Equity in ECCS

At Eastern Carver County Schools, we are committed to creating a school environment where everyone feels welcome, safe, and included, and where every child has access to the tools and opportunities they need to succeed. The mission of our school district is learners achieving their personal best and, simply put, we cannot be successful if equity work isn’t foundational to our approach to learning.

The School Board and district staff are committed to this work. Equity is foundational to personalized learning, it’s necessary for strong communities, and every single one of our students will benefit not just during school, but after they leave our halls. This work requires an investment from all of us, administrators, teachers, parents, students, caregivers, and community members to be successful. This is long-term, ongoing work which the entire ECCS team believe in, and in the potential of every student in our district.

Equity Definition: Equity in Eastern Carver County School District means a student’s identity - their race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, class, immigration status, religion and/or disability – does not predict their success. All students are provided the tools, resources, and support they need to achieve their personal best.

Equity Vision: Eastern Carver County Schools is a safe, welcoming, and inclusive district where all students feel heard, seen, and valued. Our district celebrates students for who they are - their unique personal story – and provides students with a personalized, exceptional education that will help prepare them for who they want to become.

Equity Beliefs:

• Equity is essential and foundational to the success of Eastern Carver County School District

• Everyone is welcome and belongs in our school community

• Our students, families, staff, and community members bring diverse life experiences - assets that should be recognized, celebrated, and embraced as opportunities for growth and learning

• All learners can achieve high academic standards; high expectations will be communicated, supported, and maintained

• All students must see themselves reflected in the district; this means in staff, teachers, and administrators

• Curriculum must be inclusive and include diverse perspectives

• Authentic, two-way relationships between families, schools, and community partners is valued and nurtured across all demographics

• Explicit and transparent communication is vital to build trust and foster relationships

• Staff will participate in ongoing professional development and training to build a shared foundation for equity, foster change and develop a growth mindset

• Resources must be allocated to sustain equity work

• Measurable equity outcomes and accountability are essential to ensure progress

From the Director

Greetings ECCS Community,

I don’t know about you, but this time of year can be challenging for me. Between the snow storms, frigid temperatures, and gray skies, I have to intentionally seek out joy.

One of my strategies for this is to try and look at things through the eyes of children. Children are brilliant and inspirational. They can find opportunities to be silly and savor the little things. They have curiosity and creativity. They taste snowflakes and make pictures for people who are kind to them. They are my why and the center of all I do.

Therefore, as we enter into the seemingly long month of March, I challenge all of us to take more time to be childlike. Be silly. Savor the small things that really are the big things. Be curious of others’ experiences rather than judgemental. Get outside and try to appreciate the weather surprises.

Perhaps most, let’s be sure to say thank you to those who are kind to us.

I imagine that if we all do this, March won’t feel as long and joy would increase. We would all be better humans if we took more moments to learn from the wisdom of children.

Together,
Arika Mareck

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Equity Newsletter (March 2023)

Join Arika Mareck, director of equity and inclusion at Eastern Carver County Schools, for coffee and conversation in 2023. Guests should enter the building at the Welcome Center entrance and check-in.

Tuesday, April 4 (5-6 p.m.)

Thursday, May 4 (8:30-9:30 a.m.)

Monthly Challenge

Community Involvement

Bountiful Basket Food Shelf serves Carver, Chanhassen, Chaska, Victoria, & surrounding area. Helping people with hunger relief. During everyone’s life there is a period when we need help. For many this help comes in the form of food assistance to get them through their time of need. In a typical 12-month period, the Bountiful Basket Food Shelf distributes over 400,000 lbs. of food. All of the 15,000 individuals served are neighbors and fellow community members who live in Eastern Carver County.

Donate now: https://bountifulbasketfoodshelf.org/donate-food/
Need help? https://bountifulbasketfoodshelf.org/services/

First page of the PDF file: VictoriaCarSeatClinic

First page of the PDF file: FoodResourcesCOVIDEngl

First page of the PDF file: FoodResourcesCOVIDSpan

First page of the PDF file: FoodResourcesCOVIDSoma

Achievement & Integration Plan

Equity Advisory Council

From people and programs to policies and processes – Eastern Carver County Schools is taking action to improve our work in driving towards an equitable school community. All students and families must feel valued, respected and understood, and this work requires more intentional and proactive strategies around diversity and inclusion. We have recently concluded engagement in more than 50 feedback sessions with a variety of constituents on a draft of our district’s equity vision to define the “what” and the “why” of this work as well as a framework to define the “how.” Equity in Eastern Carver County Schools is our collective responsibility and can only be achieved by mutual accountability.

Our district has established an Equity Advisory Council to provide direction and leadership as well as serve as a lens to Eastern Carver County Schools in implementing change. The council will help develop broad ownership of the work to become a more welcoming, culturally competent and equitable school district.

Restructuring the Equity Advisory Council

EAC Application

Upcoming Equity Advisory Council Meetings

2022-23 Dates to be scheduled

Equity Advisory Council Meeting Minutes

American Indian Education

The mission of the American Indian Education program is to meet the unique cultural and academic needs of our American Indian learners. Our program explores the rich indigenous heritage, history and narratives of the many American Indian tribes, and strives to restore and promote the innovation and importance of the culture. Students across the district and at all grade levels participate in programming honoring American Indians. Funding for the program comes from a grant under the Federal Government’s Title VI authorization and from the Minnesota Department of Education’s World’s Best Workforce initiative.

Who is eligible to participate?

Any student who self identifies as American Indian and is coded North American Indian on Infinite Campus is eligible to participate in Eastern Carver County Schools American Indian Education Program. There is no cost to participate and all services are free of charge. The services provided by the Indian Education Program are optional.

Title VI Indian Education Program

In order to apply for a formula grant under the Office of Indian Education/Title VI, our program asks for each student to have a 506 form on file with our program. The 506 form must be filled out by the legal guardian. All information is confidential. These forms generate program funding for your child and all the Native American students attending Eastern Carver County Schools. Title VI funding provides academic support and cultural enrichment opportunities for all Eastern Carver County Schools American Indian students.

Any student who fits one of the following qualifications is eligible to fill out a 506 form:

Student is an enrolled member of a recognized tribe
OR parent is an enrolled member of a recognized tribe
OR grandparent is an enrolled member of a recognized tribe

American Indian Parent Advisory Committee

Join the American Indian Parent Advisory Committee (AIPAC)! The purpose of this group is to serve in an advisory capacity for planning and implementing programs and events that will support Eastern Carver County Schools American Indian students and their families. AIPAC membership consists of parents and/or guardians of identified American Indian students attending Eastern Carver County Schools, secondary student representatives and teacher representatives.

Consent Decree

Stay Connected

Elevating Equity in Action

Diversity in Books

Our Diversity in Books program brings in guest readers from our community to our elementary schools to share stories that help students understand and celebrate diversity of many kinds - different races, ethnicities, physical and other disabilities.

If you are interested in being a guest reader, complete this online sign-up form.

Examples of Book Choices

“Children’s books can act as mirrors, to reflect the reader's own lives, but also as windows so readers can learn about, understand and appreciate the lives of others.”

~ Emily Style

Book Choice Process

Interested guest reader(s) complete the Google Form that is available on the District 112 Equity Website. Google Form results are shared at weekly meeting.
The team organizes a book choice document and elementary site option to present to the interested readers.
The Director of Equity and Inclusion contacts the elementary site principal to organize classrooms to host the guest reader along with dates and times.
Once confirmation of classroom teacher(s), date(s) and time(s) are confirmed with the building principal, this information is given to the guest reader.
Arrangements are made to give the book to the guest reader.
A greeter (site principal, coach, equity team member or intercultural specialist) welcomes the guest reader at the school and escorts him/her to the classroom and makes arrangements for the collection of the book.
Classroom teachers are encouraged to write the guest a thank you note. Guest readers will be given a thank you note from the Diversity in Books team.

Monthly Update

Equity Initiatives

Eastern Carver County Schools is and has been, committed to providing students equal educational opportunities. Over the last decade, our district has engaged in a variety of initiatives with the shared purpose of creating communities of belonging and success. Our commitment to equity is reflected districtwide in work designed to:

acknowledge and check our racial and cultural biases;
utilize data to understand what is working and where we must improve;
implement best practices related to engaging and supporting learners in achieving their personal best;
provide stakeholders in our community with opportunities to engage meaningfully and guide our vision for equity.

Historical Efforts

Historical Efforts

Equity Framework Development

Beginning the 2018-19 school year, we began the work of developing a more coordinated commitment to equity. We are in the process of finalizing a districtwide equity vision and framework and are working to undertake an externally conducted equity audit of Eastern Carver County Schools.

Effective equity work requires a shared vision, developed and informed by a broad base of stakeholders. In early January, a representative group of students, parents, and staff from a variety of ages, genders and racial/ethnic/linguistic backgrounds came together to being codifying our district’s Equity Vision and Framework. We are currently in the process of engaging in over 30 feedback sessions to gather input from students, parents, staff and community members on the vision and framework.

Principal Academy

Despite the importance of the principalship and the demands that are placed on principals today, relatively few principals receive ongoing professional development that enhances their ability to lead schools to high performance. The Minnesota Principals Academy fills that gap by bringing to Minnesota the research-based program of the National Institute for School Leadership (NISL), an initiative of the Washington, D.C.-based National Center on Education and the Economy. The NISL executive development program was developed over six years with major support from national foundations and is being used to provide leadership development for school principals nationwide.

Using the NISL program, the Minnesota Principals Academy enables cohorts of practicing principals to put leadership best practices from education, business, military, and other fields to work on behalf of their students and schools. Delivered in two and three-day segments over the course of one year, the curriculum combines face-to-face instruction in workshops, seminars, and study groups with interactive Web-based learning.

Focus 5: Equity

Eastern Carver County Schools’ commitment to provide exceptional, personalized learning for all students is unwavering and intentional. Knowing our learners is critical in providing meaningful and relevant learning experiences for all. As part of an ongoing, continuous cycle of review and strategic planning each building leadership team annually defines five goals named Focus 5. Teams work with the Teaching and Learning Department and review various types of data including assessment results, survey feedback, behavior referrals, etc. to determine needs and develop next steps.

Beginning in the 2017-18 academic year and continuing into 2018-19, based on districtwide identified needs, all schools included two consistent focus areas: Standards-Based Learning and Equity. Each goal area, such as equity, has a detailed action plan and incorporates professional learning as a means to promote growth and improvement. Building’s equity focus include elements such as: understanding the background and cultures of all learners at a group and personal level, building more purposeful relationships, increasing access and opportunities for all learners, expanding culturally-responsive teaching, rethinking and reframing leadership practices, and increasing overall self-awareness of our own deeply-rooted beliefs and paradigms that impact our work and influence our actions.

Reimagine Minnesota

In 2017, Eastern Carver County Schools joined with other metro-area school districts in Reimagine Minnesota to ensure equity and excellence for all students. Reimagine Eastern Carver County Schools was created to achieve equity through engaging effective, diverse stakeholders who use trusting relationships to create welcoming classrooms, schools and communities that meet the needs (hopes & dreams) of all students and families.

Reimagine Eastern Carver County Schools developed structure and direction for this important work in our schools and community to promote a better understanding of equity and cultural competency. Several services and resources already in place in our district include: Intercultural Specialists, language services support, speakers bureau, Celebrate Summer, food programs, multilingual communication, First Generation College Programs/Services, and professional development and training opportunities for staff. The district-wide initiative is being led by an Equity Leadership Team which provides vision and direction for this important work.

Intercultural Harmony

Intercultural Harmony is an initiative created out of Reimagine Eastern Carver County Schools. An important component in this work is to engage our schools and community in conversations about the topics of diversity, inclusion and equity. Our Equity Advisory Team facilitates these discussions. In October 2017, we kicked off Intercultural Harmony. Staff, parents and community members meet to discuss various topics pertaining to equity and receive training on cultural competency and creating inclusive communities. If you are interested in getting involved in this important work, contact Michelle Milstein.

View meeting notes:

March 13, 2018

May 8, 2018

Inclusive Communities Coalition (ICONIC)

Eastern Carver County Schools is a partner to Inclusive Communities Coalition (ICONIC), a group of public, non-profit and private organizations focused on building inclusive communities in Carver County. Formed in 2016, ICONIC’s mission is to build and strengthen a genuine inclusive community that embraces equal opportunities and a sense of belonging for people of all abilities.

Innocent Classrooms Project Pilot at Pioneer Ridge Middle School

Author and educator Alexs Pate launched Innocent Classroom, a professional development experience for educators, with a vision to rebuild teacher-student relationships in school districts with some of the country’s widest gaps in achievement. In summer 2018, Pioneer Ridge Middle School began a pilot of the Innocent Classroom project. The intensive workshop series changes how teachers think about and engage their students, especially students of color. Through conversations and real-world examples, we deliver context and practical strategies for building relationships with every child.

Beacon Council

In 2007, Eastern Carver County Schools started the Beacon Council, supporting the education of all learners by advocating and promoting cultural awareness, understanding, and equitable practices. This was done through work aimed at creating culturally competent school community that is welcoming and respectful to all, structuring learning that prepares learners for a successful future in a global society, and advocating through collaboration and leadership within the communities throughout the district. The Beacon Council transformed into our Intercultural Harmony initiative in 2017.

Contact

Arika Mareck
Director of Equity and Inclusion
marecka@district112.org
952-556-6258

Chris Weaver
Equity and Inclusion Specialist
weaverch@district112.org
952-556-6160

Intercultural Specialists

Elementary Schools

Middle Schools

High Schools

District Services