School Equity Advisory Committee Will Now Include Elementary School Families
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by The School Equity Advisory Committee
The School Equity Advisory Committee (SEAC), is a parent/caregiver and community-led committee that advises the Amherst Regional and Pelham School Districts’ School Committees, and the School Superintendent. SEAC has a long history of working toward equity in the Amherst Regional Public Schools (Amherst Regional High School and Amherst Regional Middle School).
In the coming months, SEAC will be expanding its work to include the families of elementary school students. SEAC’s mission is to ensure academic opportunity for all students and to work to ensure that every student thrives emotionally, socially, and academically. This requires fostering a culture of inclusion, support, and belonging to empower all students to reach their full potential. SEAC advises the Superintendent and School Committees on ways to achieve equitable excellence, focusing on the diverse racial, ethnic, socio-economic, cultural, religious, ability, and gender differences within the student body, with a focus on three key areas:
- Culture, Community, and School Climate: Promoting a climate of respect and safety for all students.
- Discipline Disparities: Addressing disproportionate discipline rates among marginalized student groups.
- Academic Excellence and Equity: Ensuring equitable access to academic excellence.
While these focus areas are separate challenges with distinct solutions, they are all interrelated: disciplinary disparities lead to academic disparities and vice versa; a school culture and climate that does not promote safety and respect for all will inevitably impact disciplinary disparities and the ability to achieve academic excellence. To learn more, see the most recent SEAC report to the Regional School Committee.
SEAC meets monthly, alternating between community building, the sharing of caregiver concerns, and meetings with the district’s leadership. The public is invited to join us at our two upcoming Amherst events:
- First Day Celebration on Mon., Aug. 25th, 4:30-6:30 pm at Kendrick Park.
- Welcome Potluck ~ all families, on Wed., Sept. 24th, 4-6pm at Groff Park.
For more information contact: Alyssa Melnick alyssa@mmelnick.com or 917-544-3408.