Policy Analysis 1
Policy Analysis
Lea C. Birmingham
School of Education, Liberty University
Policy Analysis 2
Policy Analysis
I selected board policy, EHBK — Special Programs: Other Instructional Initiatives
for this assignment. The board policy states: “In an effort to provide all students with a
quality education that enables them to achieve to their potential, and fosters an
appreciation of and respect for the values of a pluralistic society, the Superintendent of
Schools shall develop and maintain a culture of schooling characterized by multicultural,
multiethnic, and multilingual features that shall include (Texas Association of School
Boards, n.d.):
1. The incorporation of cultural pluralism as part of the underlying foundation or
basic framework for the District, including subject-matter content, teaching and
learning strategies, goals and objectives, classroom climates, and assessment of
the performances of students and teachers.
2. The equal-status treatment of the life experiences, cultures, and perspectives of
culturally diverse groups.
3. The integration of principles of cultural pluralism into all decisions about
curriculum and instruction.
4. The development of alternative structures that reflect cultural, racial, social,
gender, and ethnic pluralism.
5. A program of learning opportunities that gives balanced attention to practices to
celebrate cultural pluralism.
6. District governance representation in state level textbook or other curriculum
forums.”
Policy Analysis 3
This Dallas Independent School District (ISD) board policy is clearly written, as it
explains why the district has made a commitment to diversity and where diversity will be
reflected throughout the district. The board policy language is specific regarding why
diversity is necessary and where diversity will be implemented, however, it leaves how it
will be implemented up for interpretation.
Dallas ISD board policy was easy for me to access, as I am familiar with the
operation of school districts. Therefore, I knew board policy would be found under the
School Board tab. I cannot be too sure that a parent or someone not affiliated with a
school system would be able to locate board policy with such ease. Nevertheless, once on
the board policy page, I typed in diversity in the search box and a list of policies that
included the word diversity populated. There were few, so my search did not take long.
Currently, legislators in my state and on the federal level want to ban hundreds of
books that reflect the diverse group of students in whom I serve and celebrate and
recognize their heritage, ethnicity, or culture. As a Library Media Specialist, I have stood
on the side of Intellectual Freedom, the right for my students to seek and receive
information without restriction and have not given any consideration to repercussions
from my administrator or the School Board for not removing these books from my
shelves. While doing research for this assignment, I located and selected for this
assignment district policy that supports my stance. In the text, Coley writes about the
importance of having carefully constructed handbooks, to that staff members, students,
and parents will have access to school district’s policies and procedures. Legally, these
documents are our fair warning (Coley, 2006). If challenged, Dallas ISD’ s board policy
Policy Analysis 4
committing to “The equal-status treatment of the life experiences, cultures, and
perspectives of culturally diverse groups” should provide me job protection (Texas
Association of School Boards, n.d.).
As a superintendent, I would make the language in board policy more user-
friendly. The vocabulary used to write this policy is not inclusive, somewhat unnecessary,
and could be cause for misinterpretation. For this specific policy, I would be more
specific in explaining how diversity will be implemented throughout the district and by
whom. I have found extraordinary joy knowing the school district that I work for has
committed to inclusiveness and diversity. The Apostle Paul tells us, “Here there is no
Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but
Christ is all, and is in all” (Colossians 3:11 NIV). As Christians, we are commanded to
love everyone as Christ loves us (John 13:34). This command makes no exceptions to
race, ethnicity, gender, culture, religion, or otherwise.
Policy Analysis 5
References
Coley, K. (2006). The Helmsman: Leading with Courage and Wisdom. Purposeful Design
Publications.
Life Application Study Bible NIV (3rd ed.). (2019). Zondervan and Tyndale House
Publishers. (Original work published 2013)
Pol.tasb.org. (n.d.). Retrieved February 26, 2023, from
https://pol.tasb.org/PolicyOnline/PolicyDetails?key=361&code=EHBK
Cooks, P., Smith, P. (2021). The Impact of Using AVID and AVID Schoolwide on
Achievement, Equity, Access, and Opportunities for High School Students: A
Program Evaluation Project. Dissertations. (630).
https://digitalcommons.nl.edu/diss/630
Hubbard, L., Metz-Matthews, K., & Resultan, B. (2022). Building Coherence through
Whole School Reform: The Case of the AVID Elementary Program. Journal of
Education for Students Placed at Risk. 27(1), 80-10.
https://doi:10.1080/10824669.2021.1981907
Huh, E. (2021). A Phenomenological Study of the Lived Experiences of Title 1
Elementary Principals Who Successfully Implement and Sustain the Avid System
to Close Achievement Gaps and Prepare All Students for College and Career
Readiness (Order No. 28416301). ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global.
Policy Analysis 6
(2531320337). https://go.openathens.net/redirector/liberty.edu?
url=https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/phenomenological-study-
lived-experiences-title-1/docview/2531320337/se-2
Nelson, N. (2018, June 7). AVID: A Transformative Pathway for School Improvement.
https://www.nassp.org/2018/06/07/avid-a-transformative-pathway-for-school-
improvement/
Tinkel, D. (2022). Underchallenged and Overly Bored: Why Rigor Is Important in the
Middle School Classroom. Phi Delta Kappan, 104(2), 11-16.
https://doi.org/10.1177/00317217221130626
TNTP. (2018). The opportunity myth: What students can show us about
how school is letting them down and how to fix it.
https://opportunitymyth.tntp.org/
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