Bremerton School District

diversity in our schools

Revised April 2010

STUDENT WORK
Close the achievement gap by . . .

  1. Adopt research driven materials in reading and mathematics.
  2. Provide all day kindergarten free to all students and continue Early Childhood partnership with regional pre-school programs to support each child’s readiness to learn.
  3. Provide Walk To Read in elementary grades for differentiated instruction at student’s reading level to achieve success.
  4. Provide additional instruction in reading and mathematics for secondary students in need.
  5. Provide differentiated programs to keep students in school – e.g., Drawbridge, Renaissance High School, middle school alternative program.
  6. Provide differentiated programs specifically aimed at students not likely to graduate and go on with education (e.g., AVID (Achievement Via Individual Determination), MESA (Math, Engineering, Science, Achievement), Partnership with counselors, Bremerton High School/Olympic College first generation college group).
  7. Examine Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) data in terms of potential disparities.
  8. Provide before and after school/summer programs in credit make-up and retrieval.
  9. Provide counseling and personal relations with students through Connections and Portfolio advisors and serve as a lighthouse district for Navigation 101.
  10. Partner with Bremerton Parks and Recreation District for safe options for after school activities for students/support RecJam.
  11. Encourage frequent conversations with parents through parent involvement on Comprehensive School Improvement Plans (CSIPs), Family Access, and through student-led parent conferencing.
  12. Close the achievement gap in all schools (District HOPE goal).
  13. Support high school student clubs related to diversity, including the Black Student Union and various training for staff and students in terms of diversity issues.
  14. Implement free SAT prep classes for students who are first in the family to attend college, for partnership with the Bremerton School Foundation.
  15. Support a number of positive behaviors programs, including Bremerton High School dress code, Dare Not To Swear campaign, and Respect, Responsibility, and Safety - The Knight Way.
  16. Partner with Harriet Bryant, the Youth Education Leaders, and Emmanuel Apostolic Church for training by Wall Endicott in the Hope Center philosophy framework of character education.
  17. Plan the development of a proposed Hope Center at Mountain View Middle School.

PERSONNEL
Close the achievement gap by . . .

  1. Develop and implement aggressive strategies for recruiting, hiring, and retaining high quality staff, with emphasis on staff from under-represented groups (District HOPE goal). Including out of state recruitment.
  2. Continue diversity training District-wide, (e.g., REACH Institute, Jerry Painter in-service, Dr. Betances, Dr. Sharokey Hollie, etc.)
  3. Continue diversity training district-wide through implementation and monitoring of the anti-bullying policy, including new employees on a regular basis.
  4. Continue attendance of staff and students at the Kitsap Human Rights Conference.
  5. Provide emergency certification to minority student teachers/offer minority student teacher contracts while still an intern.
  6. Actively recruit minority employees at local universities (Seattle University), as well as in other community events (Welcome to the USS STENNIS, Veterans Fair).
  7. Provide online application in order to reach a broader base of diverse populations.
  8. District participation on the advisory Board of Olympic College paraeducator training. Attempt to “grow our own” professional staff.

OUTREACH/COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS: 
Close the achievement gap by . .

  1. Encourage partnerships with families and communities (District HOPE goal).
  2. Continue to partner with churches and other providers for early childhood education programs.
  3. Continue to share District activities and opportunities for community partnership in District publications.
  4. Continue to increase number of volunteers/tutors in our schools through such programs as AmeriCorps and VISTA.
  5. Continue to work to make the District website more user friendly and interactive.
  6. Continue to partner with the NAACP on parent/family involvement in the schools/recipient of one of 6 statewide Reach Grants to support mentoring in schools.
  7. Recognition from the NAACP and the CLCA (Community Leadership & Coalition Alliance) for good work occurring in the school district.
  8. Set up meetings with parents and community groups to discuss achievements results and how to partner together, including the REACH (Reaching Educaitonal Achievement by Completing High School) advisory, Native American quarterly meetings, Mapping the Bremerton Schools Future Task Force, and follow up meetings at Bremerton High School in response to the “Operation Pharmacy” actions. Hired a Native Outreach Staff.
  9. Continue to utilize technology as an additional avenue to communicate with parents about students’ achievement and behavior (e.g., District website, Family Access) providing each teacher with a phone to enhance facilitation, providing each staff with an e-mail address to enhance communication, the use of electronic gradebook open to parents will be in place during the 07-08 school year.
  10. Translating parent materials into Spanish and providing interpreters in other commonly spoken languages to communicate with parents.
  11. Distribute Parenting Matters to preschool and kindergarten families.

CULTURAL DIVERSITY ENRICHMENT FOR STUDENTS: 
Close the achievement gap by . . .

  1. All schools provide Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., education activities/black history month presentations.
  2. Many schools, in addition, embed diverse cultural materials throughout the year in multiple subjects. Activities include:
  3. High school courses addressing the many diverse issue of America as part of the history subject matter.
  4. Incorporate African American and Latino spirituals as part of the music program.
  5. Civil rights units as part of history and novels such as To Kill A Mockingbird as part of English.
  6. Celebrating holidays around the world/bookmaking.
  7. Mountain View Peace Pole celebrations.
  8. Workbook recognizing Black Americans of Character.
  9. Celebration of special commemorative days such as Chinese New Year, Kwanzaa.
  10. Adopting a building wide theme of Africa for the year.
  11. Multicultural/multimedia research projects.
  12. Multicultural awareness theme at family night celebrations.
  13. At select schools, implementing programs to enhance diversity, respect, and communications, including Spanish classes offered to students and parents.
  14. Adopting building wide positive behavior programs: Sprague, Kelso’s Choice and Steps to Respect, Champs.
  15. Bring in individuals of diverse cultures to speak in close and such activities as career awareness days, the African American Academy Chorus, and Ethnic History presentations.
  16. Principals, staff, and students participate in REACH with Gary Howard and the Wilderness Project to build culturally competent classrooms in Bremerton High School 9-12.
  17. Create an active Achievement Gap Committee of citizens and District personnel to monitor data and plans to improve achievement.