FCPS racial equity committee outlines expansion, participation and timeline for ADL 'No Place for Hate' program

Frederick County Public Schools staff told the Racial Equity Committee on Oct. 7 that the district—s "No Place for Hate" program, run in partnership with the Anti-Defamation League, has grown since a 2024 pilot and now includes more than 20 participating schools.

Dr. Ardis, director of leadership and organizational development and supervisor of FCPS—s equity office, told committee members the program is intended to improve school climate by combating bullying, harassment and intimidation and by elevating student voice in schools across the system. "It is an Anti-Defamation League program," Ardis said, explaining the ADL provides program criteria and supports school-level activities.

The program debuted as a pilot in 2024 with three schools, Ardis said, and expanded to 21 participating schools last year; all 10 comprehensive high schools took part, with additional nontraditional high-school programs counted in the ADL—s totals. Ardis told the committee that, based on a system equity climate survey and a separate student perceptual survey, FCPS had room to improve on students— sense of belonging and respect: "we had 72% of our students having a favorable response" to questions about respect and belonging in school, she said, and the program is one vehicle intended to address that.

Ardis described a calendar and supports for schools: committee formation in SeptemberOctober, pledge signings and kickoffs aimed for December, programming from January through May and ADL documentation due in June when designation decisions are made. FCPS central staff registered schools with the ADL, supported Canvas paperwork, served as a liaison between schools and the ADL, and ran two countywide collaboration events last yeara No Place for Hate summit and a Changemaker Summitto connect student leaders and coordinators.

Meredith Nichols, identified as a No Place for Hate coordinator at Tuscarora High School, described how schools tailor the pledge-signing and verification steps to their communities. "They held up a frame, whether it was just themselves or a small group, and then we took a small Polaroid... and then, they signed that, and then that is hanging in our cafeteria," Nichols said, describing Tuscarora—s ongoing display. Other schools used different approaches: Frederick High translated the pledge into the languages spoken at the building and posted them on corridor glass, and Catoctin High used a paw-sticker campaign and a pep rally that included pledge-signing.

Committee members pressed staff on why some schools previously withdrew from ADL designation. Ardis said schools had reported the ADL—s paperwork became "a little bit cumbersome," and some schools chose to pursue similar student-voice work without ADL designation. FCPS officials said they raised the concern with ADL, which has since consolidated and reduced the required documentation; the district expects that will remove a barrier for some schools.

The district clarified coordinator and committee roles: coordinators are typically FCPS staff (often an administrator or teacher), while parent volunteers and community members may serve on school committees. FCPS staff said participation is voluntary and that schools must meet local school-improvement goals that address elevating student voice; No Place for Hate is one option among several.

Ardis highlighted student outcomes and peer collaboration as the program—s main benefits. She described schools where student leaders who previously were not vocal took on visible roles, and she said the ADL singled out Linganore High School last year in its national materials for a project the school completed. FCPS staff also reported that district-level coordination helped smaller teams in schools get started and that the ADL welcomed the district—s feedback on paperwork.

The committee heard that as of early October the district had more schools signing on for the 2025—1 school year and that staff would report progress again in subsequent meetings. No formal policy change or mandate was presented; the program remains voluntary and tied to individual schools— improvement plans.

The Racial Equity Committee opened the meeting to one public commenter before the presentation. Dawn Lynch, an FCPS educator speaking as an individual, thanked committee leaders for their recent report to the Board of Education and said she hoped district support for student programs would continue.

The committee scheduled further follow-up and will revisit program rollout and school participation data in future meetings.