Equity and Inclusion at One Schoolhouse
Our Commitment
Since our founding as the Online School for Girls, One Schoolhouse has always centered identity and pursued innovation. We believe that authentic success does not come at the expense of others. By rejecting assumptions about achievement and hierarchies, we create and expand opportunities for all our stakeholders. Equity, inclusion, and justice are imperatives at One Schoolhouse. Ever striving to improve, One Schoolhouse believes in process, growth mindset, and feedback -- we actively cultivate accountability wherein bias and discrimination are rooted out and addressed. Like all of our initiatives, this work is represented, measured, and iterated upon.
Our Actions
We strive to be transparent about our own values and practices. We are currently working on the following initiatives:
Our Words
We use certain terms in our policies and practices. These are some of our working words and definitions:*
Our Non-Discrimination Policy
One Schoolhouse is committed to providing a place where people can thrive. It is in the best interest of each individual and the School that we dedicate ourselves to creating an educational environment that promotes respect, dignity, and equality and that is free from all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. These behaviors are demeaning; they are unacceptable conduct; and they will not be tolerated. One Schoolhouse expects all students and members of the school community to conduct themselves in an appropriate manner, with respect for the personal dignity of one another.
One Schoolhouse does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex (including pregnancy), color, religion/creed, ethnic or national origin, gender identification, citizenship status, disability, age, sexual orientation, or any other protected category under applicable local, state, or federal law. Similarly, One Schoolhouse will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, or retaliation.
In Summary
One Schoolhouse is a hopeful organization. We envision a more just future and commit to acting on and modeling our equity and inclusion journey.
Since our founding as the Online School for Girls, One Schoolhouse has always centered identity and pursued innovation. We believe that authentic success does not come at the expense of others. By rejecting assumptions about achievement and hierarchies, we create and expand opportunities for all our stakeholders. Equity, inclusion, and justice are imperatives at One Schoolhouse. Ever striving to improve, One Schoolhouse believes in process, growth mindset, and feedback -- we actively cultivate accountability wherein bias and discrimination are rooted out and addressed. Like all of our initiatives, this work is represented, measured, and iterated upon.
Our Actions
We strive to be transparent about our own values and practices. We are currently working on the following initiatives:
- Center inclusive innovation as a design driver for action or change, and are measured in our outcomes
- Deepen accessibility practices by scaffolding more intentionally for academic maturity, cognitive diversity, and executive functioning
- Develop competency-based professional growth strategies that support teachers in culturally responsive, identity-centering teaching and design practices
- Continue to evaluate student and adult learners' perception data to understand belonging in our programs
- Share equity and inclusion expertise in our research and writing
- Continue staff development to build greater empathy across identities
- Review employee and organization wide handbooks with DEI+ consultants in order to create greater equity and a deeper sense of belonging
Our Words
We use certain terms in our policies and practices. These are some of our working words and definitions:*
- Belonging: metric for measuring perceived connectedness and inclusion
- Diversity: metric for measuring representation of different identities, differences, or affiliations
- Equality: condition where participants are treated or supported equally
- Equity: condition where participants are given whatever unique supports they need
- Identity-Centering: practice that honors each person’s differences and does not privilege one identity over another
- Inclusion: practice that creates a safe and accessible environment where all participants can engage fully
- Justice: condition where systemic barriers to success are addressed and removed
Our Non-Discrimination Policy
One Schoolhouse is committed to providing a place where people can thrive. It is in the best interest of each individual and the School that we dedicate ourselves to creating an educational environment that promotes respect, dignity, and equality and that is free from all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. These behaviors are demeaning; they are unacceptable conduct; and they will not be tolerated. One Schoolhouse expects all students and members of the school community to conduct themselves in an appropriate manner, with respect for the personal dignity of one another.
One Schoolhouse does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex (including pregnancy), color, religion/creed, ethnic or national origin, gender identification, citizenship status, disability, age, sexual orientation, or any other protected category under applicable local, state, or federal law. Similarly, One Schoolhouse will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, or retaliation.
In Summary
One Schoolhouse is a hopeful organization. We envision a more just future and commit to acting on and modeling our equity and inclusion journey.
*Citation
Our definitions draw on the work of Dr. D. L. Stewart and Dr. Liza Talusan:
Stewart, D. L. (2017). Language of appeasement. Inside Higher Ed, 30.
Talusan, L. (2021). Board training workshop.
Our definitions draw on the work of Dr. D. L. Stewart and Dr. Liza Talusan:
Stewart, D. L. (2017). Language of appeasement. Inside Higher Ed, 30.
Talusan, L. (2021). Board training workshop.