Safe & Welcoming Schools

Equity in Salem-Keizer Public Schools will not be confused with equality where all students are treated the same. Equity will be attained when:

• The achievements of our historically underserved, underrepresented, and marginalized students match the outcomes of students in the dominant culture
• When underserved groups increase in capacity and power
• When barriers to student success have been mitigated or eliminated

About OSEAA's Work

• Promotes, supports, and advocates for the vision and values around diversity, equity and inclusion at all levels of Salem-Keizer Public Schools
• Analyzes student performance data in order to recommend school and/or community interventions
• Promotes inclusion and equity for all within our schools by examining issues of institutional equity and advising district staff on responses to incidents of bias and harassment
• Reviews and analyzes student performance, program participation and behavior data in order to form policy and/or procedural recommendations
• Develops and oversees the implementation of the district’s Equity Strategic Plan

District Equity Team

OSEAA's Extraordinary Eighteen Equity Team provides equity trainings for Salem-Keizer K-12 leadership and staff. For more information on equity trainings, please email OSEAA or call 503-399-3059.

District Student Advisory Group

The Superintendent’s Student Equity Committee is made up of representatives from all high school programs in the district. They represent the diverse voices of their peers while identifying and examining inequities within the district.

Salem-Keizer Public Schools believes all students should see themselves honored and reflected in the curriculum they experience every day as well as learn to respectfully examine multiple perspectives, cultures, backgrounds, and events. We are committed to ensuring all students feel safe and welcome at school regardless of their background.

How does Equity show up in our classrooms?

Equity should not be confused with equality where all students are assumed to have the same lived experiences, perspectives, or identities—equity and equality are vastly different. Equity means that we do not assume that all people have experienced historical and contemporary events with the same, equal lens. Diverse perspectives, opinions, and experiences are what make our society a rich and engaging place. 

When students examine these perspectives they are challenged to become critical thinkers and participants in our society. Salem-Keizer develops its teaching and learning based on the Oregon State Standards in all content areas. When adopting curriculum, we include community voice and require board approval on any curriculum proposed to be used in schools.

Why does SKPS care about equity and not just equality?

SKPS strives to create an environment where all students feel safe and welcomed. The simplest notion would be to just teach one perspective from the dominant culture; however, equality-driven efforts do not strive to create an environment where all students, particularly those historically underserved, feel seen, heard, and honored in class because equality assumes that everyone has had the same experience.

At Salem-Keizer Public Schools, it is crucial that curriculum is applied using an equity lens for every student to succeed and graduate. When equity is achieved it means that:

• Achievements of historically underserved students match the outcomes of students in the dominant culture
• Underserved groups increase in capacity and power
• Barriers to student success have been reduced or eliminated

Learn more about equity by reading Truth in Our Classrooms Bridges Divides.