Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

Bellingham Public Schools continues to sharpen our focus on equity, diversity and inclusion (also known as EDI), and we acknowledge that this is a work in progress. As part of The Bellingham Promise our key strategy, a One Schoolhouse Approach, was a first step toward an equitable approach to resources at our schools and included Project Free Education.

Our focus areas include, but are not limited to, race and ethnicity, gender identity and sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, ability, language and culture.

We have included EDI as an addition to The Bellingham Promise and to our annual budget document, Priorities for Progress. Currently, we are shining a light on this focus and our efforts via Promise stories, in InsideSchools and on social media.

This is evolving work; in the 2018-19 school year, our goals include distribute the Joining Hands Against Hate poster for all schools; engage our community and receive input about The Promise revisions; support the school board in developing a EDI policy (executive limitation); and share reflections from Dr. Baker with an emphasis on students, families and staff who represent historically marginalized populations.

What are we doing in Bellingham Public Schools?

Calendar

All throughout the year, months are designated to honor and uplift diverse groups in our communities. As part of the vital equity, diversity and inclusion work in our schools, we know that centering the voices that are highlighted during these months is actually a call to action all year long.

2019-20 School year

September 

• Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month
• Rosh Hashana (Sept. 30-Oct.1)

October 

• Disability History Month
• Yom Kippur (Oct. 9)
• Diwali (Oct. 27)

November

• Native American Heritage Month

December 

• Chanukah (begins Dec. 23)
• Christmas (Dec. 25)
• Kwanzaa (begins Dec. 26)

January

• Chinese/Vietnamese New Year (Jan. 25)

February

• Black History Month

March

• Women’s History Month
• World Down Syndrome Day (March 21)

April

• Arab American Heritage Month
• World Autism Day (April 2) 
• Passover (evening of April 8 through April 16)
• Easter (April 12)
• Ramadan (April 23 – May 23)

May

• Jewish American Heritage Month
• Asian American/Pacific Islander Month

June

• LGBTQ+ Pride Month
• Eid Al-Fitr (June 5-7) last day of Ramadan

Suggested Books

Our Kids: The American Dream in Crisis by Robert Putnam

Despite the Best Intentions: How Racial Inequality Thrives in Good Schools (Transgressing Boundaries: Studies in Black Politics and Black Communities) by Amanda E. Lewis and John B. Diamond

White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin J. DiAngelo

Culturally Responsive Teaching and The Brain: Promoting Authentic Engagement and Rigor Among Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students by Zaretta Hammond

Beyond the Bake Sale: The Essential Guide to Family/School Partnerships by Anne T. Henderson

What does equity look like?

What do our students say?

ELL Student Voices

LGBTQ Student Voices