Response to Mead School District Board of Directors Draft Policies: Draft Policy 2401 – Civics Education and Amendment to Policy 2021 – Library Media Center
School’s Out Washington (SOWA) remains committed to ensuring that all children and youth in our state feel welcome, safe, and can thrive. We join many students, families, school staff, and organizations in opposing two proposals before the Mead School District Board of Directors – Draft Policy 2401 and Amendment to Policy 2021.
As an intermediary organization that works with afterschool and summer programs all over the Spokane area and the state, we see the challenges that our students face and work with them to overcome barriers to educational and life success. These policies are the antithesis to these efforts and serve to harm students of color, LGBTQ+ students, female students – and ultimately all students – by restricting access to factual relevant information and stories pertinent to the American experience that impacts everything from science to history to civics to the arts.
Now, more than ever, inclusive and diverse curriculum, tools, and resource materials provide important information for students to understand the world around them through a diverse range of perspectives that are critical in our global economy. Our schools serve a critical role in building a world of compassion that we so desperately need given the divisions within our country and among the international community.
School’s Out Washington supports efforts to support all students, decrease educational barriers to students furthest from opportunity such as students of color and LGBTQ+ students, and oppose the discriminatory and harmful policy proposals (Draft Policy 2401 and Amendment to Policy 2021) before the Mead School District Board of Directors.
We look forward to working with the Mead School District, students, families, and the broader community on policies and strategies that help our students – as stated in the Mead School District Strategic Priorities – be future ready and empowered to dream, believe and achieve.
The School’s Out Washington Team
PO Box 28269
Spokane, WA 99228