Beyond ‘Everyone Belongs Here’ Set for Nov. 15

Recent bias-related incidents in Alameda’s school community have led families to ask what Alameda Unified School District (AUSD) is doing to promote inclusiveness and create positive school climates. In a workshop scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 15, community members will learn about AUSD’s responses to hate speech and explore strategies for both reducing and managing these occurrences. Everyone is welcome to join in this community conversation.

The workshop will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Alameda High School cafeteria, 2200 Central Ave.

AUSD has also offered a series of tips on how to talk to kids about hate speech on its website. 
According to the district, “establishing and maintaining a safe and inclusive environment for all members of the AUSD community is a collective responsibility shared by staff, students, parents and guardians.” AUSD has stated its vision is to prepare students to be responsible citizens, which includes “instruction in how to embrace diversity, stand up to bias and critically evaluate the events taking place in the local, national and international communities.” 
The website offers links to anti-bias lesson plans that provide overviews, objectives and suggested activities for talking to students in various grade levels about issues of bias and bigotry. Additional anti-bias resources can also be accessed.

AUSD reports that this fall, teachers across the district are implementing new English Language Arts instructional materials. School staff are working to align the newly adopted texts to the literature lessons, as well as seek out additional recommendations for anti-bias materials. Staff are also working to align with the new California History-Social Science Framework adopted by the State Board of Education in July 2016. 

“AUSD’s goal is to formalize a K-12 anti-bias framework for the district that will outline the scope of topics and classroom experiences provided to students throughout their schooling,” states AUSD’s website. “This framework will also guide the district in providing appropriate professional development experiences for staff to deliver the identified curriculum.”
Read more at www.alameda.k12.ca.us.