Equity Advisory Committee focus evolves in support of student success
A growing coalition of Folsom Cordova students, teachers, administrators, parents, and community leaders - under the newly named Equity Advisory Committee - continue to provide input on ways the District can better serve its diverse school communities and achieve equitable outcomes for its most vulnerable students.
The group was previously known as the Empathy Working Group, formed in 2017 in response to concerns from parents and community members about bias-motivated incidents in schools.
On Monday, Jan. 28, dozens of supporters gathered at the District’s Education Services Center as the newly formed Equity Advisory Committee to offer their unique perspectives and solutions for addressing Folsom Cordova’s highest areas of need.
Among those challenges include the fact that the District’s African American students, foster youth, and students with disabilities are suspended and expelled, or chronically absent, at rates far higher than their peers.
During the Jan. 28 meeting, participants learned from Dr. Channa Cook-Harvey, the District’s new Director of Social Emotional Learning, about Folsom Cordova’s next steps to help address this issue. Among them is the implementation of a $500,000 grant that will support diversity, equity, and implicit bias training for staff and leaders across the entire school district; strategies to implement restorative discipline practices; and additional training for students and staff to support social-emotional and mental health needs.
Later in the meeting, participants broke into groups to begin identifying other priorities for the coming months. Participants included parents; Superintendent Sarah Koligian, Board of Education President JoAnne Reinking, students from Folsom High’s Gay Straight Alliance; Student Board Member Maira Medina of Cordova High; leadership from teachers union the Folsom Cordova Education Association; school administrators; faith-based leaders; and leaders from community groups including the NAACP, the Black Youth Leadership Project, and the Black Child Legacy Campaign.
Interested in learning more? Contact Child Welfare Coordinator Scott Meyer at smeyer@fcusd.org or (916) 294-9000.