Iowa City Community School District Task Force Report Released

The Iowa City Community School District (ICCSD) Multi-Stakeholder School Climate Task Force, under the guidance of Social and Education Policy Research Program director, Sarah Bruch, has provided recommendations for achieving equity for students within the district.

The task force, made up of students, parents, teachers, administrators, and community members, arose out of a school climate survey Bruch did last summer. The survey results showed a pattern of disproportionate experiences for students of color and lower socio-economic status, which were outlined in a report and three policy briefs. The task force met four times to review the documents, brainstormed options, and provided recommendations for the ICCSD Board. Three of these recommendations stood out as top priorities:

1. Adopt a district-wide strategy for addressing disparities in student experiences and outcomes.
2. Provide training to all district staff, teachers, and administrators to improve the awareness, knowledge, and understanding of cultural competency and implicit bias.
3. Actively recruit and retain staff, teachers, and administrators of diverse backgrounds.

“The Iowa City Community School district is well-positioned to take meaningful, concrete action to work toward achieving their goal for all students to achieve at high levels,” said Bruch, adding that the District should continue to evaluate current programming that addresses equity, to ensure long-term success.

To read the full report, click here.