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Equity and Access for ALL

Four high school students holding colorful signs.

Our Commitment

Gahanna-Jefferson Public Schools embraces the rich perspectives and experiences that stem from our unique racial, ethnic, socio-economic, gender, ability, sexual orientation, language and religious diversity.

As a District, we are committed to ensuring all students thrive from having access to high-quality educational resources and stimulating academic experiences. We believe in providing a supportive and inclusive environment where students feel respected and free to be their authentic selves.

Read more in our resolution reaffirming our Board’s commitment to the District’s core values.

Contact Information

To learn more about these efforts and/or to serve as a partner in this work, please email Equity@gjps.org

 

Equity Team

During the 2019-2020 school year, we assembled an Equity Team, made up of ten District administrators, which participated in an intensive inclusion training through the Education Service Center of Central Ohio's Equity Institute. This program is based on the principle of equity in education, which means every learner has access to opportunities that are aligned with their needs and that support their academic and social emotional success.

The formation of our Equity Team was an outcome of prior learning and training for GJPS leaders, which included several District-wide professional development opportunities in the 2018-19 school year. These provided continuous education for GJPS teachers and staff that centered around equity and access for all. 

Areas of Focus

The work of the GJPS Equity Team is ongoing. In early 2021, GJPS launched a District action plan to address implicit bias, social injustice, educational inequity and racism.

The plan and action team focuses include:

  • Developing a strong sense of belonging through authentic relationships and empowered student voices;
  • Diversifying our GJPS staff focusing on the areas of recruitment and retention;
  • Offering an inclusive curriculum and diversified resources that reframe and create instruction through the lens of social justice and cultural relevance;
  • Analyzing and creating action steps to mitigate the disproportionality in our student population as it pertains to discipline, special education and gifted and advanced programming;
  • Establishing strategies for student and parent engagement and partnerships; and
  • Reexamining district policies and practices to be in line with our anti-racist and inclusivity commitment.