- Evanston/Skokie School District 65
- Student Assignment Planning (SAP)
Engagement Opportunities
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As we think about student assignment planning, we understand that these are difficult but necessary conversations that must bring our whole community to the table. We must initiate and navigate these conversations to further our pursuit of more equitable learning environments that meet the needs of all students, especially those who have been disproportionately impacted by harmful policies and practices. Please commit to sharing your voice and being a part of this important journey.
Throughout this multi-year process, we are committed to ensuring high levels of community involvement and engagement of stakeholders with multiple perspectives.
Below, we have outlined a variety of opportunities that our community can engage with throughout this process.
- Student Assignment Project Survey - This survey is available in English and Spanish. The survey is open until October 22, 2021.
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Ward specific focus groups led by Northwestern University - These groups will be introduced to wards in late November/early December.
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Townhalls Meetings - We plan to bring our recommendation and action plans to the community prior to our final recommendation to the Board of Education. These will likely happen in late January/ early February.
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Employee Survey
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Student Assignment Planning (SAP) Survey
Student Assignment Planning (SAP) Survey
Available through October 22, 2021
District 65 has embarked on a multi-year process to develop a comprehensive Student Assignment Plan (SAP) to modernize the District structure and address historic inequities that continue to most significantly impact students of color. This may include changes to school attendance areas, reconsideration of a more equitable selection process for magnet schools and programs, and establishing a local school in the Fifth Ward.
Feedback and perspective that authentically represents the needs of our students and community is critical! Please take 10 minutes to complete the Student Assignment Planning Survey in English / Spanish through October 22, 2021.
Learn more about the District 65 Student Assignment Planning Process on the District’s SAP Resource Hub!
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SAP Virtual Interactive Presentation Sessions
YOUR VOICE MATTERS!
Last spring, District 65 launched a multi-year Student Assignment Project (SAP) to modernize our district structure and address historic inequities that continue to most significantly impact students of color. Student assignment is a part of our multi-faceted approach to long-term planning for the future of our public schools. D65 organized a SAP Committee charged with making recommendations on student assignment to the School Board this spring. The Committee collectively established some guiding principles for sub-committee exploration:
- Walkable schools/ Revised boundaries
- Decreased transportation
- A school in the 5th Ward
- Broadening magnet programs
Additional data and resources can be viewed on the main SAP page.
The SAP committee’s meeting agendas and minutes are available on the SAP Committee page.Broad Community Voice is Critical to the SAP Process
Last fall, a community survey was released to gather input and perspectives. We received 197 surveys from staff and 1,804 completed community and family surveys.
We also invited all members of the D65 community to join us for a virtual interactive presentation to take a deeper dive into the survey data and gather additional feedback based on the results. In January, the district hosted six virtual interactive presentations on Zoom (5 in English with Spanish translation, 1 in Spanish) for the community and one specifically for staff. The presentations were in webinar format with the opportunity to gather participants' input utilizing a series of questions with responses utilizing an interactive digital tool, ThoughtExchange. In each presentation, the interactive tool allowed the participants to express their needs anonymously, and rate ideas on their merit—so the most supported ideas would rise to the top. Over 300 parents/caregivers, staff, and community members attended and shared their perspectives.
SAP Virtual Interactive Sessions Flyer (English) | (Spanish)
Manager of Student Assignments Sarita Smith also presented the presentation information at the February 2022 Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee (BPAC) meeting and provided the opportunity for ThoughtExchange sharing.
Each session explored topics related to the guiding principles:
- Neighborhood Schools - Focus on how we create walkable and rideable schools for D65 students, what a neighborhood means to our community, and the potential for opening a 5th ward school. (Sessions on Jan. 22, Jan. 26)
- Selective Enrollment Programs - Focus on Two-Way Immersion (TWI) and African Centered Curriculum (ACC) placement needs and support. (Sessions on Jan. 18, Jan 22-Spanish only)
- Magnet Schools - Review the development of our current magnet school model, reviewing magnet schools and magnet programs for diversifying schools, and thoughts on what makes magnet schools attractive. (Session on Jan. 29)
Recorded sessions, along with the presentation, are available for preview.
Presentation:
D65 SAP Community Virtual Interactive PresentationRecorded Sessions:
D65 SAP Community Virtual Interactive Presentation Session (English) | (Spanish)Thought Exchange Results
Community - Belonging
1.18.22 Community Thoughts Q1
1.22.22 Community Thoughts Q1 (English) | (Spanish)
1.26.22 Community Thoughts Q1
1.29.22 Community Thoughts Q1
1.31.22 Community Thoughts Q1 - STAFF
2.8.22 Community Thoughts Q1 - BPACMagnet Schools
1.29.22 Magnet Schools Thoughts Q1
1.29.22 Magnet Schools Thoughts Q2
1.31.22 Magnet Thoughts Q2Neighborhood
1.22.22 Neighborhood Thoughts Q1 (English) | (Spanish)
1.22.22 Neighborhood Thoughts Q2
1.26.22 Neighborhood Thoughts Q1
1.26.22 Neighborhood Thoughts Q2
1.31.22 Neighborhood Thoughts - STAFF
2.08.22 Neighborhood Thoughts Q1 - BPACSelective Enrollment Program
1.18.22 Selective Programs Thoughts Q1
1.18.22 Selective Programs Thoughts Q2
1.22.22 Selective Programs Thoughts Q1 - Spanish
1.22.22 Selective Programs Thoughts Q2 - Spanish
1.31.22 Selective Programs Thoughts Q1 - STAFF
2.08.22 Selective Programs Thoughts Q1 - BPAC
2.08.22 Selective Programs Thoughts Q2 - BPAC -
SAP Update and Scenarios Presentation
Our Student Assignment Planning (SAP) process led by Sarita Smith, Director of Student Assignments, in collaboration with our community-based SAP Committee is moving full steam ahead with the goal of presenting recommendations to the School Board at the March 14 Regular Board Meeting.
Follow-up from the Interactive Data Presentations
Last month, a series of interactive community presentations were held that focused on the fall SAP survey data as well as virtual discussions focused on neighborhood schools, selective enrollment, and magnet programs. We are grateful to the over 300 individuals who attended and shared their perspectives. If you weren’t able to attend, tune in to a short video presentation and also review the community thoughts shared as part of the events.
Master Facility Planning Report
On Monday, February 14, a Master Facilities Plan Report was presented at the Finance Committee Meeting. This included detailed information on enrollment projections, building capacities, facility needs, and more. Watch the recording and view the resources.
Next Steps: Student Assignment Scenarios
We know our community cares deeply about our schools and creating an equitable Student Assignment Plan is critical for our future. While preparing to present a recommendation from the SAP Committee to the School Board related to attendance-area boundaries, program changes, and district footprint, we first brought scenarios forward to our community for feedback. Scenarios were driven by the guiding principles established by the SAP Committee, data gathered from Master Facility Planning, and community perspective.
We hosted several sessions to present scenarios to our community and obtain feedback and gather questions. All sessions covered the same content, lasted one hour, and included Spanish interpretation. Sessions were held virtually due to the pandemic on:
- Sunday, February 27, at 2:00 pm
- Tuesday, March 1, at 5:30 pm
- Wednesday, March 2, at 7:00 pm
Missed the virtual Updates and Scenarios sessions? Below you can review the presentation and March 2 recording.
D65 Community Updates and Scenarios Meeting Presentation (English) | (Spanish)
SAP Community Meeting Updates and Scenarios March 2, 2022 recording (English) | (Spanish)
Thought Exchange Results
Community Thoughts February 27, 2022
Community Thoughts March 1, 2022
Community Thoughts March 2, 2022
Staff Thoughts February 2022Dive Deeper into the SAP Process!
Our SAP Resource Hub is filled with information including video resources, minutes and agendas from SAP committee meetings, resources from Master Facility Planning, and transparent data collected from our community Thought Exchanges, surveys, and more.
We welcome continued community feedback - please submit your questions/concerns to our SAP team. Thank you for your continued support of this critical process.