. EPS - Identity

4. DSST commits to the active recruitment and retention of staff of color in the teaching and leadership pipelines. EPS - Equity is Core

5. DSST commits to examining curriculum, instruction, and assessments for potential bias, oppressive frameworks, and reductionist reasoning. EPS - Equity Mindset

6. DSST commits to identify and address any racial inequities and disparities across all data points.  EPS - Equity is Core

7. DSST commits to providing network and school specific Diversity, Equity and Inclusion development and resources that include culturally responsive and relevant, anti-racism, and trauma informed care. EPS - Intentionally Inclusive Systems