Equity & School Climate

The MPS Equity and School Climate department leads the district equity and inclusion efforts and is responsible for overseeing the MPS Achievement & Integration plan and supporting Climate Framework.

Contact

Tamuriel Grace

Executive Director

Equity and School Climate
tamuriel.grace@mpls.k12.mn.us

With questions about our policies or regarding a disciplinary incident relating to your student, email us at mps.helpme@mpls.k12.mn.us.

Our vision is to create a respectful, supportive, and inclusive learning environment that values the diverse racial, ethnic and social-economic of our students, staff and community members to ensure high achieving academic programs and support services.

We will intentionally focus and prioritize resources and actions to significantly improve the experiences and outcomes of black students, indigenous students, students of color and their families.

Our Values

Utilize culturally responsive teaching, engagement, and anti-racist practices
Implement policies and practices that open pathways to academic, post-secondary and career opportunities for all students
We value welcoming, strong, transparent communication with all families/community members
Uplift, develop, amplify student voice and representation
Establish a school climate rooted in social emotional learning and restorative practices
Uplift the intersectional identities and lived experiences of all students, staff and families
Promote BIPOC staff engagement, joy, inclusion and retention through affinity spaces, advocacy, and professional development/experiential learning opportunities

Equity and School Climate Department Teams

Equity & School Climate Coordinators

Equity and School Climate Coordinators work collaboratively with MPS school sites and additionally help support in following areas:

Achievement and Integration
Support Strategic Plan Goals 2 & 4
Climate Framework & Equity Competencies
Provide Principal Professional Development
Provide training to school throughout the year
Meet with school teams to help provide direct support around equity, achievement and climate
Supports Equity and Climate Leads in planning, providing resources and leading Equity and School Climate teams in schools
Student Groups
Family/caregivers
School site engagement and events

Anti-Racist Social Emotional Learning

Anti-racist SEL is the intentional practice of learning how to identify and guide one’s emotions and feelings, and to realize the role they play in our relationships and decision making skills. Anti-racist SEL actively opposes historically racist policies and systems that currently operate in our schools.

As an anti-racist district, MPS aligns its work to CASEL’s transformative SEL framework. We see anti-racist SEL uplifting work that includes identity, agency, belonging, collaborative problem-solving, and curiosity. The values of the Climate Framework live within the SEL competencies and focal constructs.

Out4Good

Mission

Out4Good and MPS is dedicated to creating safe and supportive schools for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender students, families, teachers and staff. We offer support to our community through outreach events and school and district level resources.

Vision

Every student has a learning environment that is safe, supportive, and promotes academic success for all
Every family feels respected and included in their children's schools
Every educator is treated with respect, support and professionalism

Out4Good staff help support our schools with following services

Create safer and supportive schools for LGBTQ+ students, families, teachers and staff
Annual programming including Pride Parade, Q Quest, & more!
Bullying, Harassment, Discrimination Response & Prevention
Provide Professional Development & Training throughout the year
Consultation with school admin, teachers, and support staff
Peer & Staff Affinity Spaces - Gender and Sexuality Alliances

Preferred name / gender change request form.

Anti-Bias Anti-Racist (ABAR)

ABAR Mentor Overview / District Mentoring Support

The District will provide additional supports for MPS educators who are members of populations underrepresented among licensed teachers in the district. All ESPs are considered members of populations underrepresented among staff in the district. Staff will have access to wrap-around support defined as follows:

● Navigational support with district services (Human Resources, Employee Relations, Teaching and Learning, Instructional Technology, Mentoring services, etc),

● Acclimation to building procedures, policies, and professional interactions and effective challenging of building procedures, policies, and professional interactions that are biased and/or oppressive in nature or effect.

● Comprehensive mentor support with several points of contact, grounded in support and peer coaching, not evaluation.

To effectively provide this essential support, MPS commits to providing two District teacher mentors and these mentors will be at-large members of the Anti-Bias Anti-Racist Educator Development Council.

School Climate Survey

The School Climate Student Survey will ask 3rd – 12th grade students about their experience in school related to their relationships with peers, relationships with adults, and self-development. The survey will be conducted twice annually – once in December, and once in May – to monitor changes in students’ perceptions of school climate throughout the year. Once available, the summarized results of this survey will be shared with school leaders, school staff, students, and families to review and respond with potential actions.

Climate Framework Values

The MPS Climate Framework Values were adopted in 2020 through an extensive community engagement process which focused on hearing the perspectives and voices of MPS students, caregivers, families, and employees.

The Climate Framework values are...

Equity, Representation, and Anti-Racism
Physical and Emotional Safety and Well-being
Relationships, Trust, and Communication
Share Decision Making and Voice

These four values look different in...

Classrooms
Buildings
Staffing decisions
Family and community engagement

Climate Framework embodies the District's philosophy on equity and outlines the District's beliefs, values, priorities, and practices. It guides our understanding of where we must continue to grow and where we must embrace change and provides opportunity for reflection and to practice collective accountability.

Climate Framework Belief Statement document

Achievement and Integration

The Equity and Integration team oversees the Minneapolis Public Schools Achievement & Integration plan and budget. The purpose of the Achievement and Integration for Minnesota program is to pursue racial and economic integration, increase student achievement, create equitable educational opportunities, and reduce academic disparities based on students' diverse racial, ethnic, and economic backgrounds in Minnesota public schools.

Learn more about achievement and integration

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