To: Oak Park, IL School Districts, School Boards & Administrations
Oak Park Schools: Adopt a Racial Equity Policy & Curriculum
We believe D200 and D97 need to adopt a strong racial equity policy in regard to the education and nurturing of students, families, faculty, staff, and administration. We believe our school systems need a yearly, mandatory racial equity curriculum in order to educate all stakeholders on the importance of equity, inclusion, diversity, and empowerment of ALL community members.
Demands:
Adopt and implement teacher, student, and staff training regarding racial consciousness including the use of inflammatory racist language and activity - the history and impact, while establishing an immediate policy about using language and activity in school.
Implement a student-initiated racial equity curriculum created by S.A.F.E. by the school year 2019-2020, required of all OPRFHS students.
Adopt a racial equity lens and framework policy no later than December 1st
Hire an assistant superintendent of equity for the school year 2019-2020
Hire teachers of color that reflect the student body, particularly more black teachers starting immediately.
Immediately fund the development of student-led clubs that promote racial justice initiatives.
Immediately evaluate and communicate goals that will substantially reduce student disciplinary actions which artificially skew towards black and brown students, including a fully articulated restorative justice plan.
Immediately ensure that Black History courses are required curriculum.
Why is this important?
Racial equity is about applying justice and a little bit of common sense to a system that’s been out of balance. When a system is out of balance, people of color feel the impacts most acutely, but, to be clear, an imbalanced system makes all of us pay. By immediately adopting a racial equity policy and curriculum, our school systems will create a greater balance that benefits all stakeholders.