Local policy impacts schools and communities in many ways. At its best, district-level policy can be a lever for positive change, equitable practices and outcomes, and a solid foundation in the face of sometimes constant administrative turnover. At its worst, it can be an out-of-date and rarely considered compliance framework or a barrier to best practices and authentic engagement. Far too often, practitioners and community members are left out of policy conversations and end up feeling as though policy changes are being imposed upon them. As a practitioner or community member, having an understanding of the policy landscape where you live and work can elevate your voice and help you drive powerful and proactive student-centered change. And as a policymaker, organizing ideas and empowering people—especially those who have been historically disenfranchised—is a critical element of ensuring cohesive, equitable policy impacts.
Participants will learn how policy can be a driver for dismantling and disrupting inequities at the district, building, and classroom levels, and how the policymaking process can help create and bring to life a shared community vision. Participants will leave with a framework for engaging with policy in their own district and strategies for creating and safeguarding a shared vision for equitable education.