Decorah Community School District is commited and obligated to not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, disability, or socioeconomic status in our educational programs, activities, or employment practices.
Equity Commitment
- We will raise the achievement of all students while eliminating the predictability of academic achievement based upon class, race, gender, or disability.
- We will implement culturally responsive teaching and leadership practices that reflect the contributions and perspectives of all people.
- We will identify and address barriers that perpetuate opportunity and achievement gaps.
- We will foster inclusive relationships across all Decorah CSD communities.
Beliefs
- We believe that all voices have value.
- We believe that mutual relationships build safe and engaging communities.
- We believe that each person has agency and power.
- We believe that opportunities to learn, lead, and collaborate unleash potential.
- We believe that life demands critical thinking and problem-solving.
- We believe that challenge is foundational to growth.
- We believe that personalizing learning creates engagement and ownership.
- We believe that reflection on data creates a drive for improvement.
Equity in Curricula
For children of all ages and levels of development, equity in curricula can do three critical things:
- Enrich language, reasoning, writing, discussion, and literacy skills by creating opportunities for conversations on different perspectives and challenging belief systems
- Increase engagement among students by helping them feel connected to a curriculum that honors their story and background
- Improve school climate and safety by giving students a sense of belonging and collective responsibility in the classroom