Inclusivity

Press release:

Last week, the Batavia City School District Board of Education unanimously approved the addition of an Equity, Inclusivity, and Diversity in Education Policy (8140) and regulation (8140R).

This new policy outlines the process for achieving educational equity in the district and will help to eliminate barriers that hinder every student’s success. The aim of this policy is to provide equitable, inclusive and diverse opportunities for all students to reach their highest potential.

The Board of Education and Superintendent believe that every student has the right to an equitable educational experience and a sense of belonging at school. The Equity, Inclusivity and Diversity in Education policy is an essential step forward for BCSD in fulfilling that promise to all students.

Educational equity in Batavia strives to ensure that all students have equal access to courses, teachers, school environments, regardless of a student’s race or ethnicity, socio-economic status, religion, sexual orientation or native language.

This policy also places a premium on differentiating resource allocation within budgetary limitations, to meet the needs of students who require more supports and opportunities to succeed academically.

The Equity, Inclusivity, and Diversity in Education Policy allows BCSD to continue to move in a direction that reflects a community that is diverse, equitable and inclusive to all students in our learning community.

Board of Education President Alice Ann Benedict agrees that “this commitment to BCSD will impact every corner of our district from our curriculum, to our teaching and our staff, our Board of Education, and Administrators, making it imperative that we approach every situation with adiversity lens in a quest for equity and inclusion for all members of our community.”

As the district moves forward and takes courageous steps needed to promote educational equity, the Superintendent will be charged with reviewing and monitoring the progress of the district’s equity goals, and will share an annual report with the BCSD community informing all stakeholders of the district’s overall progress.

For more information you can view the new policy and regulation here:

• Policy 8140 -- Equity, Inclusivity, and Diversity in Education

• Regulation 8140R -- Equity, Inclusivity, and Diversity in Education

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www.bataviacsd.org