Our equity focus is rooted in our CMSD Strategic Plan and core values in response to identified disparities in student outcomes and resource allocation; we will implement data-driven, equity-focused, evidence-based practices throughout the district and support staff to ensure that educational equity is a primary consideration in our decision-making, problem-solving, planning, and implementation processes. We also examine existing policies and practices to prevent inequitable practices and create inclusive and just conditions for all staff and students.

Our theory of action centers students on a whole-child approach while ensuring students thrive through interdepartmental coherence. The visual below best encapsulates how we will ensure student success.

The Cleveland Metropolitan School District plans to:

Evaluate our progress toward achieving equity, illuminating strengths and areas of opportunity via an equity audit, conducting root cause analysis or any patterns of disadvantage and disparate impact while authentically engaging diverse stakeholders across intra-departmental teams in the decision-making process.

Collaborate as a strong community of thought partners who tackle equity challenges, ensuring that equity is fully embedded into our deliberation and decision-making for a whole-child approach to student success. Thought partnership includes:

• Implementing equitable research-based practices and resources designed to improve student outcomes.
• Aligning resources intended to create or expand equity
• Evaluating equity impact and elevating equity considerations
• Providing tools and professional learning to build the equity lens and stamina required to advance equity

Engage: CMSD leaders in shared conversations and tailored development around equity-focused data (reduced suspensions, increased academics according to current district metrics), developing goals to define success and action plans to translate intent into action, offering feedback on equity impacts and considerations inherent in critical initiatives, and supporting the development of mitigation plans to minimize unintended implications.

Our approach is rooted in the Science of Learning Design (SoLD) Principles of Dr. Linda Darling-Hammond and guided by Panorama support for climate and culture. We will utilize the five-course framework outlined in Serving Educational Equity: A Five-Course Framework for Accelerated Learning (Murray-Darden, 2023) and Dr. Glen Singleton’s framework for Courageous Conversations (Singleton, 2015) to guide educators in the work while sustaining efforts to elevate equity in the face of discomfort or resistance. To situate a consistent understanding of equity as a process, we will categorize our priority areas based on need. Because our children must experience meaningful rigor and culturally responsive action from teachers, support providers, and leaders, we envision school communities where students, families, and staff work together to build vibrant communities to help students thrive in school.