Abstracted from RPS School Board Study Session 9/12/2023 

Video Recording

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Proposed Equity Policy

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PB Reporting 9/14/2023

Highlights of PB Reporting 

Need for Clear Definition of Education Equity 

“There are some people who are outside our school district who are against equity in any form,” said Will Ruffin II, RPS director of equity and engagement. “So my first recommendation is for Rochester Public Schools to define what it means, so that people in our district or any other district understand what we stand for — so when that outside noise gets louder and louder, we can say ‘that is not what we’re about.’”

Proposed Definition

The definition Ruffin proposed — which was just one of the adjustments suggested — says that: “Equity in schools refers to the fair and just distribution of resources, opportunities, and support to ensure that all students, regardless of their background, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status or other characteristics, have an equal chance to achieve academic success.”

Barriers to Performance Parity 

The policy is rooted in the fact that there have been historical barriers affecting certain student groups.
For one, Black and Hispanic students have trailed their white and Asian counterparts in academic performance.
Another is that RPS was called out by the Minnesota Department of Human Rights in 2018 for disparities among its student discipline data.

2018 MN Human Rights 2018 Finding 

Another is that RPS was called out by the Minnesota Department of Human Rights in 2018 for disparities among its student discipline data.

RPS Staffing Status

Ruffin said people of color now make up 5.49% of the district’s certified teaching staff.
“It’s been hovering around 3% for many, many years,” Ruffin said.
“We are making strides in the right direction.”

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