We are your educational partners for systems change. ICS leads schools and districts through a systematic process to create proactive, high-quality teaching and learning experiences for all learners.
Maybe your school district has already tried diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training. Typical DEI programs often fail by merely scratching the surface instead of addressing underlying systems and structures that perpetuate disparities.
ICS moves beyond typical equity consulting and offers a comprehensive solution to the issues facing students and educators today. Instead of opting for quick fixes or short-term training, ICS tackles the root causes of disparities through a long-term, integrated Framework and Process.
Our approach includes hands-on facilitation sessions and coaching to help school districts fully implement changes at all levels, from classrooms to district office to the school board. This holistic approach helps schools replace the traditional “wait to fail” practices with a proactive learning experience where all students learn more.
The unique ICS Framework and Process for schools and districts provide the blueprint for developing educator capacity that results in high-quality teaching and learning for all students.
ICS draws from 45 years of research and over four decades of practical experience as teachers, school district administrators, and university professors preparing educational leaders for systems change. This expertise provides a foundation for our partnership with school districts, in which we serve as facilitators to continue to deepen our collective equity capacity for all students.
Our flagship educational equity partnership builds the foundation for empowering school leadership teams, district leadership teams, and school boards to address disparities proactively, systematically, and systemically. It includes:
ICS extends beyond typical educational equity services and empowers School Leadership Teams (SLTs) and District Leadership Teams (DLT) to transform their systems. Its primary purpose is to equip these teams with the knowledge and tools necessary to implement the Integrated Comprehensive Systems (ICS) Framework and Implementation Process within their educational settings.
We also provide the ICS School Board Academy and ICS Community Equity Ally Academies to support the district’s work with the school board and at a community level.
With the ICS partnership across three years, School Leadership Teams and District Leadership Teams attend two interactive 3-day trainings and one 2-day training covering all twelve Digital Modules in the ICS Four Cornerstones. This professional learning includes access to the Digital Modules that contain the content, activities, and PowerPoint presentations from the professional learning for teams to access after the training to support their facilitation with staff. Districts’ access to the ICS Digital Modules never expires when they partner with ICS. The professional learning also includes structured team coaching to support the School and District Leadership Teams as they facilitate the Digital Modules with all staff.
Provide School Leadership Teams (SLTs) and District Leadership Teams (DLTs) with the knowledge and tools necessary to implement the Integrated Comprehensive Systems (ICS) Framework and Process within their respective educational settings. Participants will engage in a deep equity analysis and develop ICS Action Plans to advance systems change for all students in educational settings.
This is the next step in the ICS journey, typically occurring in the second year of the partnership. This three-day professional learning includes assessing the implementation of Cornerstone 1 before diving into Cornerstones 2 and 3 and the practical application of Co-Plan to Co-Serve to Co-Learn (C3) Teams. This advanced learning also emphasizes the development of rigorous and identity-relevant learning experiences for all students.
These comprehensive and living Digital Modules provide in-depth insights into the ICS Framework and Process. They include research and evidence-based narratives, activities, PowerPoint presentations, and handouts to facilitate understanding and guide teams in implementing the work. Our Digital Modules cater to School Leadership Teams, District Leadership Teams, School Boards, and Community Members.
ICS provides virtual coaching sessions four times per academic year, spanning three years. These sessions offer ongoing support and guidance to School and District Leadership Teams, helping them navigate progress, overcome challenges, and plan their next steps to improve learning for all.
The above key features of the ICS Partnership have yielded the most success with schools and districts as measured by achievement and representation data.
In addition to the ICS Partnership Key Features, districts can partner with ICS to host the ICS School Board Academy and the ICS Community Ally Academy to deepen the board support for the work and community partnerships.
Embracing the ICS Four Cornerstone Framework and Process, the ICS Community Equity Ally Academy engages community members and community organizations in learning, supporting, and applying the key aspects of the ICS Framework and Process within their communities, workplaces, and organizations, and in supporting the school district.
School board members are invited to participate in the ICS Overview and the ICS Institute Part I. In addition, the ICS School Board Academy includes a series of six evening sessions to enhance school board members’ understanding of and commitment to the ICS Framework and Process to ensure their decision-making and policy development are aligned across the entire district. The Academy also includes access to the ICS School Board Digital Modules to support the board’s learning between sessions and after the Academy.
Read how the ICS Educational Equity Framework & Implementation Process helped these districts achieve more equitable outcomes for all students.
We provide comprehensive equity audits and evaluations at all levels of education: schools, districts, regions, states, university departments/programs/colleges and university wide equity evaluations. These evaluations are custom-designed, collaborative, and participatory. They are grounded in the ICS Framework and Process, and include detailed next steps aligned with the ICS Four Cornerstones.
ICS offers professional learning that builds on the ICS Framework and Process. Additional topics may include:
Our unique framework is based on years of research as well as decades of both lived experience and practical experience in school districts as administrators, teachers and leaders.
CO-FOUNDER
FACILITATOR
CO-FOUNDER
DIRECTOR OF STRATEGY AND PROACTIVE SYSTEMS
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FACILITATOR
At ICS, we are committed to creating proactive systems that develop staff capacity to yield high-quality learning for all students. Our services provide the blueprint to transform schools and districts to maximize student learning. Join us in this journey and prepare the next generation for success.
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