NCPS DEI Parent Alumni Coalition

In the wake of the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery in 2020, national attention highlighted the persistence of prejudice against people of color and particularly against Black individuals as well as how such prejudice enables violence. That same year, a group of young alumni of the New Canaan Public Schools (NCPS) drafted a petition calling for the immediate development and implementation of a diverse, equitable, and inclusive curriculum and community in New Canaan and especially in its public schools. This alumni group convened meetings, drafted testimonials, and hosted a town hall to address the issues of racial injustice on a hyper-local level. More than 750 alumni, parents of alumni, and current parents signed this petition. Following the group’s public outreach, the BOE approved a set of goals in 2020.

Mission Statement

The NCPS DEI Parent Alumni Coalition seeks to support and partner with NCPS administrators, teachers and staff, and students in the implementation of the District's DEI Goals & Objectives as stated below. We believe that the DEI goals are of utmost importance and require immediate focus if we are to achieve our ultimate mission of preparing our students and children to be global citizens in the incredibly diverse university and workforce environments they will soon enter.

Every member of the community should feel supported, safe, seen, and heard as we move together to create a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive community and culture within our school system and beyond.

NCPS District Goals & Objectives 2020-2021

Understand and communicate efforts to expand and increase educational diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) throughout the district, with a long-term focus on identifying and remedying gaps and strengthening ongoing efforts.

Collaboratively initiate a process, facilitated by a DEI content expert, to develop a district-wide statement along with long- and short-term DEI goals.
Continue to provide professional development for faculty and staff focused on increasing awareness of issues of equity, improving cultural humility, and increasing culturally proficient and responsive educational practices.
Highlight existing educational opportunities available to students and, with student input, develop plans that are focused on increasing sensitivity towards issues of equity, diversity, and inclusion and preparing them as global citizens. Highlight existing educational opportunities available to students focused on increasing sensitivity towards issues of DEI and preparing them as global citizens.
Continue partnering with NC Cares and other community agencies and experts to develop and/or offer parent education on issues of equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Continue to provide students with culturally responsive learning experiences and expand the implementation of culturally responsive literature across the curriculum.
Present update on Social Studies curriculum, including efforts to expand content in alignment with K-12 Social Studies Standards.

2021 Board of Education Meetings

1/25, 2/1, 3/1, 3/15, 4/12, 5/3, 5/17, 6/7, 6/21, 7/12, 7/19, 8/9, 8/23, 9/8, 9/20, 10/4, 10/18, 11/1, 11/15, 12/6, 12/13, 12/20

Learn more and get involved

If you are interested in joining the NCPS DEI Parent Alumni Coalition, please complete the form below and we will get in touch.