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Best Practices

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Examples of Best Practices

The following list has examples of equity-based approaches to policies that districts or schools have implemented and why. Click on the links below to go deeper with additional resources and information.

General Policy Changes and Best Practices

  • Policy Inventory Audit
  • Socioeconomic-Based School Assignment
  • Culturally Responsive Curriculum
  • Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Curriculum
  • Empathy Interviews
  • Teacher Recruitment Best Practices
  • Recruitment and Retention Incentives
  • Grow-Your-Own Programs

Student-Based Best Practices

Personalized Learning

  • Project-Based Learning
  • Extracurricular Activities and Clubs
  • Attendance Supports
  • Trauma-Informed Attendance Policies
  • Culturally Responsive Attendance Policies 
  • Incentive-Based Attendance Programs 

Community Partnership Initiatives

  • Flexible Attendance Policies
  • Transportation Assistance
  • Early Warning Systems
  • School-Home Communication

Supplemental Instruction

  • Response to Intervention (RTI) Framework
  • Assistive Technology Integration
  • Transition Services (High School to Workforce)
  • Parental Involvement and Advocacy
  • Multilingual Learners Student Support

Academic Support for Students Facing Academic Challenges

  • Universal Screening
  • Early Intervention Programs
  • Summer Learning Opportunities
  • Extended Learning Time
  • Addressing Disparities in Resource Allocation

Academic Support for Students Not Being Challenged in School

  • Accelerated Learning Programs
  • Subject or Grade Skipping
  • Gifted and Talented (GAT) Programs and Infusion in Classrooms
  • Early College Programs
  • Competitions and Olympiads
  • Virtual Learning Opportunities

AP and High-Demand Course Support

  • Pre-AP and Preparatory Programs
  • Financial Support for AP Exams
  • Virtual AP and High-Demand Course Options

Behavioral and Sense of Belonging Support Best Practices

Elimination of Zero-Tolerance Discipline Policies

Wraparound Services

Supporting LGBTQ+ Students


Technology Support Best Practices

One-to-One Technology and Mobile Wi-Fi Initiatives

Digital Equity Grants and Collaboration with Community

  • Leveraging E-Rate Program (a federal program that supports schools and libraries in obtaining affordable telecommunications and internet access)

Digital Literacy Training

Extending Technology Access Hours

Unified Improvement Planning (UIP) Connection

Using the list provided, choose a dataset to explore your school or district (i.e., student achievement data, staff demographic data, financial data). Looking at the data, what might that information suggest about what systems contribute to equity or performance challenges in your school or district?

Which of the school district policies listed above could you add into your UIP to help remove barriers you see in the data?


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