Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Anti-Racism at ECS

Our mission is to disrupt the systems that oppress and disenfranchise our students and families. We seek to understand the diverse spheres in which our families live and utilize this knowledge to advance equity and social justice. We pledge to ensure increased access and opportunities for our historically marginalized students and families, including black and brown students and students situated in poverty. In all that we do, we seek to be a catalytic force for creating and sustaining an environment of equity and opportunity for the diverse members of our community.

• While Black students make up just 18 percent of children in preschool, they represent nearly half of preschool children suspended.

• A 2016 study surveying white college students indicated that Black boys are perceived as threatening at just 5 years old and are associated with adjectives such as “violent,” “dangerous,” “hostile” and “aggressive.

• Poor Black and brown children are the youth least likely to have highly qualified teachers and more likely to attend schools with a greater police presence.

• Black K-12 students are 3 times more likely to be suspended or expelled than their white peers.

• White and Asian students make up nearly 75 percent of students enrolled in gifted and talented programs, despite the fact that African-American and Hispanic students are 44 percent of the student population.

• African American males make up roughly 6% of the US population and 37% of the male prison population. If African Americans and Hispanics were incarcerated at the same rates as whites, prison and jail populations would decline by almost 40%.

Stakeholders meetings at each building to identify and dismantle inequities in our systems.

Bi-Monthly discussions around the topics of race, culture, and identity

Personal Learning Community book study on Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain by Zaretta Hammond

Partner with Community Kitchen Pittsburgh (our food service provider)

Attended Professional Development:

• Facing Race Conference

• Center for Urban Education Summer Educator Forum

• State of Black Learning

• Reimagining Education Summer Institute

Weighted Lottery

Universal gifted screening in grade 3

Resources for families shared in the District Communications

E&D presently included in ECS’ organizational strategic plan

Detracking math courses

ECS will expand the section above and continue to fight racial injustices and inequalities. Family resources can be found on our Facebook page and in Principal and District newsletters. The ECS staff will continue to partake in Professional Development sessions and community learning focused on Culturally Responsive Teaching. For more information about what your building is doing to be an anti-racist school or to be a part of the conversation, please reach out to your school's principal.

Black Student Union (BSU)
BSU is a safe space for Black students to talk about topics unique to them with people who look like them. Meetings are a time to come together in a meaningful way and discuss some hard topics like microaggressions, inconsistencies in equity, and common misunderstandings. Students can bring their concerns and struggles to other students who might have similar experiences. Together, solutions and a sense of unity are formed.

Gender and Sexuality Student Union (GSSU)
GSSU is a student group for those who aim to create a safe, welcoming, and accepting school environment for all ECS community members, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. GSSU meetings typically occur twice a month or more and are led by student leaders, when possible. Each GSSU grade-level group has a staff advisor.

Strong Women, Strong Girls (SWSG)
SWSG serves girls in 3rd through 5th grades in a free and innovative after-school program, helping them to build skills in leadership, self-esteem, and problem-solving through the study of contemporary and historic female role models. Through participation in Strong Women, Strong Girls, girls will work to build positive mentoring relationships with female college-aged mentors and to build community with the girls with their SWSG program site.

Girls registered through ECS are paired with female mentors from the Carnegie Mellon University chapter.

The curriculum highlights girls and women of different backgrounds, such as age, race, ethnicity, career, and ability. Throughout the semester, SWSG plays games that promote healthy youth development, and participants learn how girl and women role models make a difference in the world!

• Check out the National Museum of African American History and Culture's online exhibitions.

• Read the National Museum of African American History and Culture's resources for talking about race.

• Watch PBS Kids' "Talking to Children Authentically about Race and Racism" video.

• Check out PBS Kids' two-hour documentary "The Talk: Race in America" to learn more about the necessary conversations parents and communities must have across the nation.

Diversity: Understanding that each individual is unique and recognizing our individual differences, along the dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, age, physical ability, religious belief, political belief, or other ideologies.

Equity: Individuals receive the supports they need to gain access to resources – to help achieve equal outcomes.

Inclusion: Students, staff, and families feel included and welcomed. It is the understanding and appreciation of intersecting identities while valuing the whole person and their perspective.

Culture: An umbrella term which encompasses the social behavior and norms found in human societies, groups, and/or organizations, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, customs, capabilities, and habits of the individuals in these groups.

Anti-Racism: The policy, practice, and actions of opposing racism and promoting racial tolerance.