II-A: Environment

1. School Culture and Climate: Fosters a positive, inclusive, and equitable school community by:

   • Building positive, caring relationships with students, family members, and staff to ensure that school community members feel valued, respected, equitably supported, and a sense of belonging in the school community.

   • Establishing transparent and consistent school-wide routines, policies, and systems that respect and affirm students' backgrounds, identities, and intellect.

   • Providing staff with relevant learning opportunities and resources to support them in developing culturally and linguistically sustaining practices and promoting a culture that affirms individual differences.

   • Consistently examining policies, procedures, and systems to identify and eliminate bias or systemic barriers to inclusive and culturally and linguistically sustaining practice, including policies and practices that reinforce systemic inequities and/or disproportionately impact student groups.

2. Operational Systems and Routines: Establishes operational systems, procedures, and routines that ensure a safe learning environment for all students by:

   • Implementing effective systems for attendance, student entry, dismissal, meals, class transitions, assemblies, and recess.

   • Partnering with and supporting custodial/maintenance workers, transportation staff, clerical and administrative assistants, food service workers, and other staff effectively.

   • Ensuring that all physical spaces are safe, accessible, welcoming, and honor and celebrate the diversity and achievements of the school community.

3. Student Safety and Well-Being: Provides ongoing training and supports to staff that ensure student health, safety, and well-being through:

   • Developing age-appropriate and culturally and linguistically sustaining social emotional competencies in students (self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision making).

   • Preventing and addressing bullying and other unsafe behaviors with timely responses and restorative practices.

   • Fostering and utilizing partnerships with outside agencies and organizations to address student needs in a proactive and systematic way.

Last Updated: February 22, 2024