District and state policies should be designed to make sure that students are welcomed into an environment that prioritizes not only their academic success, but also their identity development and well-being. District policies should be routinely reviewed – including through regular audits – to verify that they center the experiences, voices, and humanity of students.
This means ensuring that resources are being allocated equitably and effectively, students and families are engaged authentically, school leaders are empowered, systems and structures support student-centered learning and continuous improvement, and goals are aligned around a vision for an equitable, humanized system. Ultimately, policies should be adapted to ensure that all stakeholders are able to work toward actualizing each Essential Action.
