Here’s how State College Area School District is working to improve equity and inclusivity

State College Area School District has released a newsletter detailing its efforts to increase equity and inclusivity within the district.

The letter sent on July 5 addresses concerns raised after the state Department of Education notified the district of disproportionate disciplinary actions and overidentification of Black special education students. The state tracks data on special education students and notifies districts if abnormalities occur for three years in a row.

After receiving the state’s notice, the district requested additional equity audits from the North Carolina-based Equity Literacy Institute and Penn State’s Center for Education and Civil Rights.

The audits found the following list of equity issues in the district:

• Overidentification of Black students as individuals with specific learning disabilities
• Underrepresentation of Black students as gifted
• Underrepresentation of Black and Hispanic students in Algebra I by eighth grade
• Underrepresentation of Black and Hispanic students and students with disabilities in AP classes
• Lower graduation rates for Black, Hispanic, multiracial, economically disadvantaged students
• Lower graduation rates for students in special education and English language learner programs
• Disproportionate discipline of economically disadvantaged and Black, Latinx and multiracial students regarding in-school suspension and out-of-school suspension
• Lack of representation of diverse faculty and staff when compared to SCASD’s student population

In the letter, the district outlines how each concern is being addressed, including improving overall student climate.

“We’ll continue to make strides in those in those areas, hopefully close our disproportionality gap and do what we need to suit the needs of our students, all of our students,” Curtis Johnson, the district’s interim superintendent, said.

Changes outlined in the letter include revising the student handbook to include restorative approaches to discipline, creating student groups to address school climate and updating the gifted screening process.

Seria Chatters, the district’s director of equity and inclusivity, said equity can be seen as a divisive issue, but she encourages families to read the letter and reach out.

“What’s really important is that people recognize that equity is for all kids,” Chatters said. “It’s not just for students of color. It’s not just for students with special education needs.”

Chatters and Johnson are working on an equity action plan that will be implemented in the fall as part of the district’s strategic plan.

“I really think we’re gonna continue to move in that positive direction,” Chatters said. “I feel that our school board is committed to making sure that every kid has an equal opportunity to reach their highest potential.”