Annual report 2018–2019 | 5
Wellness and Equity
The District continues to partner with Stanford University’s Challenge Success team around three high-leverage areas: • Homework/Workload: In 2018, the District approved a new homework policy that identified developmentally-appropriate amounts of homework per grade, as well as homework-free weekends, holidays, and breaks. • Family engagement: Over the last several years, the District has co-sponsored a variety of family learning events, along with Acton-Boxborough United Way, Acton-Boxborough Special Education Parent Advisory Council, A-B PTSO/PTO/PTF, and Danny’s Place Youth Services. • Schedule: This year marked the first year that we began junior high and high school a half hour later than ever before. Starting in 2019, the high school will implement a new bell schedule that has a rotating schedule with fewer courses meeting per day. In spring 2019, 79% of high school students and 71% of 6th–8th graders report having a trusted adult in school. In 2017, the AB Cares coalition was formed as a community-based collaborative effort that seeks to prevent suicide across the life span and support all who are impacted by suicide. In 2018, ten individuals from various community agencies, including three from ABRSD and two school resource officers, became trainers for QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) and provide training to community members.
In 2018–19, the School Wellness Advisory Committee (SWAC) studied healthy device usage/screentime, and sleep and start time , and presented its findings to the School Committee. Seeking Educational Equity & Diversity (SEED) is peer-led professional learning for staff that focuses on change through individual self-reflection and dialogue to build capacity for more equitable schools. As of June 2019, 36% of certified staff, including administrators and School Committee members, were trained. We continue to ensure that our hiring practices result in increased educator diversity . During the 2018 and 2019 hiring seasons, we have been successful in adding several teachers of color to our schools. Through our FY20 budgeting process, the District earmarked funds for each building to offset the cost of parental contributions such as field trips. Starting in September 2019, the District will also provide school supplies for all elementary students . Through generous donations by a few anonymous members of our community, ABRSD has established a fund to provide resources to assist students who are homeless or disadvantaged living in the district. If you are interested in contributing or finding out more, please contact Dawn Bentley, Assistant Super- intendent for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at dbentley@abschools.org.
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