OUR COMMITMENT
As a member of the United for Youth Network, we commit to:
Increase Equity for All Students with a Focus on Black Students:
- Core Instruction
- Train all staff (teachers, instructional assistants, and administrators) on elements of foundational literacy.
- Support staff with core curriculum and provide authentic implementation support.
- Utilize culturally responsive instructional strategies.
- Regularly analyze academic data to ensure the growth of all students.
- Train all staff (teachers, instructional assistants, and administrators) on elements of foundational literacy.
- Equitable Discipline
- Shift away from exclusionary discipline practices recognizing that exclusionary practices are not an effective method for changing behavior and disproportionately harm black students.
- Decrease the number and percentage of referrals on black students.
- Regularly analyze and respond to discipline data at both the school and district level.
- Learn and utilize restorative practices including circles, accountability measures, and conferences.
- Shift away from exclusionary discipline practices recognizing that exclusionary practices are not an effective method for changing behavior and disproportionately harm black students.
- Student Voice
- Provide opportunities for diverse student voice and leadership at the district and school level.
- Fund students slots at the Racial Equity Institute (REI) training.
- Provide opportunities for diverse student voice and leadership at the district and school level.
- Preschool
- Increase the number and % of black and brown students in ACS Preschools.
- Improve the quality of programming, especially in the area of literacy instruction.
- Strengthen our preschool to kindergarten transition with a focus on early literacy programming to close the achievement gap.
- Increase the number and % of black and brown students in ACS Preschools.
Expand Family and Community Partnerships:
- Extended Learning Opportunities
- Fund an Extended Learning Coordinator.
- Provide after-school academic enrichment opportunities.
- Offer Saturday School academic and attendance opportunities at the high school level.
- Plan for new summer career acceleration with community partners.
- Fund an Extended Learning Coordinator.
- Early Warning and Response System (EWRS)
- Utilize the EWRS, Learning Circle, to strengthen the partnership with community partners serving ACS students.
- Utilize the EWRS, Learning Circle, to strengthen the partnership with community partners serving ACS students.
- Wifi in Public Housing Communities
- In partnership with community stakeholders, provide high-speed wireless internet access to over 1000 households in Asheville Housing Authority residences.
Focus on Health and Wellbeing:
- Social-Emotional Skills
- Incorporate CASEL-aligned social-emotional learning activities into instruction K-12 with dedicated SEL time.
- Utilize an SEL screener, Panorama, to monitor and address students’ social-emotional strengths and areas of growth.
- Analyze data to create SEL action plans for each campus.
- Incorporate CASEL-aligned social-emotional learning activities into instruction K-12 with dedicated SEL time.
- COVID-19 Response
- Respond to the needs of students and families impacted by quarantine and exclusion due to COVID-19 by ensuring access to academic support and essential resources such as medical attention and food.
- Provide weekly data reports and resources.
- Assign COVID Coordinators to each school to support school staff and families when deemed a close contact or have tested positive for COVID-19.
- Work with local health care providers to establish vaccine clinics that are accessible for our staff, students, and families across our city and county.
- Respond to the needs of students and families impacted by quarantine and exclusion due to COVID-19 by ensuring access to academic support and essential resources such as medical attention and food.
- Mental Health
- Employ Student Support Specialists to work with students.
- Employ a McKinney Vento Student Support Liaison to connect homeless students to community resources.
- Work with community agencies to secure support to students and families.
- Employ Student Support Specialists to work with students.
- General Health
- Increase access to school nurses.
- Open a school-based health center at Asheville Middle School in 2022.
- Increase access to school nurses.
Engage in the Asheville Buncombe United for Youth Network:
- U4Y Workgroups
- Participate in workgroups, including Early Warning and Response System, Cross-Sector Leadership, and Results Based Accountability.
- Participate in workgroups, including Early Warning and Response System, Cross-Sector Leadership, and Results Based Accountability.
- Community Schools
- Grow the existing community school model at Asheville Middle School and add an additional community school at Asheville High/School of Inquiry and Life Sciences (SILSA).
- Add a school-based health center at Asheville Middle School.
- Grow the existing community school model at Asheville Middle School and add an additional community school at Asheville High/School of Inquiry and Life Sciences (SILSA).
- Collaboration
- Utilize the U4Y Network to increase collaboration with community partners around improved outcomes for youth in Asheville.
