The primary goal of the CPS Inaugural Equity Plan is to support the district and school efforts to eliminate racial, cultural, and socio-economic opportunity gaps. CPS commits to providing every scholar in every classroom with a rigorous and culturally responsive student-centered teaching and learning experience. Implementing this plan requires long-term, multi-generational, and multi-faceted initiatives co-developed and facilitated by stakeholders at every level. There are no quick solutions to our challenges, but we believe that with collaborative and sustained efforts by all CPS stakeholders, none of the barriers to equity are insurmountable. This plan is the first iteration of a long-term vision for equity; this work is, by nature, evolving, and future iterations may look different as we learn and design our work together. The goals inherent in this plan will take several years to achieve but, the work must begin now.
To create the CPS Inaugural Equity Plan and goals, the team reviewed the CPS Vision, CPS Equity and Racial Equity Definitions, CPS Anti-Racist Vision and Mission, Building Equity Bridges (BEB) Core Principles, Barriers to Equity in CPS, and the BEB Commitments that the CPS School Committee endorsed. In addition, the office met with and plans to continue centering and amplifying the voices of scholars, caregivers, and families especially those who have been traditionally marginalized and to continue working in collaboration with district, department, and school leaders and educators. We have also conferred with equity offices in some of our regional school districts.
Please click here to view a dynamic version of the CPS Inaugural Equity Plan or click here for a PDF version.
Current Initiatives
The OEIB is currently working on several key initiatives identified in the CPS Inaugural Equity Plan. Please click below to learn more about each individual initiative.
Centering Youth
School-Based Equity Teams
Staff Development
Equity-Based Resources
Previous Initiatives
Building Equity Bridges Project
The Building Equity Bridges project (March 2018 to June 2020) was a joint effort between the Cambridge Public Schools and the Cambridge Education Association, funded by the Nellie Mae Foundation, to facilitate a comprehensive, and transparent process to better understand and elevate the root causes of inequities in the Cambridge Public Schools. The first phase of this project engaged more than 200 CPS youth, families, and educators to document a diverse range of CPS voices, conduct participatory action research, and examine existing data sources to investigate and synthesize barriers to equity to be shared back out to the CPS community. Learn more about BEB, including findings and recommended actions here.