GREATER BOSTON STUDENTS OF COLOR ACHIEVEMENT
NETWORK
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| The EDCO Collaborative
(EDCO) and Empowering Multicultural Initiatives
(EMI) are pleased to announce the establishment
of a regional network for school districts in the
Greater Boston area who share a commitment to the
high academic achievement of students of color. |
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Background
The Network was developed
in response to the interest of suburban districts
in the Greater Boston area in developing a
consortium of school districts that share
a common goal of addressing the achievement
of students of color in their schools. The
purpose of this new consortium is to support
collaboration to provide high quality professional
development, consultation and research regarding
multiple factors that affect the achievement
of students of color. |
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Mission
To build a systematic use
of the existing research based knowledge and best
practices to support the achievement of students
of color within the schools of participating districts. |
Vision
To provide meaningful change in classroom practice
and leadership strategies to address the achievement
of students of color through training and activities
that focus on the following entry points: |
- Equity Leadership
- Effective Content and
Pedagogy
- Cultural Proficiency
and Anti-Racism
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| These three core elements
are viewed to be interdependent, with no single
element being sufficient to secure meaningful change.
The Network will focus on activities related to
the first two elements and offer discounted access
and/or membership affiliations to EMI,
which offers professional development on cultural
proficiency and anti-racist teaching practices. |
Structure
The GBSOCAN is consortium
of member school districts that share the
mission and vision of the Network. The Network
will be administered by EDCO, but membership
in the Network is separate and distinct from
membership in the EDCO Collaborative. Because
of the regional nature of the Network, offerings
will include both one time and ongoing professional
development activities and the opportunity
for ongoing consulting and/or research relationships
with local and national experts who focus
on equity leadership and effective content
and pedagogy. |
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Governance
Decisions concerning Network
activities will be the responsibility of an Advisory
Council composed of one representative from each
participating District. The representative may be
a Superintendent or other administrator, including
a METCO Director. In addition, there will be two
at large members who experts in the field. EDCO,
as the administrator of the Network, will be responsible
for implementing Network activities. The Advisory
Council may also authorize the convening of a research
practitioners group to review and make recommendations
for future Network activities. |
Member Profiles
Because this is a regional
network, the priority requirement for membership
is that the district is geographically close enough
to Boston so that regular participation in Network
activities is feasible. All will be suburban or
small urban communities, and all will have a history
of commitment to the high achievement of students
of color. One cohort of communities will be suburban
in nature, with relatively small populations of
students of color, many of whom may be enrolled
in the district through the METCO Program. The other
cohort will be comprised of larger communities with
relatively larger populations of students of color
enrolled in their districts, either as METCO or
resident students. All communities will share the
goals of the Network; however, the implementation
of these goals may vary given the different community
profiles. |
| Expectations of
Membership: |
- Annual membership fee
- Participation on the
governing board
- Full use of member
services
- Contribution in kind
of appropriate space for Network activities
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Activities of the
Network
In the
first year, the activities of the Network will include
the following. Activities in future years will be
determined by the Advisory Council. |
- Facilitated Superintendents
Group on Issues of Equity
- Facilitated Principals
Group on Issues of Equity
- Affinity Group for
Teachers of Color
- Guidance Counselors
Series focusing on First Time College Goers
- Curriculum Specialists
and/or Department Heads Series focusing Academic
Excellence for Students of Color
- Student Leadership
Conference for 8th Graders and 11th graders
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An inventory of current
programs and a needs assessment will be completed
in the first year to inform future planning.
In addition, Network members will have access at
a discounted rate to the coursework and workshops
Empowering Multicultural Initiatives (EMI), a professional
development organization focusing on anti-racism
and cultural proficiency. |
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| Fee Structure and
Services: |
| GBSOCAN
Membership |
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$
3,000 |
| Participation
in all Network Activities, including: |
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Participation
in all leadership groups and educator series,
up to 3 participants in each |
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Admission
to Speaker Series, up to 5 participants in
each session |
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Participation
in Student Leadership Conferences, up to 5
students in each conference |
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Participation
in Affinity Group for Teachers of Color |
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Participation
in Program Inventory and Needs Assessment |
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Access
to EMI courses and workshops at Network member
rate |
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| GBSOCAN
Membership |
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$
12,500 |
| Participation
in all Network Activities and participation
in selected EMI Activities: |
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Participation
in 52 credit hours of EMI courses and workshops
(0ne credit hour equals 12 hours of seat time
in an EMI course) |
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Access
to additional EMI courses and workshops at
Network member rate |
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| GBSOCAN
Membership and Full EMI Membership |
$
15,000 |
| Participation
in all Network Activities and participation
in all EMI Activities: |
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Participation
in 75 credit hours of EMI Courses and Workshops |
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Access
to one customized workshop for the District |
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Access
to additional EMI courses and workshops at
EMI Member rate |
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