District Educational Equity Committee
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	Our District is establishing an Educational Equity and Student Experience Committee to ensure that each child is part of a healthy, safe, engaged, and supported environment through a renewed partnership with students, staff, and residents of the community. The committee will focus on student academic success and social-emotional support. If you are the parent/guardian of a student in grades 6-12, please share this message with them. As we get closer to the start of school, we will provide additional information with students directly on how they can be part of this important work. Families with students in grades 6-12 may share the application with their students. Applications will be accepted until September 3; participants will be notified the week of September 6. Our first meeting is Monday, September 13. Details about the committee and application were on our www.isd748.org/equity page. 
Overview - Educational Equity and Student Experience Committee & Equity Audit
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	September 9, 2021 Of the over 180 total applications received from students, staff, parents/guardians, and residents: almost 50 were students leaving less than 50 vacancies for the 130+ adults who applied. Applicants were notified of their participation on Thursday, September 9. The committee will provide updates on their work during the school year. A new Educational Equity webpage was created for updates. August 13, 2021 The Sartell-St. Stephen School District is establishing an Educational Equity and Student Experience Committee to ensure that each child is part of a healthy, safe, engaged, and supported environment through a renewed partnership with students, staff, and residents of the community. The committee will focus on student academic success and social-emotional support. If you are the parent/guardian of a student in grades 6-12, please share this message with them. As we get closer to the start of school, we will provide additional information with students directly on how they can be part of this important work. Families with students in grades 6-12 may share the application with their students. Applications will be accepted until September 3; participants will be notified the week of September 6. Our first meeting is Monday, September 13. Details about the committee and application are on our www.isd748.org/equity page. August 3, 2021 Sartell-St. Stephen ISD 748 is committing to an equitable educational experience for all students by establishing a new District committee to focus on student academic success and social-emotional support. “To the student voices who feel marginalized, please know that we see you and we hear you,” said Superintendent Dr. Jeff Ridlehoover, who started with the District on July 1. “We are committed to working with you to make sure every student has the tools they need to be successful. We are eager to work cooperatively with students, staff, parents, and guardians to define and provide equity throughout the student experience.” The new committee will meet regularly to partner with the District in setting goals and identifying areas of improvement to better support all learners. Additional details will be available for students, staff, and families through the District by August 13. The District will share the committee’s work through regular community updates. June 21, 2021 The Equity Alliance Audit report was presented to the Sartell-St. Stephen School Board at the June 21, 2021 meeting. The report can be accessed here. Fall 2020 Sartell-St. Stephen ISD 748 has partnered with Equity Alliance MN, an organization that works with students, educators and districts to achieve educational equity for all students. Equity Alliance MN and Sartell-St. Stephen ISD 748 will be working together to support systemic equity and integration within our school system. Starting this month, we will conduct an Equity Audit, a process that will support our Sabre school community in gathering data and information to identify the root causes of disproportionate outcomes among members of our school community as well as highlight promising practices for achieving equity. The process will begin with equity surveys administered online to students in grades 3-12, staff, parents and our community. The surveys will be available from December 7-21. After the surveys are completed and compiled, focus groups from all stakeholder groups will be conducted. As a result of completing an equity audit, Sartell-St. Stephen ISD 748 will be positioned more accurately to evaluate current practices, develop short and long term strategies for systemic change, implement targeted solutions and educate our school community as we lead the change process. We will be sending ongoing communications throughout this process and hope to engage Sabre students, staff, parents and the community in participating and lending your critical voices. 
Focus Groups
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	Equity Audit Focus Groups: Equity Alliance MN hosted two Focus Groups for the Sartell-St. Stephen community on Wednesday, February 24 from 6:30-7:15 PM and 7:30-8:15 PM using the Zoom platform. Everyone who registered was placed into a lottery and 30 people were randomly selected to participate. 
Media
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	Listening Session reveals need for more counseling services 
 Sartell Newsleader
 September 21, 2021Sartell district holds first listening session for equity feedback 
 St. Cloud Times
 September 20, 2021New equity committee sets listening session for September 20 
 Sartell Newsleader
 September 17, 2021Newly formed Sartell equity committee to hold listening sessions 
 WJON
 September 15, 2021Joint Equity Statement 
 Education Minnesota
 Minnesota Association of School Administrators
 Minnesota School Boards Association
 Association of Metropolitan School Districts
 Minnesota Administrators for Special Education
 Minnesota Elementary School Principals Association
 Minnesota Association of Secondary School Principals
 Minnesota Association of School Business Officials
 September 13, 2021Excitement grows in Sartell-St. Stephen as new school year begins 
 WJON
 August 23, 2021What the Sartell flap can teach us about equity 
 Minneapolis Star Tribune - Editorial
 August 8, 2021After fierce backlash by community members, Sartell school district cuts ties with Equity Alliance MN 
 Minneapolis Star Tribune
 August 4, 2021Sartell school district provides clarification on equity audit 
 WJON
 July 27, 2021Equity audit draws large crowd to school board meeting 
 Sartell Newsleader
 July 23, 2021Community group asking Sartell-St. Stephen to fire company over Equity Audit results 
 KNSI
 July 8, 2021Equity v. equality: Why every parent wants equity, whether they realize it or not 
 St. Cloud Times - Opinion
 July 3, 2021Equity Audit reveals challenges for Sartell-St. Stephen schools 
 Sartell Newsleader
 June 25, 2021Sartell-St. Stephen School District receives results from Equity Audit 
 KNSI
 June 23, 2021Equity audit report recommends hiring more diverse staff at Sartell-St. Stephen schools 
 St. Cloud Times
 June 22, 2021Sartell school board to get equity audit report next month 
 WJON
 May 18, 2021Education equity effort moves ahead with plan 
 Sartell Newsleader
 May 12, 2021Sartell-St. Stephen Schools Launch Equity Audit Survey 
 Sartell Newsleader
 December 17, 2020Sartell-St. Stephen to begin equity audit with family surveys Monday 
 St. Cloud Times
 December 3, 2020Education equity plan moves ahead as committee takes shape 
 Sartell Newsleader
 November 13, 2020Following school board vote, equity audit moves forward 
 Sartell Newsleader
 October 16, 2020Sartell-St. Stephen School District Approves Equity Audit 
 WJON
 September 21, 2020Delaying equity audit disappoints - letter 
 Sartell Newsleader - letter to the editor
 August 21, 2020Education equity advocates offer suggestions for school change - letter 
 Sartell Newsleader
 August 21, 2020Forum speakers criticize equity audit decision 
 Sartell Newsleader
 August 20, 2020School board votes down equity audit 
 Sartell Newsleader
 August 10, 2020Consultant details education equity audit for school board 
 Sartell Newsleader
 July 24, 2020Board members react to school equity issues 
 Sartell Newsleader
 July 10, 2020Sartell-St. Stephen school board plans listening sessions on equity 
 Sartell Newsleader
 June 24, 2020
