Special-education design team outlines racial-equity purpose and Phase 1 work to Saint Louis Park School Board

At the Jan. 28, 2025, meeting of the Saint Louis Park School Board, a volunteer special-education design team presented a racial-equity purpose statement and early Phase 1 findings, and said it will share disaggregated enrollment and program data at a future board meeting.

The team told the board it has drafted a racial-equity purpose statement that says Saint Louis Park Public Schools must “challenge the status quo and excavate deep-seated racism within the public school system,” embrace neurodiversity, and ensure students from historically marginalized groups have access to culturally relevant curriculum and a voice in school decision-making. The presenters said the statement is intended to guide changes to identification, placement and instruction in special education.

The design team — which the board heard described as a volunteer group that began meeting last year as part of a consulting process — said it has started Phase 1 work by creating the purpose…