With the adoption of a revised “Equity in Educational Programs and Services” policy earlier this week, the Hopewell Valley Regional School District emphasized that it will do all that it can to ensure that all students succeed.
The revised policy, which was approved by the Board of Education following a public hearing and second reading Monday night, states that to achieve educational equity means that “students’ identities will not predict or predetermine their success in school.”
This means that whether a student belongs to a minority group, has special needs, is male or female, or comes from an economically disadvantaged household or a wealthy one, it will not have an impact on the opportunities for academic success.
“Educational equity is based on the principles of fairness and justice in allocating resources, opportunity, support, facilities and other educational resources, even when this means differentiating resource allocation,” the policy states.
The district will review curricula to ensure that it is written so that it provides a balanced, bias-free presentation of content.
Access to all courses offered by the school district “should be driven primarily by a student’s drive and interest” in the course, the policy states.
The revised policy also states that the district wants to raise the achievement of all students while narrowing the gap between the lowest performing students and the highest performing students.
Of the nine public school districts in Mercer County, the Hopewell Valley Regional School District is the least diverse, and that equity disparity is more likely to go unnoticed, school board vice president Lisa Wolff said.
Superintendent of Schools Thomas Smith said the revised policy “far exceeds” the proposed policy that the school district’s policy service suggests to school districts, as well as the policies in neighboring school districts.
Most school district policies – in the Hopewell Valley Regional School District and other school districts – are suggested by a policy service. School boards may revise the policies to suit their district’s needs.
“(The revised policy) underscores what we believe as a school district. I think this is a policy we can be very proud of. We set our own expectations,” Smith said.
“It will leave a strong legacy,” Smith said.