Areas of Focus

Areas of focus will be refined based on public workshop findings and on Working Group discussions—they may include:

• Admissions Policies & Access to Information

• Academic Excellence & Student Achievement

• School Programming

• Equitable Resource Allocation & School Capacity 

Process Goals

In addition to the overall goal of increasing school diversity in each of the districts, District 13 specifically hopes to achieve the following process goals: 

• Create strong connections between D13 elementary and middle schools

• Provide a school option for all D13 families

• Understand the school related needs and priorities of D13 families

• Provide the supports necessary to foster inclusive, integrated middle schools. 

• Increase district retention

Community Engagement

Community engagement will be built around the following four major phases.

1. Framing (February 2020) – Present data and talk about the multiple types of diversity; gather insights from community members that will give direction to initiatives and actions; and understand community members’ priorities.

2. Project Themes, History & Best Practices (March 2020) – Understand challenges and opportunities unique to District 13; build themes based on insights from previous workshop.

3. Options (April – May 2020) – Present draft recommendations; gather feedback.

4. Final Presentation (June – July 2020) – During the final options presentation in Spring 2020, the Working Group will present their recommendations based on the previous public workshops. Presentation attendees will prioritize the recommendations, discuss next steps, and celebrate their community and collective work.

D13 COMMUNITY

The District 13 community plays an important role throughout the planning process to create the D13 Diversity Plan. If you live in District 13, we actively seek your input in public workshops and through other community engagement and public outreach activities. Feedback collected from community members will serve as the foundation for the plan’s framework and recommendations.

WORKING GROUP

The members of the D13 Diversity Plan Working Group—stakeholders from across District 13—are guiding the planning process. They are tasked with keeping the process inclusive, accessible, and accountable to all D13 residents. This group also works to generate interest in public workshops, review and provide feedback on community findings, and, to use these findings to shape the plan’s framework and recommendations. The Working Group began meeting on December 17, 2019.

Working Group Participants:

• District 13 Superintendent
• Central Staff — New York City Department of Education
• Member – Community Board 3
• Member – Community Education Council 13
• Parent – MS 915
• Parent – Park Place Middle School 266
• Parent – PS 9
• Parent – PS 54
• Principal – PS 307
• Principal – Fort Greene Prep
• Staff – Community Board 2
• Teacher – PS 282
• Teacher – Urban Assembly Unison School

The following principles were utilized to guide Working Group formation:

District Geography – The “district’ covers a large geographic area with several distinct neighborhoods and communities. The selection of Working Group members seeks to be representative of school communities, students, and families across the district.

Experience Working on Issues of Diversity, Equity and Integration – The selection of Working Group members seeks to engage individuals, organizations, and school community members who have been previously engaged in advancing equity and integration.

Local to the District – The selection of Working Group members seeks to engage individuals, organizations and school community members rooted in the district. The work of citywide organizations and coalitions will serve as important assets to the community planning process and will be incorporated through other mechanisms.

Diverse Representation – The selection of Working Group members seeks to include members of the school community across a wide range of races, ethnicities, cultural identities, abilities, educational backgrounds, incomes, languages and life experiences.

Anchored in History – Commitment to utilize history and the best possible research available as a tool to anchor and understand our current context and create future policies.