AFFIRMATIVE ACTION This presenta6on will cover a variety of policies and procedures related to our district Aﬃrma6ve Ac6on policies. All faculty and staﬀ are required to complete this training annually. This training will count as 1 professional development hour for all cer6ﬁcated staﬀ. What are issues related to Aﬃrma6ve Ac6on? Affirmative action policies seek to avoid and correct discrimination and bias related to race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, affectation or sexual orientation, marital status, socioeconomic status, familial status, liability for service in the Armed Forces of the United States, atypical hereditary cellular or blood trait of any individual or non-applicable disability. The Board’s affirmative action program shall recognize and value the diversity of persons and groups within society and promote the acceptance of persons of diverse backgrounds regardless of race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, affectation or sexual orientation, gender, religion, disability, or socioeconomic status. The affirmative action program will also promote equal educational opportunity and foster a learning environment that is free from all forms of prejudice, discrimination, and harassment based upon race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, affectation or sexual orientation, gender, religion, disability, or socioeconomic status in the policies, programs, and practices of the Board of Education. All employees of the District are required to uphold and enforce all rights and protections afforded to staff, students, and the community as outlined in relevant Affirmative Action policies. Board Policies Related to Aﬃrma6ve Ac6on These are summaries of District policies related to Aﬃrma6ve Ac6on. These summaries are not intended to be subs6tuted for a close reading of the board-‐approved policies. All faculty and staﬀ members are required to read, understand, and implement all district policies. It is the responsibility of the staﬀ member to seek clariﬁca6on regarding any policy if he or she is unclear of the district expecta6on. 1140 Affirmative Action Program 1523 Comprehensive Equity Plan 2260 Affirmative Action Program for School and Classroom Practices (M) 2416 Programs for Pregnant Pupils 3281 Inappropriate Staff Conduct 3362 Sexual Harassment (M)- Staff 5750 Equal Educational Opportunity (M) 5751 Sexual Harassment (M)Students 5752 Marital Status and Pregnancy (M) 5755 Equity in Educational Programs and Services (M) 1140 Aﬃrma;ve Ac;on Program (NJAC 6A:7) Board of Education shall recognize and value diversity and will not discriminate against race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, affectation or sexual orientation, gender, religion, disability, or socioeconomic status. BOE must annually assess the district’s needs for achieving equality and equity in educational programs based on an analysis of performance data, staffing, demographic and behavioral data, quality of program data, and stakeholder satisfaction. BOE must appoint a Affirmative Action Officer and establish an Affirmative Action team. The district will provide professional development training to all certificated and non-certificated staff on a continuing basis to identify and resolve problems associated with pupil achievement gap or other inequities arising from prejudice. KEY ASPECTS: 1.  Regularly assess program for discriminatory prac;ces and remediate as necessary 2.  Appoint Aﬃrma;ve Ac;on Oﬃcer (AAO) and establish a team 3.  Provide professional development to faculty and staﬀ to iden;fy and resolve problems 1523 Comprehensive Equity Plan   The Board of Educa6on must adopt and implement a Comprehensive Equity Plan (CEP) every three years. This plan must indicate our district’s compliance with acceptable prac6ces in four areas: Board Responsibili6es, Staﬀ Development, School and Classroom Prac6ces, and Employment/Contract Prac6ces.   The Superintendent must submit an annual assurance indica6ng that the district is in compliance with the CEP.   This plan is developed in conjunc6on with the District Equity CommiXee, which also serves as the Aﬃrma6ve Ac6on Team. KEY ASPECT:   Adop;on of the Comprehensive Equity Plan 2260 Aﬃrma;ve Ac;on Program for School and Ensuring equal and barrier-free Classroom Prac;ces (M)   access to all school and classroom ACCESS   The Board of Education shall provide equal and bias-free access for all pupils to all school facilities, courses, programs, activities, and services, regardless of race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, affectation or sexual orientation, gender, religion, disability, or socioeconomic status, by:         facilities Attaining minority representation within each school that reflects district Utilizing an ELS measure to identify and provide for ESL needs Using bias-free multiple measures for identifying special needs students Ensuring that a student is not discriminated against because of a medical condition. No student shall be excluded from an educational program because of a long-term medical condition unless certified by a physician as necessary. 2260 Aﬃrma;ve Ac;on Program for School and Classroom Prac;ces (M) con;nued: CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION The Board of Education shall ensure that the district's curriculum and instruction are aligned to the State's Core Curriculum Content Standards and address the elimination of discrimination by narrowing the achievement gap, by providing equity in educational programs and by providing opportunities for pupils to interact positively with others regardless of race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, affectation or sexual orientation, gender, religion, disability, or socioeconomic status, by:   Ensuring there are no differential requirements for completion of course offerings or programs of study based on protected groups   Ensuring courses shall not be offered separately based on protected groups   Reducing or preventing the underrepresentation of minority, female, and male pupils in all classes and programs including gifted and talented, accelerated, and advanced classes   Ensuring that schools demonstrate the inclusion of a multicultural curriculum in its instructional content, materials and methods, and that pupils understand the basic tenet of multiculturalism;   Ensuring that African American history, as well as the history of other cultures, is infused into the curriculum and taught as part of the history of the United States, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:35-1 and the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards;   Ensuring that instruction on the Holocaust and other acts of genocide is included in the curriculum of all elementary and secondary schools, as developmentally appropriate, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:35-28. 2260 Aﬃrma;ve Ac;on Program for School and Classroom Prac;ces (M) con;nued: •  The Board of Education shall ensure all pupils have access to adequate and appropriate counseling services. •  The Board of Education shall ensure that the district's physical education program and its athletic programs are equitable, co-educational, and do not discriminate ASPECTS: KEY  All students must have equal access to facilities, courses, programs, activities and services.  The district’s curriculum and instruction must address the achievement gap by providing equity in programming and providing opportunities for students to interact positively with others.  All students must have equal access to counseling services.  Access to athletic and coeducational programs must be equitable. 2416 Programs for Pregnant Students •  No pupil, married or unmarried, who is otherwise eligible for enrollment in this district will be denied an educational program because of pregnancy, childbirth, pregnancy-related disabilities, or actual or potential parenthood. 5752 Marital Status and Pregnancy •  The Board of Education will not discriminate among pupils on the basis of their marital status or parenthood. No pupil, male or female, who is married or a parent shall be denied access to or benefit from any educational, cocurricular, or athletic program or activity on the basis of his/her marital status or parenthood. KEY ASPECTS: Faculty and staﬀ members may not deny access to programming based upon marital status or pregnancy.