Inclusive Education - Barrington Community Unit 220 School District

Embrace and celebrate diversity. Recruit, hire, and maintain a diverse, high-quality staff.
Refine and build educational systems from pre-kindergarten through post-high
school transition that serve the breadth and depth of our student community.
Ensure all learners have equitable access to a high-quality education to achieve their potential.

Accessibility

Provide all students access to academic and co-curricular programs and experiences pre-kindergarten through post-high school transition while reviewing barriers to participation; allow students personal choice in their involvement in extracurricular activities

Baseline 🔴

not yet started

The baseline refers to the starting point or current state of affairs regarding a particular objective. It involves assessing and documenting the existing conditions, performance, or data related to the objective. Baseline information provides a reference point against which progress can be measured and evaluated. It answers the question, “Where are we today?”

Recommendation 🔴

Not Yet Started

Recommendations are proposed actions or strategies that are suggested based on the assessment of the baseline data and analysis of the current situation. These recommendations are intended to address identified gaps, challenges, or areas for improvement. They provide guidance on the actions that should be taken to move toward the desired outcome of the objective. Recommendations answer the question, “What are we going to do?”

Implementation 🔴

Not Yet Started

Implementation refers to the actual execution or carrying out of the recommended actions or strategies. It involves putting the proposed recommendations into practice, allocating necessary resources, assigning responsibilities, following established timelines and/or meeting milestones. Implementation requires leadership, coordination, monitoring, and management to ensure that the planned actions are effectively executed.

Measurement 🔴

Not Yet Started

Measurement involves assessing and evaluating the progress and outcomes of the implemented actions in relation to the objectives. It includes collecting and analyzing relevant data, metrics, or indicators to determine the extent to which the objectives have been achieved. Measurement helps to track the success of the objectives, identify areas for further improvement or adjustment, and inform future decision-making processes. Measurements may be binary (e.g., completed or not completed), quantitative, or qualitative. Measurements answer the question, “How will we know if we are successful?”

Embracing Diversity

Develop a process to gather input from stakeholders of diverse backgrounds. Using a lens of equity, incorporate input into the development and review of district practices and programs.

Baseline 🟡

in progress

Projected Timeframe: November 2023 - November 2024

The baseline refers to the starting point or current state of affairs regarding a particular objective. It involves assessing and documenting the existing conditions, performance, or data related to the objective. Baseline information provides a reference point against which progress can be measured and evaluated. It answers the question, “Where are we today?”

Recommendation 🔴

Not Yet Started

Recommendations are proposed actions or strategies that are suggested based on the assessment of the baseline data and analysis of the current situation. These recommendations are intended to address identified gaps, challenges, or areas for improvement. They provide guidance on the actions that should be taken to move toward the desired outcome of the objective. Recommendations answer the question, “What are we going to do?”

Implementation 🔴

Not Yet Started

Implementation refers to the actual execution or carrying out of the recommended actions or strategies. It involves putting the proposed recommendations into practice, allocating necessary resources, assigning responsibilities, following established timelines and/or meeting milestones. Implementation requires leadership, coordination, monitoring, and management to ensure that the planned actions are effectively executed.

Measurement 🔴

Not Yet Started

Measurement involves assessing and evaluating the progress and outcomes of the implemented actions in relation to the objectives. It includes collecting and analyzing relevant data, metrics, or indicators to determine the extent to which the objectives have been achieved. Measurement helps to track the success of the objectives, identify areas for further improvement or adjustment, and inform future decision-making processes. Measurements may be binary (e.g., completed or not completed), quantitative, or qualitative. Measurements answer the question, “How will we know if we are successful?”

Hiring Practices

Develop an ongoing process to recruit, hire, and retain a more diverse staff that mirrors our student demographics; develop partnerships with colleges and universities to incorporate a ‘Grow-Your-Own’ program.

Baseline ✅

COMPLETED

The baseline phase occurred from April 2023 - December 2023. During this time Barrington 220:

Conducted comprehensive research on surrounding school districts to inform Barrington 220 hiring practices. This included studying their hiring processes, exploring the use of hiring software, reviewing handbooks, and gathering information on training programs. This research will provide valuable insights into best practices and help us refine Barrington 220 hiring procedures.
Surveyed recent Barrington 220 hires to receive feedback about Barrington 220's hiring and onboarding processes. This feedback provided valuable insights into areas of strength and areas for improvement, helping us refine and enhance our procedures.

Recommendation ✅

COMPLETED

Diversify Recruitment Channels: Our plan involves expanding the reach of job postings by utilizing various platforms that cater to diverse audiences. This includes online job boards, professional associations, community organizations, and social media platforms. Additionally, we will explore partnerships with diversity-focused job boards or organizations to attract a broader pool of candidates.
Hiring Procedures: Integrate updated hiring procedures and processes and create hiring committees in each building trained in the Barrington 220 consistent hiring practices and procedures, including implicit bias and cultural proficiency training.
Train Interviewers on Diversity and Inclusion: Conduct comprehensive training sessions for interviewers to raise awareness of unconscious biases and equip them with the skills to conduct fair and inclusive interviews. Aim to foster an environment that promotes diversity and prevents biases during the selection process. Encourage the formation of diverse interview panels to enhance perspectives and contribute to a more inclusive hiring process. Integrate Implicit Bias and Cultural Proficiency training into the new Barrington 220 Hiring Practices and Procedures.
Hiring Committee Expectations: Expect hiring committee members to engage in Implicit Bias and Cultural Proficiency training actively, approach the hiring process objectively, and communicate and collaborate effectively. Adhere to the established Barrington 220 Hiring Practices and Procedures; committee members will champion diversity, equity, and inclusion, thereby contributing to the creation of a welcoming and representative workforce.

Implementation 🟡

in progress

Projected Timeframe: January 2024 - August 2025

Diversify Recruitment Channels
We are currently broadening the reach of our job postings through diverse platforms. This strategy encompasses online job boards, professional associations, community organizations, and social media platforms. Additionally, we have forged partnerships with diversity-focused job boards and organizations to attract a more expansive and varied pool of candidates. This concerted effort ensures that our job opportunities resonate with a wide range of individuals across various channels.

Hiring Committee Expectations
Barrington 220 is actively instituting hiring committees within each school building. These committees are designed to elevate inclusive hiring practices by making Implicit Bias and Cultural Proficiency training mandatory for all participants. Committee members are expected to actively engage in training, exercise objective, and unbiased decision-making, communicate and collaborate effectively, and adhere to Barrington 220 Hiring Practices and Procedures. This commitment extends to championing diversity, equity, and inclusion, thereby fostering a welcoming and representative workforce.

Implicit Bias and Cultural Proficiency Training
We are integrating Implicit Bias and Cultural Proficiency training into the new Barrington 220 Hiring Practices and Procedures. This mandatory training ensures that all members of our hiring committees gain a deep understanding of diverse perspectives and experiences, fostering a more inclusive hiring environment.

barrington 220 hiring toolkit

Measurement 🔴

Not Yet Started

Measurement involves assessing and evaluating the progress and outcomes of the implemented actions in relation to the objectives. It includes collecting and analyzing relevant data, metrics, or indicators to determine the extent to which the objectives have been achieved. Measurement helps to track the success of the objectives, identify areas for further improvement or adjustment, and inform future decision-making processes. Measurements may be binary (e.g., completed or not completed), quantitative, or qualitative. Measurements answer the question, “How will we know if we are successful?”

Professional Development

Continue the development and implementation of a plan for large-scale professional development for all stakeholder groups focused on inclusive education and culturally responsive teaching practices (e.g., revised Charlotte Danielson Framework for Teaching).

Baseline ✅

completeD

During the 2022-23 school year, the district began its review of the Danielson Framework. Since 2011, Barrington 220 has used a research-validated evaluation tool called the Danielson Framework for teacher observation, evaluation, and development. The Danielson Framework was developed by acclaimed educator Charlotte Danielson. It is used as a teacher evaluation tool in many school districts across the country.

In 2022, the Danielson Group revised its framework to reflect new research and feedback from educators in the field. The revised framework further advances principles of equity and social-emotional learning concepts.

Recommendation ✅

completeD

During the 2022-23 school year, Barrington 220's Supervisory Task Force made a recommendation to implement the revised Danielson Framework. The Barrington 220 Supervisory Process Task Force (SPTF) is composed of equal members of administrators and teachers and was first formed during the 2011-2012 school year for the purpose of aligning Barrington 220’s Supervisory Process with state law. The SPTF meets at least once annually for the purpose of maintaining a pulse on the supervisory process, recommending any changes and/or revisions to the process, improving and/or enhancing the quality and integrity of the process, and ensuring ongoing alignment to state law and the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) requirements.

Implementation ✅

CompleteD

During summer 2023, Barrington 220 provided Summer University (professional development) courses for staff members focused on applying an equity lens to the Danielson Framework.
During New Educator Orientation in August 2023, the district provided professional learning on the Danielson Framework to all new educators.
In August 2023, the district provided professional learning on the Danielson Framework to all certified district staff members.
Barrington 220 implemented the revised Danielson evaluation tool for the 2023-24 school year. Click here to view a side-by-side comparison of the Danielson Framework in 2013 and 2022
In October 2023 the district provided additional professional learning to all district administrators focused on how to provide feedback to teachers by utilizing the Danielson Framework.

Measurement 🔴

Not Yet Started

Measurement involves assessing and evaluating the progress and outcomes of the implemented actions in relation to the objectives. It includes collecting and analyzing relevant data, metrics, or indicators to determine the extent to which the objectives have been achieved. Measurement helps to track the success of the objectives, identify areas for further improvement or adjustment, and inform future decision-making processes. Measurements may be binary (e.g., completed or not completed), quantitative, or qualitative. Measurements answer the question, “How will we know if we are successful?”