The Sun Prairie Equity Framework

In 2014, then Superintendent Tim Culver and Tom Weber completed nearly 60 SWOT exercises with groups of people across our community, with specific consciousness of connecting with community groups who represent the diversity of our community. The thematic analysis of the SWOT exercises was then studied at a three-night event attended by more than 65 community members representing our diverse community. The result of this meeting is our Sun Prairie Area School District Vision and Mission and our Strategic Plan. 

The Sun Prairie Area School District’s Vision, Mission, and Strategic Plan are annually cascaded through Scorecards across all district departments and schools, continuing through grade-level, subject department, and individual goals, called student learning objectives (SLOs). This represents one of our strongest bonds with our community. What the community has articulated that it expects from the school district, what the Board monitors the system to achieve, and what the administrative team has developed to achieve those expectations directly align on behalf of our students and families.

We have been working in partnership with the Pacific Educational Group (PEG) as part of our strategic goal to eliminate the opportunity gap for students of color through racial equity. The staff at PEG have been working with staff and community members to transform beliefs, behaviors, and results so students of all races can achieve at their highest level. Three teams have been formed to learn the Courageous Conversation protocol to help us engage in deep interracial dialogue and to address persistent racial disparities. The three teams within our system are as follows: 

1) District Equity Leadership Team (DELT) 
Comprised of the superintendent, assistant superintendents, and District Support Center administrators.

2) LEADS
Made up of all site and District administrators as well as program managers and administrative support staff.

3) Site E-Teams (equity teams)
Seven to ten members from each school site.

All three teams began their equity journey by participating in the Beyond Diversity seminar and have participated in quarterly staff development. All teams have been charged with examining the impact of race on student learning and creating strategic actions to address disparities that exist at each site. The results of this work have been shared on our district, department, and site action plans.

AVID is an elementary through post secondary college readiness system designed to increase school-wide learning and performances for students. Currently in Sun Prairie, AVID is offered 8th through 12th grades.

AVID targets students in the academic middle who have the desire to go to college and the willingness to work hard. These are students capable of completing rigorous curriculum but who are falling short of their potential.

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Equal Opportunity Schools brings equity to Advanced Placement (AP) and Project Lead the Way (PLTW) classes. Equal Opportunity Schools (EOS) has helped more than 540 schools, including Sun Prairie High School, identify low-income students and students of color who qualify for, but are missing from AP classes. Working together, we successfully enroll students and support their academic success.  

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The purpose of the BSU (Black Student Union) is to train students to become leaders for themselves, their families, their communities, and school. The organization’s mission is to analyze and resolve the stereotypes and barriers between ourselves and others, and to build commUNITY within our own as well as with other cultures and individuals by applying honor and respect. Beyond, the BSU is a safe place for minority students to express, debate and celebrate Black culture, history and politics.

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The SPASD in collaboration with grants awarded from the Sun Prairie Education Foundation have provided for JusTme to work with all elementary schools and middle schools in the SPASD. His expertise is in teaching self-love and self-awareness through mindfulness and Hip-hop.

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Computer Science and robotics camps are available to students throughout the school year and into the summer. The program links mentors in computer science with students who attend the clubs and summer program to grow overall interest in the field of computer science.