Equity

Equal Opportunity Schools

We are intentionally working to ensure that low income students and students of color enroll and succeed in rigorous coursework which leads to more students graduating and attending college, trade school, and having choices about their next step.

Click here to learn more about equal opportunity schools

Innocent Classroom

South St. Paul Public Schools received a major grant from the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation to bring Innocent Classroom training to our staff. In the next two years, Innocent Classroom will help us:

• Transform classrooms and relationships by deepening relationships with staff and students, particularly our students of color
• Increase equity throughout the district
• Undermine the impact of societal negative stereotypes, low expectations, and bias
• Provide an environment where all students are free to achieve

Next Steps:

• Ongoing leadership training, planning and coaching
• Training for the licensed staff at the Secondary Building 2019-20
• Training for the licensed staff at both Kaposia and Lincoln Center 2020-21
• Creating and implementing systems of support for individual schools
• Introduce concepts at district staff launch

“Kaposia’s time spent with trainers from Innocent Classroom was some of the most reflective and impactful training our staff have received to date. We attempted to answer the question of how can we create an environment for our students to return them to their original state of innocence.  We strive to this so students can be at their best as they grow into healthy young people. The focus was not simply about supporting them to raise academic achievement, rather, our goal is to create an atmosphere that values and affirms all students, their backgrounds and experiences.”

Terry Bretoi, Kaposia Education Center Principal

Equity Alliance MN

The South St. Paul Public Schools are part of a district collaborative working with Equity Alliance MN. This collaborative addresses the educational issues resulting from demographic changes and inequities. Equity Alliance MN member districts engage in culturally responsive learning opportunities for staff, and interactive leadership opportunities for students. The end goal is that every student can participate fully in the social, economic, and democratic lives of their communities.

American Indian Education Program

The District is honored to have formed an American Indian Education Program. The District and the Indian Education Program look to strengthen and support the diverse families by providing a culturally appropriate educational environment. Our goal is to provide meaningful, intentional, and targeted educational opportunities to every American Indian student, while at the same time fostering cultural identity and pride.

The purpose of this program is to increase academic achievement, decrease the drop-out rate, and to improve the school climate of American Indian students in a culturally appropriate manner. In Minnesota, this program addresses five specific goal areas, with a special focus on ensuring that all children are ready for school, all racial and economic achievement gaps between students are closed, and that all students are college and career ready.

An example of the FREE services available through the Indian Education Program here in South St Paul include, but are not limited to:

• Academic support
• Family/community resources and advocacy
• Cultural events and activities
• College visits & post-secondary preparations
• Resource library featuring Indigenous authors

We encourage you to complete a 506 Indian Student Eligibility Certification form. This fully CONFIDENTIAL document allows the school district to leverage funding to support American Indian students and will be kept on file at the District’s Indian Education Office.

You are also welcome to join us as part of the American Indian Parent Advisory Committee! We welcome your input! Please contact our community liaison for questions and or additional information.

Contact Information

Courtney Renville Soto
American Indian Cultural Liaison- Districtwide
651-228-5916 or text 612-401-6685
crenvillesoto@sspps.org
Spanish-speaking

American Indian Parent Advisory Committee

In South St. Paul, we now have more than 100 American Indian students attending school, kindergarten through grade 12. Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.78 requires that all Minnesota school districts with 10 or more American Indian students have an American Indian Parent Advisory Committee. If you are interested in participating, please contact Courtney Renville Soto at crenvillesoto@sspps.org or 651-228-5916 or text 612-401-6685.

As part of the Assurance of Compliance, all districts must verify that there is a copy of each of the following laws in every building in the district. Below are links to the required laws. This assurance is given by each district in consideration of and for the purpose of obtaining any and all federal grants, loans, contracts, property, discounts, or other federal and state financial assistance extended to the district by the U.S. Department of Education and the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE), including installment payments after such date of application for federal financial assistance and state aid allotments which were approved before such date. By submitting the Assurance of Compliance, the district recognizes and agrees that such federal and state financial assistance will be extended in reliance on the representations, supporting information required by Minnesota Statutes, section 127A.42, subdivision 3, and agreements made in this assurance. This assurance is binding on the district and the persons who are authorized to submit information on behalf of the district.

Assurance of Compliance and Mandated Reporting

Our cultural liaisons help to make sure all of SSPPS families feel welcome and heard at our schools and the district is able to communicate well with families about their school, learning and student progress. Additionally, the liaisons serve to reduce language and cultural barriers so that all of our students can thrive and know they have a team of support around them.

Translation & Interpretation
The district provides translation and interpretation services to meet families’ language needs at school and with district-related programs or communications. If you would like language assistance with a message you have received; an interpreter for a school meeting, conference or phone call; or want to know more about the district’s translation and interpretation services, please contact one of the district’s cultural liaisons or your school office. 

Center for Racial Justice in Education

• Resources for Talking about Race, Racism, & Racialized Violence with Kids.

National Public Radio (NPR)

• What to Say to Kids When the News Is Scary page 
• Talking Race with Young Children

Teaching Tolerance

• Teaching About Race, Racism and Police Violence page
• Speak Up Against Prejudice, Bias and Stereotypes - 1/10/19

American Academy of Pediatrics

• Talking to Children about tragedies and Other News Events Page 

Child Welfare Information Gateway

• Parenting a Child Who Has Experienced Trauma

Common Sense Media

• How to Talk to Kids about Violence, Crime, and War page

Harvard's Center on the Developing Child

• Toxic stress from Harvard’s Center on the Developing Child

National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)

• NAEYC’s webpage Coping with Violence

National Child Traumatic Stress Network

• Helping Youth after Community Trauma: Tips for Educators

National Institute of Mental Health

• Helping Children and Adolescents Cope with Disasters and Other Traumatic Events
• What Parents Can Do: Helping Children and Adolescents Cope with Violence and Disaster

Zero to Three

• Helping Young Children Cope after Exposure to a Traumatic Event page
• Racism and Violence: Using Your Power as a Parent to Support Children Aged Two to Five

Minnesota Department of Education

•  How to Talk About Traumatic Events and Tragedies
•  Acknowledging the Role of Implicit Bias as a Barrier to Reaching All Children Webinar Series

American Psychological Association (APA) 

• What Makes Kids Care? Teaching Gentleness in a Violent World
• Anti-Defamation League Parent, Family and Caregiver Resources 

National Network of State Teachers of the Year 

• Social Justice Book List
• Facing History and Ourselves