Progress updates on Modesto City Schools’ equity goals pushed back. Here’s why.
Modesto City Schools has delayed the timeline for reporting progress on goals to implement equitable grading practices and add an ethnic studies course.
Trustees were supposed to hear updates on those two of the district’s six equity goals at Monday’s board meeting, according to a September presentation that laid out dates and leaders for each item.
The items were not included on Monday’s agenda.
Spokeswoman Becky Fortuna said in an email that staff meetings regarding equitable grading policies began Monday. “It took a bit longer to get off the ground than we anticipated,” she said. Asked to elaborate, Fortuna said “nothing in particular caused the delay.”
School officials plan to present on equitable grading practices at the Nov. 8 board meeting, she said. That effort is being led by Senior Director of School Leadership William Nelson.
School leaders pushed back their presentation on adding an ethnic studies course after seeing related state legislation land on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk, Fortuna said. Newsom signed a bill early this month making ethnic studies a course requirement for students graduating in the 2029-30 school year, the Associated Press reported.
Fortuna said a Modesto City Schools ethnic studies task force will begin in December and run for five months. School leaders aren’t sure when this item will go back to the board, Fortuna said.
Previously, the district had said Senior Director of Professional Development Kim Newton and Social Science Curriculum Coordinator Janeen Zambo would be looking into adding ethnic studies as an elective course.
Updates on the district’s four remaining equity goals are slated for this spring, according to the September presentation. The goals are to conduct equity audits for marginalized student groups, increase teacher diversity and analyze teacher placement, improve communication with parents of color and develop trust with families through improved customer service.
The district hired alumna Fallon Ferris as its inaugural equity and intervention specialist. Ferris is tasked with providing input on the equity goals, but separate district leaders are responsible for each project.
On Monday, UC Berkeley Professor Jason Okonofua told trustees the equity plan included “some of the most impressive, thoughtful, mindful considerations” he’s seen from districts across the country. Okonofua works with Modesto City Schools to reduce racial inequity in disciplinary outcomes.
“I was blown away,” he said.
