Dear Educators and Administrators,
Welcome back to school! We hope you are looking forward to another exciting and rewarding year as we continue to move forward on creating proactive schools, where all students excel!
As we embark on another school year, it’s essential to remember that our commitment to equity, defined as high-quality teaching and learning for all, must be at the forefront of everything we do, especially when the busyness of each school day working with students, parents and caregivers requires so much of our attention and energy.
Equity means ensuring that every student, regardless of their background or circumstances, receives high-quality learning opportunities and positive interactions with school staff and teachers. This isn’t just about providing equal resources; it’s about recognizing and meeting the unique needs of each student so they can all achieve their full potential. Our mission is to create an environment where every learner feels valued, supported, and challenged to grow.
One powerful way to support equity is through the consistent use of asset-based language. Every day, in every interaction, we must focus on the strengths and potential of our students and families. By using language that highlights the abilities and contributions of each student, we foster a positive, inclusive culture that empowers them to take pride in their identities and work toward their goals with confidence.
The work toward equity is never finished; it requires ongoing reflection, effort, and collaboration. As educators, we must continuously evaluate our practices, seek out professional development, and engage in meaningful conversations about how we can better serve our students and families. By staying committed to this journey, we can ensure that our schools are places where every student has the opportunity to succeed. Let’s make this school year a time of progress, inclusivity, and shared achievement!
Warm regards,
The ICS Team
ICS University Partnerships – Leadership Preparation
ICS partners with university leadership preparation programs in principal preparation and district leadership preparation. Universities adopt the ICS School Level modules for a course in the principal preparation program and adopt the ICS District Level Modules for a course in the district leadership/superintendency program. The ICS Digital Modules for leadership preparation includes the PowerPoint slides for each module, all activities and handouts for each module, and three learning quizzes at the end of each module. These learning quizzes ask students to reflect on their reading of the module, assess their understanding of module learning targets, and support students to apply the learning targets to their leadership practice. The modules provide a complete learning package for the instructor and leadership students to learn how to transform their schools and districts to maximize learning for all students.
Interested in learning more? Email Colleen at ccapper@icsequity.org.
Don’t Miss the 2024 Integrated Comprehensive Systems for Equity Virtual Institute Part I
October 22 – 24, 2024 virtually from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. CST each day
Join us this fall for the 2024 Integrated Comprehensive Systems for Equity Virtual Institute Part I: High-Quality Teaching and Learning for All to move forward with your district or school’s equity journey.
At the completely redesigned 2024 Part I Virtual Institute, school leadership teams, district leadership teams, and regional and state agencies who are new to ICS and ICS partnership districts with new staff will engage in an interactive, introductory training to:
- Understand the ICS Framework and Process and explore how it can be leveraged in your setting;
- Gain a deeper understanding of what high-quality teaching and learning is and is not;
- Engage in plentiful team time to dive into an analysis of high-quality teaching and learning in your setting;
- Hear and learn from leaders in the field who are implementing the ICS Framework and Process;
- Learn how you can bring the ICS Framework and Process to your setting.
In the News: Elise Featured in California MTSS Professional Learning Institute Coverage
The Anaheim Convention Center became a hub for educational innovation, hosting more than 3,000 educators for the 7th annual California MTSS Professional Learning Institute.
The three-day event was organized by the Orange County Department of Education in partnership with the Butte County Office of Education to share strategies for making learning more individualized, engaging and effective.
ICS was thrilled to lead two sessions at the conference hosted by the California MTSS Professional Learning Institute.
WASDA to Offer ICS Virtual Academy
10/8/2024 to 5/13/2025
The Wisconsin School District Administrators organization is partnering with ICS for a 2nd year to deliver our High-Quality Teaching and Learning Academy for District Leadership Teams. ICS custom-designed the virtual monthly morning academy, which takes place throughout the academic year. The program includes customized ICS Digital Modules designed exclusively for Academy participants and features district leadership teams from across Wisconsin, who are guest speakers at each session to describe how they have successfully implemented each step of the ICS Equity Framework and Process district-wide and to share their resulting positive data outcomes.
Are you a part of a national or state professional association for superintendents, principals, curriculum directors, or special education directors? Contact info@icsequity.org to start a conversation about a potential partnership and to review an outline of our leadership training program.
Announcing a New National Partnership with Urban Collaborative
ICS is proud to announce a new partnership with the Urban Collaborative. The Urban Collaborative is a national network of more than 100 school districts in 27 states. These leaders are committed to increasing effective and inclusive special education services. They are also focused on decreasing the disproportionality of culturally and linguistically diverse student populations in classification rates, separate educational environments and disciplinary actions. Members of our professional learning community learn from and support each other to achieve these goals in 27 states.
All participants will be provided complimentary individual access to the ICS Digital Modules District Level customized for the Urban Collaborative. In addition, we will lead the group through a Mini Equity Audit, analysis of their educational structures and learn about the design and implementation of C3 Teams™.
Learn more about the Urban Collaborative, and stay tuned for registration details!