Equity & Excellence

Ensure all student groups have access to high-quality, culturally responsive instruction that meets their individual learning needs.

The Systemwide Integrated Framework for Transformation (SWIFT Plan) is a strategy designed to bring about meaningful changes in PAUSD to promote educational equity and prioritize diversity, inclusion, and fairness throughout the entire educational system. This plan supports the success of all students and staff while placing special emphasis on gathering and analyzing information about outcomes, policies, and practices that may disproportionately affect students of color, those with disabilities, and students from low-income or traditionally underserved backgrounds.

Inclusive and Culturally Responsive Pedagogy

Goal: Ensure all student groups have access to high-quality, culturally responsive instruction that meets their individual learning needs.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

1. Decrease the average distance from standard (DFS) on the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) for English Language Arts and Math 

2. Increase the percentage of students achieving A-G eligibility/College-Career Readiness 

3. Increase the percentage of students making progress on IEP goals and/or passing coursework with a grade of C- or better

Strategies:

1. Implement evidence-based grading practices that emphasize mastery of skills across all student demographics.

2. Utilize a principal walkthrough tool specifically designed to identify and promote inclusive and culturally/linguistically responsive teaching practices.

3. Encourage, train, and support educators in the use of high-yield, culturally responsive teaching strategies such as Universal Design for Learning (UDL), differentiation, and inquiry-based learning.

4. Enhance co-teaching models and collaborative planning frameworks to better support educators in diverse and inclusive classroom settings.

5. Conduct annual evaluations of special education programs to ensure high-quality instruction and service delivery.

Positive School Climate and Belonging

Goal: Cultivate a positive and inclusive school climate where all student groups feel safe, respected, and valued.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

1. Increase the percentage of students responding favorably to school safety, belongingness, teacher-student relationships, cultural awareness, and diversity and inclusion.

2. Decrease the percentage of students identified as chronically absent.

3. Reduce the suspension rate and disproportionality for minor and nonviolent offenses for students in the focus  group who are Black, Hispanic, and students with disabilities  

Strategies:

1. Establish and publicize clear and transparent procedures and reporting mechanisms for incidents against protected classes and reported bullying/harassment incidents 

2. Equip school leaders with tools and training in restorative practices to effectively address and resolve incidents of bullying and harassment and other offenses.

3. Collect and analyze student feedback on school climate  via Panoram Surveys and check-ins

4. Create a resource hub that includes educator resources and training on bullying/harassment, racism, bias,  and discrimination ( e.g. anti-LGBTQ+,  anti-Black, anti-Semitism, Islamaphobia, and other forms of hate and discrimination).

5. Develop a personalized outreach and documentation system where school staff regularly communicate with students and their families to understand their specific situations and barriers to attendance.

Tiered Student Supports and Interventions

Goal: Ensure equitable access to tiered support systems for all students to address their diverse academic, behavioral, and social-emotional needs.

Key Performance Indicator (KPI)

1. Increase fidelity of using a tiered intervention system using the adopted MTSS Framework across all school sites.

2. Students with academic, attendance, behavioral, and social-emotional needs will be addressed via the MTSS Framework and/or through the IEP/504/SST, by tracking growth through the Panorama platform.

3. Reduce overidentification in special education aligned with Comprehensive Coordinated Early Intervening Services (CCEIS). 

Strategies

1. Train teams on the foundations of MTSS, data-based decision-making, and documentation of culturally responsive Tier 2 and Tier 3 interventions.

2. Utilize Panorama Student Success to identify students at risk of academic, behavioral, attendance, mental health and wellness, or social-emotional difficulties to shift practices from reactive to prevention and proactive measures.

3. Expand the number of schools implementing an intervention schedule to ensure that students  receive Tier 2 and Tier 3 instruction while still engaging in core Tier I lessons without interruption to maximize their access to the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) framework.

4. Review data on support service access and outcomes regularly to identify and address disparities. This includes tracking participation rates and success rates across different demographic groups.

5. Train educators on trauma-informed preventative and de-escalation behavioral strategies.

School Community and Family Partnerships and Engagement

Goal: Strengthen partnerships and engagement with families and the broader community

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

1. Build partnerships and engagement with families and the broader community to strengthen satisfaction and trust.

2. Increase positive perceptions of the district and/or school as measured by parent surveys and Let’s Talk Feedback:

3. Increase diversity on ad hoc committees, steering committees, and other groups that provide feedback to district leadership.

Strategies:

1. Create welcoming signage, multilingual materials, and designated spaces for families to gather and engage with school staff.

2. Utilize multiple communication methods, such as newsletters, Superintendent updates, emails, phone calls, social media, and parent portals to reach families and accommodate diverse preferences, 

3. Administer surveys, conduct focus groups, or hold listening sessions to solicit input from families on how the school can better support their involvement.

4. Organize cultural celebrations, workshops, and family nights that honor different cultural traditions and provide opportunities for families to share their heritage.

5. Offer workshops on parenting strategies for accessing and navigating services

6. Recruit diverse stakeholders for ad hoc committees, steering committees, and community and advocacy groups to strengthen internal and external feedback loops.

More information about Key Performance Indicators and strategies may be found in the 2024-25 SWIFT Plan.

Goal Progress

Follow the progress report to the board