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Through the efforts of the Equity Committee, the St. Patrick's faculty adopted a set of Equity Principles in 1999. These principles are published in the school's faculty and parent handbooks. They served as the basis for a comprehensive diversity audit completed by faculty members in the spring of 2000 and for a close examination of the school's curriculum the following year. Each of these studies resulted in changes in policy and practice within the school.
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St. Patrick's is a Black Student Fund Member School. We participate in the work of the Fund, recruit students at its annual fair, and employ its resources to support our community. Many St. Patrick's faculty and administrators have taken the Equity, Race, and Education course as well as other Fund-related courses.
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Each year St. Patrick's sends a contingent of faculty members to the National Association of Independent School's People of Color Conference. Faculty members from St. Patrick's presented at the 2001, 2003, and 2004 Conferences.
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In September of 2001, the St. Patrick's Parents Association created a new executive position, Equity Liaison. This Parents Association officer is charged with working with the faculty Equity Committee and building parent participation in equity work.
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In March of 2002, the St. Patrick's Parents Association and Equity Committee co-sponsored a Parent-Teacher Equity Forum in order to foster dialogue about equity issues. Two similar forums have been held in each subsequent school year, attracting a growing number of participants who have helped us identify strengths in place and challenges that we face in achieving equity goals.
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In February of 2004 the Parent-Teacher Equity Forum featured University of Pennsylvania teacher and researcher, Dr. Howard Stevenson, speaking on "The Dynamics of Race in Independent Schools." In each subsequent year, at least one forum has featured an expert speaker, most recently Sexuality and Family Life Educator, Deborah Roffman.
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During the 2003-2004 school year the Parents of Black Students Association became incorporated and a new San Patricio Club was formed for Spanish-speaking families.
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In September of 2004, the Board of Trustees formed an Equity Committee to provide Board-level advocacy for equity issues.