Introduction

  • Dear Gates Chili School Community,

    The Gates Chili Central School District is dedicated to creating a welcoming and affirming environment for everyone. As such, the district is committed to strengthening equity and inclusion for all. Through the Strategic Plan for Equity we will remove barriers that hinder growth and learning, so student success is achieved at equitable levels across the district.

    As a district, Gates Chili celebrates the diversity of its school community. The district has a reputation as one of the most diverse districts in Monroe County, and is the 16th most diverse district in the state according to Buffalo First News, yet state data showed troubling disparities in student success across various subsets of the student population.

     

    Total Student Enrollment 3,685 = 

    50%      Economically Disadvantaged

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    57%      White
    18%      Black or African-American
    13%      Hispanic or Latinx 
    7%        Multiracial
    5%        Asian/Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

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    12%      Students with Disabilities
    5%        English Language Learners (ELLs)*

    *Gates Chili students represent more than 20 different home countries and speak more than 30 different home languages.

     

    Consequently, the work to overcome disproportionality at Gates Chili has been methodical and strategic since 2017. The district formed a Root Cause Team to examine district academic and behavior data, as well as the beliefs, policies, and practices contributing to disproportionality. This team worked with New York University's Metropolitan Center for Research on Equity and the Transformation of Schools, a leader in helping school districts to identify systems and practices that lead to disproportionality and recognize areas for growth. Regionally and nationally, NYU has worked with school districts to advance educational equity. From this partnership, the district identified five improvement areas outlined in a strategic, multi-year plan to improve outcomes for all students. This work is underpinned by the district’s moral imperative, adopted by the Board of Education in October 2020:

    The Gates Chili Central School District has a moral duty to serve its students and families. Every student must be able to receive an equitable education where they are represented, protected and able to thrive. The district acknowledges the presence of white privilege and bias and how this perpetuates systematic racism. The Gates Chili Central School District is committed to the necessary growth required to develop and sustain equity and dismantle disproportionality.

    The pages of this executive summary outline the five focus areas of the plan and the data to support the need for improvement in these systems and practices. Please review the Forward before the Strategic Plan Drivers and Action Plan, as it establishes a common language to help to deepen understanding. For ongoing updates on the district’s equity journey, please go to www.gateschili.org/Equity.

    Sincerely,

    Christopher J. Dailey
    Superintendent of Schools