Modesto City Schools rolls out Equity Phase 2; trustees debate definitions, evidence and scope

Modesto City Schools staff on Tuesday outlined a districtwide Equity Phase 2 initiative focused on expanding implicit‑bias training, trauma‑informed and classroom‑management supports, and integrating student leadership frameworks into instruction, while trustees questioned definitions, evidence of impact and next steps.

Will Patterson, the district’s equity and intervention specialist, and Ernesto Calderon, senior director of school leadership, said the Phase 2 effort grew from focus groups with administrators, classified staff, certificated staff and students that surfaced three primary needs: ongoing implicit‑bias training, additional behavioral and trauma‑informed practices, and more…