Arlington ISD Resolution on Racial and Social Equity

Arlington Independent School District – Resolution of the Board of Trustees
To Address Racial and Social Equity in the Arlington ISD

WHEREAS, recent events have renewed attention to prejudices, injustices, and inequalities
embedded in social structure and in society; and

WHEREAS, Arlington ISD recognizes that all students deserve to learn in a system free of racism
and social injustice; and

WHEREAS, Arlington ISD’s student population includes 46% Hispanic, 25% African American,
19% White, and 4% other children of which 73% are economically disadvantaged at 78 campuses
with more than half of the district’s campuses receiving free meals through the Community
Eligibility Provision; and

WHEREAS, Arlington ISD collaborated with the nationally recognized Holdsworth Center to
design and implement progressive systems to identify, place, develop, and support high potential
leaders who understand and meet the needs of our diverse staff and student populations; and

WHEREAS, Arlington voters passed two bonds for $1.6 billion to address overcrowding in East
Arlington and to increase program access and equity for all students; and

WHEREAS, Arlington ISD has a long-standing partnership with Equal Opportunity Schools to
identify and close access and success gaps of underrepresented student populations in advanced
academic programming; and

WHEREAS, Arlington ISD has implemented aggressive measures designed to support equitable
student participation in specialized programming including opportunities at the Dan Dipert Career
and Technical Center and two early college high schools; and

WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees has completed equity training with Dr. Pedro Noguera,
Professor of Education at the Graduate School of Education and Information Studies and Faculty
Director for the Center for the Transformation of Schools at UCLA, who is a critically acclaimed
scholar and author of “Race, Equity and Education”; and

WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees recognizes the need to examine racial and social inequities
within the district, in particular as it applies to Black students, staff and communities; and

WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees supports the District in embedding a strategic focus on the fair
treatment of Black students and staff while promoting their academic and social success within
Arlington ISD’s curriculum and culture;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Arlington ISD Board of Trustees calls upon
the district to conduct a comprehensive examination of its culture, curriculum, instruction, and
internal systems and to strengthen, improve, and modify our institution as needed to ensure racial
and social equity and to remedy systemic bias and racism.

Adopted this 11th day of June, 2020, by the Board of Trustees.

Kecia Mays, Board President

Bowie Hogg, Vice President

Polly Walton, Board Secretary

Melody Fowler, Board Member

Dr. Aaron Reich, Board Member

David Wilbanks, Board Member

Justin Chapa, Board Member