Part of the BELE learning series, this paper explores insights from our equity initiatives in partner districts. It focuses on the conditions necessary to create equitable learning environments that enhance the student experience, and where districts should focus their efforts to sustain meaningful change.

Whether or not students feel cared for by teachers, and the overall quality of student-teacher relationships, can have profound effects on their engagement and investment in learning. Introduction Introduction to Teacher Caring Chapter 1: Get to Know Your Students as People Getting to know your students is the first step in fostering meaningful student-teacher relationships….

Originally created for the December BELE Convening, this directory will help districts know what kind of support they can find within BELE.

In this article, Abigail Echo-Hawk, the Chief Research Officer of the Seattle Indian Health Board, talks about what it means to decolonize data in her context of providing health services for indigenous communities. This discussion goes into how data is communicated through a deficit-based framework, how to add a cultural lens in thinking about data,…

There is no better source for learning about a student than the child’s parent(s) or guardians. Yet teachers can go months or even the whole year without any significant interaction with the families of their students. Intentional family engagement, therefore, is a critical aspect of creating a sense of classroom belonging. It allows for a…

Peer tutoring accomplishes two critical tasks that contribute to feelings of classroom belonging. First, it empowers students by formalizing their roles as knowledge creators. Second, it builds stronger connections between students as they tackle difficult concepts together. Establishing a peer mentor/tutor system explicitly demonstrates trust in students’ mastery of material and their ability to explain…

Elevate is a free tool that helps teachers work together to improve their students’ classroom experiences. The linked page lists free resources for leading Elevate communities of practice—everything from building will with teachers to community of practice meeting protocols.

People feel a sense of increased well-being and are more likely to help each other when they work in an organization that prioritizes relationships—if they experience trusting community. Created to support Catalyze users or anyone interested in improving organizational conditions, this guide introduces research, principles, practices, and measures related to trusting community.

People feel more informed and purposeful when they work together to identify, understand, and address equity issues in their organization—if they experience transformative equity. Created to support Catalyze users or anyone interested in improving organizational conditions, this guide introduces research, principles, practices, and measures related to transformative equity.

People feel cared for and are more committed to their organization when they work with leaders who invest in relationships and model competence and humility—if they experience supportive leadership. Created to support Catalyze users or anyone interested in improving organizational conditions, this guide introduces research, principles, practices, and measures related to supportive leadership.