Evanston/Skokie PTA Council Racial Equity Statement
The Evanston/Skokie PTA Council is the umbrella body created by Illinois PTA to coordinate among all the PTA units in schools in the District 65 and District 202 footprint. The PTA Council supports District 65's adoption of a racial equity statement and policy that acknowledges the great disparities that exist by race. We applaud this proposed statement that will guide the District in ensuring that all students are supported to thrive in our community.
There are a lot of dimensions of difference where equity and inclusion are important. Right now and right here, racial inequity is the biggest issue on our community's plate. The persistent racial achievement gap affects all our families, not just Black families.
In order to increase the outcomes for persistently under-achieving student groups, the PTA Council advocates that the District
• provide training for all District 65 staff, teachers, and Board of Directors to actively and continually examine individual beliefs, practices, and teaching in order to identify and eliminate institutionalized policies that have contributed to racial disparities in achievement;
• ensure that African American and Latino students have the resources, opportunities, supports, and interventions to maximize their learning and achieve their full potential; and
• hire staff who reflect the student population because all students have the right to the contributions and viewpoints of a diverse teaching staff. Among many benefits, this helps prepare all our children to succeed in a multi-cultural society.
The PTA Council believes that District 65 and 202 schools must provide respectful and positive learning environments in which students’ racial and ethnic diversity are both valued and contribute to their successful academic outcomes.
The PTA Council recognizes that all stakeholder groups must play an active role in increasing equity across our District. The Council is exploring ways that we can build greater understanding and mobilize an active parent body to further equitable outcomes. We will roll this out in fall 2016.
The PTA Council stands in support of OPAL’s work to hold the District accountable for narrowing and eventually eliminating the racial achievement gap and for providing an equitable education for all students. We all fail if our community fails our African American and Latino students.
There are a lot of dimensions of difference where equity and inclusion are important. Right now and right here, racial inequity is the biggest issue on our community's plate. The persistent racial achievement gap affects all our families, not just Black families.
In order to increase the outcomes for persistently under-achieving student groups, the PTA Council advocates that the District
• provide training for all District 65 staff, teachers, and Board of Directors to actively and continually examine individual beliefs, practices, and teaching in order to identify and eliminate institutionalized policies that have contributed to racial disparities in achievement;
• ensure that African American and Latino students have the resources, opportunities, supports, and interventions to maximize their learning and achieve their full potential; and
• hire staff who reflect the student population because all students have the right to the contributions and viewpoints of a diverse teaching staff. Among many benefits, this helps prepare all our children to succeed in a multi-cultural society.
The PTA Council believes that District 65 and 202 schools must provide respectful and positive learning environments in which students’ racial and ethnic diversity are both valued and contribute to their successful academic outcomes.
The PTA Council recognizes that all stakeholder groups must play an active role in increasing equity across our District. The Council is exploring ways that we can build greater understanding and mobilize an active parent body to further equitable outcomes. We will roll this out in fall 2016.
The PTA Council stands in support of OPAL’s work to hold the District accountable for narrowing and eventually eliminating the racial achievement gap and for providing an equitable education for all students. We all fail if our community fails our African American and Latino students.
