Creating board policies is essential for guiding organizational decision-making and ensuring consistent governance.
As you consider incorporating a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) perspective into your other policies, here are some suggestions to use as a starting point for your conversations.
The first step is to acknowledge and understand your organization's current place along the equity system continuum. How equity is acknowledged, understood, and incorporated into your organization's governance structures has an impact on student opportunity and, therefore, achievement.
Many boards are establishing DEI(A) Committees. As your committee develops your organization's DEI(A) policies, here are a few steps to consider:
- Identify where your organization currently stands regarding DEI(A) culture, policies, and practices.
- Analyze policies, programs and practices with an equity lens, using critical questions to reexamine data, student outcomes and equitable opportunities.
- Identify action steps necessary to build a foundation for equity in your organization.
- Set goals for moving your organization to the next step along the continuum.
We've provided an editable example of a DEI(A) Policy Statement (attached) which you can download and use as a template for creating your personalized policy.
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