October 11, 2023 By Carol Britton Meyer
The Hingham Public Schools 2023-2024 equity plan is geared toward ensuring that all students have a strong sense of belonging in the community.
Supt. of Schools Margaret Adams and Asst. Supt. Katie Roberts recently presented goals and action steps for the current school year, derived from the recommendations outlined in a recent equity audit.
The School Committee then adopted those goals, which relate in part to curriculum, hiring and retention of a racially and ethnically diverse staff, and professional development.
“The equity plan goals further elaborate and complement strategic goals previously identified through the 2022-2025 strategic plan, which features district goals related to ensuring equitable and inclusive learning environments,” School Committee Chair Nes Correnti told the Hingham Anchor.
During the 2022-2023 school year, the HPS Leadership team and the HPS Equity Task Force — comprised of administrators, educators, parents, community members, and a School Committee member — worked with The Equity Process to conduct a year-long equity audit.
“The Equity Process is an organization the district partnered with to continue the equity work, with a focus on incorporating systems and structures that create learning environments wherein all people feel valued and welcomed,” Correnti explained. “Equity is not simply about access. It is also about honoring and celebrating each other as humans in the most compassionate, mindful, and humble ways.”
During that time, TEP consultants worked with Equity Task Force members to review district policies, procedures, and practices, administer and analyze community surveys and focus groups, and gather data through site visits and walkthroughs, which resulted in an equity audit report that was presented to the School Committee in June.
Emphasis on culturally responsive curriculum
The resulting equity audit report highlighted recommended areas for strategic focus, with an emphasis on culturally responsive curriculum, inclusive instructional practices, equity-focused professional development, inclusive hiring practices, and use of academic and SEL (social and emotional learning) data to inform the district’s equity and inclusion strategy.
To enhance HPS’ commitment to equity and inclusion, select district leaders, educators, and community members participated in the 2022-2023 Department of Elementary & Secondary Education’s Culturally Responsive Practices Leadership Academy, featuring yearlong training and coaching “to support district equity goal setting and strategy implementation,” according to the recent plan update.
In addition, principals and faculty from East and Plymouth River schools participated in the 2022-2023 DESE Inclusive Practices Academy, with a focus on school-based implementation of universal design for learning and related inclusive practices.
“These DESE leadership academies complemented the work of the equity audit by building capacity to support equity goal implementation,” according to the plan.
Equity goals include creating a No Place for Hate committee at the middle school; developing ongoing equity-focused professional development, including book studies and/or discussion groups on equity-related topics such as disability visibility and grading for equity; continuing the HPS partnership with DESE’s Safe Schools program to support LGBTQ+ students and their families; and organizing equity and inclusion professional development for support staff — including administrative assistants, transportation, custodians, food service workers, Kids in Action, and coaches.
“The equity work being performed by the district is a continual improvement cycle whereby policies, procedures, and practices are continually reviewed and improved upon,” Correnti said. “The goal is to ensure that all students are treated equitably, have opportunities in all programs, and have a strong sense of belonging in the community.”