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This school serves pre-kindergarten to sixth-grade students, offering various academic programs, including special education and English as a Second Language (ESL) services to meet diverse needs.

The school fosters a nurturing and inclusive environment that supports academic success and social-emotional development. The curriculum includes core subjects along with enrichment in art, music, and physical education for a well-rounded educational experience.

The student body is diverse, with approximately 71% identifying as Hispanic or Latino and 23% as White, along with smaller groups of Asian, Black, and other races. Many students speak Spanish at home.

Academic performance indicates room for growth, with about 22% of students proficient in math and 41% in reading, both below state averages. This school has lower funding per student, potentially impacting resources.

Enrollment is around 934 students, with a student-to-teacher ratio of approximately 20:1.

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The tool used to create our survey for all categories was the NJ School Climate Improvement (NJ SCI) Platform. NJ SCI is a program from the New Jersey Department of Education, working with Rutgers University's School Climate Transformation Project. NJ SCI can collect and review information about important factors like how students and staff relate to each other, safety, inclusiveness, social and emotional learning (SEL), and family involvement. NJ SCI focuses on equity, inclusion, and cultural awareness, making sure that the actions taken fit each school's unique needs. It also offers ongoing training and resources to help engage families, all aimed at creating and maintaining a positive and supportive school climate over time.

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Reflection on Interviewing Skills and Family Engagement

We have thought about our ability to observe and interview people, realizing that these skills are important for getting honest and unbiased information. During this process, we were careful of our own biases and tried to ask neutral questions while setting aside any assumptions. By using open-ended questions, We encouraged interviewees to express their thoughts freely, aiming to understand their true feelings without our opinions getting in the way.

Family involvement in shaping the curriculum and school culture is crucial. It helps create a learning space that reflects different values and gives students a community-focused experience. In the video by Zaretta Hammond “Culturally Responsive Teaching,” it states that by fostering an academic mindset and viewing learning as a community endeavor, educators can help students become independent, critical thinkers who are prepared for future challenges (San Francisco Public Library, 2018). Involving families in these areas can strengthen students' sense of belonging and enrich lessons by including relevant community issues and diverse perspectives. In our ideal school, families would be encouraged to take on leadership roles in decision-making groups, like school climate committees, ensuring their voices are heard in the education process.

Looking at how our students performed in terms of inclusivity and engagement, we believe we did well overall. We aim to create an environment where all students feel valued and represented, but we see that we can improve, especially in having regular ways for families to share their input.

The budget is another important factor, especially for providing fair learning opportunities. Ideally, resources would be distributed to help all students effectively, but budget limitations can sometimes restrict support in key areas. In our review of the budget, we noticed some inequalities, particularly in funding for special support or extracurricular activities that could help certain students. Fixing these gaps would need focused investments to ensure every student has what they need to succeed.

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The chart above breaks down the student population. These are 5th-6th grade students.

The five teachers who completed the interview were 5th-6th grade teachers. They are certified in ELL, special education, and general education.

The five parents who completed the interview have 5th or 6th children who are attending this particular school.

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Student Responses on School Experience: Agree (67%): Most students feel safe, find rules fair, receive recognition for good behavior, and feel cared for. Some teachers do (23%): Some students feel supported by certain teachers, especially in teamwork and learning from mistakes.  Disagree (10%): A few students feel unwelcome, mentioning a lack of welcoming signs or gestures.             

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High Agreement (67%): Most students have a positive view of their school. They generally agree that:

The school teaches interesting topics.

They feel acknowledged and represented.

Rules are fair and clear.

They feel safe and appreciated for good behavior.

Adults care about them and are proud to be at the school.

Partial Support (23%): Some experiences are mixed. Students say that:

Only some teachers let them choose assignments and work together.

Some teachers give help, but it's not the same for everyone.

Areas for Improvement (10%): While most students feel good, some mentioned they don't always feel welcome. They noted a lack of visible signs or actions that promote inclusivity.

This summary shows strengths like safety, care, and pride, but suggests improving teacher support and inclusivity visibility to improve the school.

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This pie chart shows how five parents felt about key questions. The answers are either "Agree" or "Disagree." Agree: Most parents agree that students work hard, the school helps families in need, and kids feel safe talking to adults at school.  Disagree: Some parents disagree about getting involved and the availability of workshops, showing that the school could improve ways to engage and support parents. 

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Agreement Dominates: Most parents had positive opinions about the school. They believe students are motivated to succeed, the school helps families in need, and children feel safe talking to adults.

Areas of Disagreement: Some parents disagreed about parental involvement and the availability of workshops. This shows that while they appreciate the school's support, there is room for improvement in getting families more engaged through more workshops and opportunities for involvement.

Community and Diversity: Parents value the school's efforts to honor different cultures and identities, suggesting a welcoming atmosphere where students from all backgrounds feel included.

This feedback highlights the school's strengths while also pointing out areas where family engagement and support for diverse needs can grow.

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Teacher Responses to School Environment Statements.                        The pie chart shows how teachers feel about the school environment: Agree (green): 34 responses (68%) Partially Agree (yellow): 18 responses (28%) Disagree (red): 5 responses (10%)         

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This visual shows that many teachers view the school positively, but there are still areas to improve. The school is strong in inclusivity, respect for diversity, and community involvement. However, there is a need for better teacher support, family engagement, and organized student participation. These suggestions focus on enhancing strengths and addressing growth areas to make the school community even more supportive and inclusive.

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Proposed Changes

Improved Family Engagement Programs:

Create more workshops and events to help families get involved. Start a monthly “Family Forum” for parents to share ideas and get involved in school activities.

More Teacher Support: Set up a Teacher Wellness Program with training on how to include everyone and work with families. Giving teachers the right tools and support will help all students.

Show Inclusivity Initiatives: Put up welcoming signs and show different cultures in the school. Hold monthly events to celebrate the different cultures represented, making inclusivity clear and consistent. In the video by Zaretta Hammond “Interview with Zaretta Hammond Part 1” she addresses common misconceptions, emphasizing that culturally responsive teaching is not simply about engagement strategies but rather a comprehensive process that includes understanding students' social and cultural contexts(with, 2015).

Student Choice and Voice: Allow students to choose their assignments and projects to feel more in control of their learning. Create “School Community Committees” where students can suggest improvements for their school.

Fair Budgeting: Review how the budget is spent to ensure all students have access to extracurricular activities and support programs. Focus on funding areas that need it most, like after-school programs and family services.

Improvement Targets and Priorities

Top Priority: Family engagement and teacher support.

Secondary Targets: Visibility of inclusivity and fair budget allocation.

Long-Term Goal: Ensure all students feel represented and respected in a welcoming school community. "Naturally, by exposing students to a diverse range of opinions, thoughts, and cultural backgrounds, you’re encouraging them to be more open-minded later in life. This will make them open to new ideas and be able to attain a greater comprehension on a topic by taking in different points of view" (Drexel University School of Education, 2023).

Implementation of Changes

Community Partnerships: Work with local organizations for workshops, extra funding, and to help families get involved.

School Climate for Better Outcomes

The school has a positive atmosphere, shown by good responses on inclusivity and safety. To improve outcomes, we need to strengthen family engagement and teacher support. A welcoming environment helps students feel valued and encourages better academic and social growth. In "There's Always Something Going Right" by Tammy Fisher and Louisa Triandis, state the use of the three stands of the Nurtured Heart Approach (Small & Triandis, 2010):

1. Absolutely no energy to negativity

2. Absolutely yes to focusing on what is going right

3. Absolute clarity and consistency to high expectations

Curriculum Relevance

Using real-world issues and community values in lessons can boost student interest. By including topics that matter to students, like social justice and local culture, lessons become more relatable and prepare them to be active community members. “Culturally responsive teaching leverages the brain’s memory systems and information processing structures”(Hammond, 2015).

Use of “Funds of Knowledge” in the Classroom

Incorporating students' backgrounds and experiences can create an enriching learning environment. For example, using students’ cultural stories in lessons can help them feel represented. Community knowledge can connect classroom learning to real life, making education more meaningful.

This action plan aims to build on the school's strengths while improving areas to create an environment where every student, teacher, and family member feels included and engaged.

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Drexel University School of Education. (2023). The Importance of Diversity in the Classroom. Drexel University School of Education; Drexel University. https://drexel.edu/soe/resources/student-teaching/advice/importance-of-cultural-diversity-in-classroom/

Hammond, Z. (2015, April 1). 3 Tips to Make Any Lesson More Culturally Responsive | Cult of Pedagogy. Cult of Pedagogy. https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/culturally-responsive-teaching-strategies/

San Francisco Public Library. (2018, March 29). Zaretta Hammond “Culturally Responsive Teaching” at the San Francisco Public Library. YouTube. https://youtu.be/ME8KjqyqthM?feature=shared

Small, T. F., & Triandis, L. T. (2010). There’s Always Something Going Right.

with, I. (2015, April 8). Interview with Zaretta Hammond | Part 1. YouTube. https://youtu.be/DzwobAYsDL4?feature=shared