Petition for Immediate DEIB Accountability and Action in Jenkintown School District

Ansökan riktad till: The School District of Jenkintown School Board

Urgent Call for Action
We, the undersigned parents, guardians, and community members, call upon the Jenkintown School Board to take immediate and decisive action to strengthen Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) accountability and initiatives within our district.

Our Call to Action
We urge the Jenkintown School Board to take the following immediate steps to establish a sustainable, district-wide DEIB strategy:

• Provide annual, comprehensive training for all teachers and staff on discrimination, racism in the classroom, implicit bias, and fostering an inclusive environment.
• Develop and enforce clear, transparent policies to address incidents of bias and discrimination, ensuring accountability and consistency in responses.
• Integrate DEIB principles into curriculum, instructional practices, and school culture, ensuring that students see themselves represented and that inclusion is embedded in daily learning experiences.
• Implement targeted recruitment and retention efforts to increase teacher and leadership diversity, fostering a school environment where all educators and students feel valued and supported.

Jenkintown must acknowledge that meaningful, systemic change requires expertise beyond what currently exists within the district. Without internal capacity to lead and sustain this work effectively, we urge the School Board to engage an independent DEIB organization to:

• Conduct an equity audit to assess current policies, practices, and school climate.
• Provide an objective, data-driven analysis to identify key areas for improvement.
• Develop a structured DEIB strategy with clear, actionable steps and accountability measures.
• Ensure alignment with best practices from districts that have successfully implemented sustainable, measurable DEIB efforts.