Opportunity, Access, and Inclusion
- Academic Excellence for Every Student
- Student Partnership
- Family & Community Engagement
- Staff Supports
- Responding to Bias, Discrimination, or Harassment
- Board Policies related to Opportunity, Access, and Inclusion
Academic Excellence for Every Student
As we collectively work toward academic advancement for every student in our district, our purpose statement is the foundation for our initiatives.
Englewood Schools District Purpose Statement
Englewood Schools has a moral imperative and unwavering commitment to ensure extraordinary outcomes for each student. Diversity is an asset. We are committed to honoring students' identities, cultures, and abilities, while breaking down barriers to a safe and equitable learning experience. In service of this, we maintain high expectations and nurture all aspects of the whole child.
2024-2025 Yearly Update for Opportunity, Access, and Inclusion in Englewood Schools
Student Partnership
Tabs
Student Voice (high school)
What is Englewood Student Voice?
Englewood Student Voice refers to student-led district-wide initiatives that empower high school students with diverse perspectives to be the voices for positive change in their communities. It provides a forum for students to collaborate with the Director of Opportunity, Access & Inclusion, the Superintendent, and other district/community leaders. The goal is to create a strong foundation to spark greater opportunities, eliminate barriers, and foster inclusion in our schools.
The core elements include:
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A space for two-way communication between students and district leaders to create positive change in our school district
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Leadership & capacity building for authentic inclusion, civic engagement, community improvement and 21st century global skills
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Creating spaces for students to build solidarity and connect with other students in the district
Students attend multiple conferences throughout the year. Some of these meetings specifically bring together Englewood high school students, and others include students, educators, and community leaders from across the state of Colorado.
In addition to these retreats/conferences, students and educators at each school may organize Student Voice activities and events. Please contact the Director of Opportunity, Access, and Inclusion for information and resources if you are interested in organizing something on a more local level.
Middle School Engagement
Englewood Middle School offers a student leadership class focused on student voice and advocacy in order to promote a positive and inclusive school climate and culture. These incredible students have a strong legacy of advancing change initiatives and facilitating service projects for the school and broader community.
In addition, ask EMS school administrators about current extracurricular offerings that highlight this work, since that might change each year based on student, staff, and community interests.
Elementary Engagement
Each of our elementary schools offers a variety of developmentally appropriate ways to engage student voice and choice, since we know it helps improve the school climate, individual student motivation, and innovation. The specifics of how this happens varies for each school, so reach out to your child's teacher, the school principal, or to the Director of Opportunity, Access, and Inclusion to learn more.
Family & Community Engagement
Cultural Appreciation vs. Appropriation
Inclusive Fundraising Pivots
School fundraisers can be a meaningful and joyful way to raise money while also building a positive school community. Thoughtfully preparing for the event will help ensure the fundraiser attracts more people, is inclusive, and reaches its highest potential.
Click here to view seven considerations as you plan your program.
Kim Nguyen for OBI x FineActs
Staff Supports
Responding to Bias, Discrimination, or Harassment
In Englewood Schools, we are committed to fostering a learning environment that is safe, inclusive, and engaging for all people that make up the beautiful mosaic of our community. As such, we will not tolerate bias, microaggressions, identity-based bullying or otherwise discriminatory behavior, whether that is directed toward a student, staff member, or family member. While we pride ourselves on proactive supports to prevent bias and discrimination from occurring in the first place, we know that these behaviors can still sometimes occur. In those instances, we offer in the moment resources to intervene, as well as pathways to report such behaviors so that we can address them through classroom, school, department, and/or district channels. We appreciate the partnership of all the stakeholders that comprise the Englewood Schools community in ensuring that this is a welcoming, safe, and inclusive space for everyone.
Proactive Support
- Inclusivity training for school staff: classrooms and schools that are trauma-informed, consider and remove historical barriers to safe, accessible and engaging learning opportunities, and offer differentiated supports that honor every student's strengths and needs.
- Community workshops: resources to honor diversity at home and in the community
- Student workshops: learning that builds 21st century skills for students to engage in a diverse global community with empathy, self-awareness, and a discerning lens.
In-the-Moment Resources
- Talk Moves to Respond to Bias: strategies and sentence stems to prepare you to respond to biased remarks
Reporting Instances of Bias
- If you witness or experience a potentially biased incident based on a person's identity, ability, or culture, please contact us to report the incident. You may use the flowchart below to guide you in this process.
To discuss or report an instance of bias, contact Dr. Rana Razzaque:
email: Rana_Razzaque@engschools.net
phone: 303-806-2004
For emergency situations, please use the following methods for more immediate assistance:
- If you or someone you know is in crisis, call Colorado Crisis Services at 844-493-8255 or text TALK to 38255 (both available 24/7).
- If you would like to make an anonymous report regarding a safety issue, you can make a report through Safe2Tell 24/7: call 877-542-7233, make a report online, or use their mobile app.
- If you or someone you know is experiencing an emergency, please call 911.
Filing a formal discrimination or harassment complaint
Englewood Schools is committed to providing a safe learning and work environment where all members of the school community are treated with dignity and respect. It is critical to this commitment that anyone who may have experienced discrimination or harassment in the context of the district's educational programs, activities, or employment can report their concerns. It is a violation of policy for any student or staff member to harass students or to retaliate against those who report harassment or discrimination or those who participate in a harassment investigation.
You may file a formal verbal or written complaint in order to begin the investigation process (if one has not already been started for the incident). While not required, it is suggested that you use this complaint form so we have information from the onset to begin the investigation with both care and speed.
Please submit your complaint to one of the following individuals:
- School Principal or another school administrator -OR-
- Director of Opportunity, Access, and Inclusion, Dr. Rana Razzaque
- email: Rana_Razzaque@engschools.net
- phone: 303-806-2004
Note: the board policies detailing the investigation process are linked in the section below, under "complaint procedures"
Board Policies related to Opportunity, Access, and Inclusion
OAI Resolution
In September 2022, the Englewood Schools Board of Education adopted a resolution to reaffirm its commitment to fostering equal opportunities, increased access, and a safe and inclusive environment for district staff, students and their families.
Englewood Schools Board of Education Adopted OAI Resolution #2022-9-6
Tanya Korniichuk for OBI x Fine Acts
Non-discrimination/Equal Opportunity Policies
- Non-discrimination/ Equal Opportunity Overview: Policy AC
- Gender Equity Policy AC-1
- Compliance Officer/Title IX Coordinator: Policy AC-E-1
- Complaint Procedures:
- Students: Policy AC-R-1
- Employees, Applicants for Employment and Members of the Public: Policy AC-R-2
- Sexual Harassment (Title IX): Policy AC-R-3
- Complaint Form: Policy AC-E-2
- Name Changes: Policy ACA
Student Oriented Policies
- Equal Educational Opportunities: Policy JB
- Student Concerns, Complaints, and Grievances: Policy JII
- Sexual Harassment: Policy JBB
- Dress Code: Policy JICA
- Code of Conduct: Policy JICDA
- Bullying Prevention and Education: Policy JICDE
- Bullying Report Form: Policy JICDE-E-1
- Investigation Form (for district staff): Policy JICDE-E-2
- Inclusion and support for specific student needs:
- Students experiencing homelessness: Policy JFABD and JFABD_R
- Students in foster care: Policy JFABE and JFABE-R
- Pregnant/Married Students: Policy JIE/JIG