Culturally Responsive Training
1.1 Mandatory cultural competency training for all staff In-work · 1/2 pts
DCPS requires Vector Training courses on ethics/Title IX/ADA for all employees, and offered district-sponsored 'Cultural Intelligence'/unconscious bias seminars, but these targeted families rather than confirmed mandatory annual cultural-competency training for all staff district-wide. <cite index="27-6,27-7">There are specific training opportunities offered by the Office of Professional Standards, ADA & Title IX designed to build increased knowledge and skill-building related to rights and responsibilities under state and federal civil rights laws.</cite>
1.2 Mentorship programs for culturally diverse staff In-work · 1/2 pts
DCPS runs a 'TPG Cultural Exchange' bringing in international teachers and a CHAMPS Boot Camp induction, but no clear formal mentorship program specifically targeting culturally diverse staff was found. <cite index="22-5,22-6,22-7">Through the TPG Cultural Exchange program, international teachers from the Philippines, Jamaica, and Ghana are officially joining Team Duval, stepping into elementary and ESE classrooms while sharing their expertise and fostering cultural connections.</cite>
1.3 Culturally relevant PD resources in staff learning In-work · 1/2 pts
DCPS offers an ESOL endorsement with a 'Cross-Cultural Communications' course and global/cultural studies resources for teachers, but this is elective/endorsement-based rather than a universal culturally-relevant PD resource bank. <cite index="29-9,29-10">DCPS Professional Learning offers FLDOE-approved endorsement courses free of charge, including the ESOL Endorsement with Cross-Cultural Communications.</cite>
1.4 Regular feedback/measurement on training effectiveness Not Implemented · 0/2 pts
No public documentation was found showing DCPS collects or publishes regular feedback/effectiveness data specifically for cultural-competency or equity training.
Clear & Consistent Policies
2.1 Student code of conduct (clear expectations) Implemented · 2/2 pts
DCPS publishes detailed, mandatory, annually-updated Elementary and Secondary Codes of Student Conduct covering infractions, levels, and consequences district-wide. <cite index="1-3">2023-24 Code of Conduct documents for Elementary and Secondary are posted on the district site.</cite>
2.2 Regular policy reviews/updates Implemented · 2/2 pts
The district has an explicit, scheduled two-year rotating review cycle for all board policies with public hearings. <cite index="180-4,180-5,180-6">While some board policies are revisited annually, the School Board conducts a review of all the board policies over a two-year rotation to ensure policies reflect current practices and legislative mandates, and in some instances policies must be updated prior to the scheduled review.</cite>
2.3 Staff training on consistent application In-work · 1/2 pts
The Code of Conduct includes a discipline rubric intended for consistent application, and staff receive general conduct/ethics training, but no specific evidence of dedicated training on consistent disciplinary application was found beyond general compliance training. <cite index="27-6,27-7">Training opportunities from the Office of Professional Standards build knowledge of civil rights laws and district expectations for ethical, professional conduct.</cite>
2.4 Centralized documentation of incidents/outcomes In-work · 1/2 pts
DCPS produces a recurring mid-year discipline report with centralized data accessible by subgroup, but it's unclear if this constitutes a fully centralized incident/outcome documentation system available district-wide in real time. <cite index="32-5">Jackie Simmons, the school district's Executive Director of Discipline and Student Support, says individual schools and the district have access to quarterly data about infractions and discipline with the ability to dissect the numbers by subgroup, race, gender, grade level, school and more.</cite>
Restorative Justice Practices
3.1 Restorative circles/conferences to repair harm Implemented · 2/2 pts
DCPS has an official district Restorative Practices program using circles and conferences district-wide, integrated with PBIS/SEL. <cite index="12-4,12-5,12-7">Restorative Practices are strategies promoted through methods such as circles for teaching and conflict resolution, and conferences that bring the harmed, harmer(s) and supporters together; Restorative Practices complement PBIS and SEL, not replace them.</cite>
3.2 Staff training in restorative practices In-work · 1/2 pts
The district committed to training administrators at every school in restorative justice, but evidence is older (2019) and it's unclear if training is mandatory for all relevant staff or fully completed district-wide today. <cite index="11-1">Duval County Public Schools Superintendent Diana Greene committed to ensuring that principals and administrators at each school receive restorative justice training by the next school year.</cite>
3.3 Curriculum integrates conflict-resolution skills Implemented · 2/2 pts
Conflict resolution/mediation is explicitly part of the Counseling Support Services prevention/intervention framework offered district-wide. <cite index="97-6">Offering prevention and/or intervention services to include but not limited to alcohol, tobacco, and drug use, conflict resolution/mediation, suicidal ideation, cases of abuse and neglect, teen pregnancy, truancy, and poor academic performance.</cite>
3.4 Peer mediation program Implemented · 2/2 pts
DCPS runs a formal Peer Mediation program for students (e.g., grades 4-5 and secondary), referenced as a resolution option within the Code of Conduct discipline rubric. <cite index="96-3,96-6">School-based peer mediation is one of the most effective approaches to integrating conflict resolution into schools; peer mediation is a form of conflict resolution in which trained student leaders help their peers work together to resolve disputes.</cite>
Bias Awareness & Mitigation
4.1 Implicit bias training for staff In-work · 1/2 pts
DCPS launched unconscious-bias seminars via Parent Academy aimed primarily at families, and maintains an Office of Equity & Inclusion/Professional Standards, but no clear evidence of mandatory implicit-bias training for all staff was found. <cite index="152-9,152-10">Starting July 1, the school district's Parent Academy offered the first of 10 seminars focused on unconscious bias, including 'What is Cultural Intelligence?'</cite>
4.2 Processes to review discipline data for disparities Implemented · 2/2 pts
DCPS conducts recurring disaggregated discipline analysis (by race, gender, subgroup) through its mid-year discipline reporting process. <cite index="198-5">Individual schools and the district have access to quarterly data about infractions and discipline with the ability to dissect the numbers by subgroup, race, gender, grade level, school and more.</cite>
4.3 Cultural competence checks in hiring Not Implemented · 0/2 pts
No public documentation was found showing a specific cultural-competence screening step built into DCPS hiring processes; recent policy changes have actually scaled back DEI-related hiring programs. <cite index="73-4,73-5">The Duval County School Board scrapped a longstanding program to hire minority- and women-owned businesses, replacing it with a 'Small/Micro Business Enterprise' effort to comply with a federal executive order banning DEI programs.</cite>
4.4 Diverse perspectives & materials in curriculum Implemented · 2/2 pts
DCPS has expanded African American history electives and embedded diverse perspectives across K-12 curriculum via a dedicated task force. <cite index="90-1,90-3">DCPS continues to expand access to African American history education through multiple course options that meet high school history credit requirements, including Semester and Year-long African American History courses.</cite>
Culturally Relevant Curriculum
5.1 Curriculum materials reflect student backgrounds Implemented · 2/2 pts
The district offers both a dedicated African American History curriculum and Global and Cultural Studies choice programs reflecting diverse student backgrounds. <cite index="26-3,26-4">Having knowledge of and appreciation for different world cultures and societies helps students see the world in a new way, and understanding other cultures is increasingly important in today's global economy.</cite>
5.2 Teacher PD on integrating diverse perspectives Implemented · 2/2 pts
DCPS has held a dedicated Summer Writing Institute and structured PD for teachers on integrating local Black history into curriculum. <cite index="87-6">Teachers had the opportunity to talk with experts who showcased Jacksonville's local African American history and discussed how it could be better incorporated into lessons.</cite>
5.3 Community collaboration for supplemental resources Implemented · 2/2 pts
DCPS's African American History Task Force includes community members and partnered with a local nonprofit to co-create supplemental curriculum. <cite index="95-3">The African American Task Force, created last year, includes district leaders, teachers, university partners, community members, parents and students.</cite>
5.4 Culturally specific courses/electives Implemented · 2/2 pts
DCPS offers dedicated culturally-specific electives, including African American History as both standard and honors courses at multiple grade levels. <cite index="90-3">DCPS continues to expand access to African American history education through multiple course options that meet high school history credit requirements: Semester African American History (Standard), Honors, and Year-long middle school versions.</cite>
Community Engagement & Collaboration
6.1 Regular meetings with parents & community leaders Implemented · 2/2 pts
DCPS maintains a structured, multi-tiered system of School, Area, and District Advisory Councils that meet regularly with parents, community, and staff. <cite index="39-3,39-4">The responsibility of each advisory council is to provide parents, citizens, faculty, staff, and students an opportunity to participate in educational priorities, and each council is meant to provide communication between the district and all stakeholders.</cite>
6.2 Partnerships with local orgs for student/family support Implemented · 2/2 pts
DCPS has a long-standing, formal multi-agency partnership bringing wraparound services into schools district-wide. <cite index="48-1">Full Service Schools (FSS) is a collaborative partnership between Duval County Public Schools, United Way of Northeast Florida, Kid's Hope Alliance and community-based organizations that brings mental health, health, social, and supportive services closer to students and families.</cite>
6.3 Advisory committees with community representation Implemented · 2/2 pts
DCPS maintains multiple standing advisory committees with explicit community/parent representation, such as ESEAC and SHAC. <cite index="41-7,41-9">The ESEAC serves as a collaborative platform for families, educators, and community members to provide input, and sponsors four general meetings throughout the school year which are open to the public.</cite>
6.4 Outreach to ensure all families are informed/involved Implemented · 2/2 pts
DCPS runs a free Parent Academy district-wide plus a dedicated Center for Language and Culture for immigrant/refugee families to ensure broad family outreach. <cite index="21-6,21-7">The Center for Language and Culture (CLC) is a service center for refugee, immigrant and newly arrived families who speak a language other than English, offering homework assistance, evening language classes, and orientation to American schools.</cite>
Professional Development on Equity & Inclusion
7.1 Ongoing anti-bias/equity training In-work · 1/2 pts
Ongoing anti-bias programming has been offered but mostly through the Parent Academy aimed at families rather than confirmed recurring mandatory staff training. <cite index="158-11">Beginning Wednesday, July 1, the district hosted virtual 'Wellness Wednesdays: Family Edition' workshops on 'Managing Unconscious Bias' through the Parent Academy.</cite>
7.2 Workshops on culturally responsive teaching In-work · 1/2 pts
Culturally responsive teaching content appears within optional ESOL endorsement coursework, but not confirmed as mandatory for all teachers. <cite index="29-10">ESOL Endorsement courses include Cross-Cultural Communications among other required modules.</cite>
7.3 Equity topics in staff meetings/PD In-work · 1/2 pts
Equity-adjacent topics (e.g., African/African American history integration) have been part of specific PD sessions, but no evidence found of equity being a standing agenda item in routine staff meetings district-wide.
7.4 Participation in equity-focused conferences Not Implemented · 0/2 pts
No public documentation was found indicating district-sponsored or funded staff participation in external equity-focused conferences.
Mental Health & Trauma-Informed Practices
8.1 Collaboration with mental-health professionals Implemented · 2/2 pts
DCPS collaborates extensively with licensed mental health counselors and community providers embedded in schools. <cite index="50-4">Full Service Schools (partnership with United Way, Kids Hope Alliance and DCPS) has provided mental health services with licensed mental health counselors in a large share of comprehensive schools.</cite>
8.2 Safe, supportive spaces (mindfulness/sensory) Implemented · 2/2 pts
DCPS has implemented mindfulness practices (Calm Classroom) district-wide and individual schools maintain sensory/calming rooms for regulation support. <cite index="135-2,135-7">Duval County Public Schools is using Calm Classroom to help with student productivity, mental health, and stress management, encouraging schools to utilize it at least three times a day.</cite>
8.3 Trauma-informed staff training Implemented · 2/2 pts
DCPS has implemented trauma-informed care training for school staff through state-funded mental health allocation partnerships. <cite index="125-1,125-2">Duval County Public Schools will collaborate with the managing entity SEDNET to conduct Youth Mental Health First Aid Training and Trauma Informed Care training to school and district based staff.</cite>
8.4 Partnerships to expand mental-health services Implemented · 2/2 pts
DCPS has multiple active partnerships (United Way, Kids Hope Alliance, FLDOH) that have received multi-million dollar grants to expand mental health services. <cite index="52-1">United Way of Northeast Florida, in partnership with the Kids Hope Alliance and DCPS, announced recipients of $5.5 million in grants to provide mental health care access for all public school students through the Full Service Schools initiative.</cite>
Data Collection & Analysis
9.1 Disaggregated discipline data system Implemented · 2/2 pts
The district maintains disaggregated discipline data broken down by race, gender, subgroup, grade, and school, reviewed quarterly. <cite index="198-5">Individual schools and the district have access to quarterly data about infractions and discipline with the ability to dissect the numbers by subgroup, race, gender, grade level, school and more.</cite>
9.2 Regular audits of discipline practices Implemented · 2/2 pts
DCPS produces a recurring mid-year discipline audit comparing year-over-year infraction trends and demographic patterns. <cite index="32-2">The Florida school district's mid-year discipline report reviews the first 100 days of the new school year compared to previous school years.</cite>
9.3 Data-informed interventions/adjustments In-work · 1/2 pts
District officials have cited data trends (e.g., declining fights) as justification for expanding restorative and mental-health approaches, suggesting some data-informed adjustment, though a formal continuous-improvement loop wasn't fully documented. <cite index="16-6,16-7">"What we call restorative justice and restorative practice ... we're trying to get in front of altercations and things that happened with students prior to it escalating to a fight," Simmons said.</cite>
9.4 Transparent reporting to stakeholders Implemented · 2/2 pts
DCPS publicly releases its mid-year discipline report findings to media/stakeholders, including racial disparity findings. <cite index="32-1">This school year, the number of infractions reported within Duval County Public Schools has decreased by more than half compared to the same time last year, new data shows.</cite>
Student Voice & Leadership
10.1 Student advisory councils/leadership groups Implemented · 2/2 pts
DCPS has a formal District Student Government Association that presents comments directly at School Board meetings. <cite index="171-2">Chapter 2 - School Board Governance includes Policy 2.34, District Student Government Association.</cite> Historical board minutes confirm <cite index="174-4">Comments from District Student Government Association</cite> are a standing agenda item.
10.2 Student feedback informs policy/procedures In-work · 1/2 pts
The DSGA provides regular comments to the School Board, suggesting some feedback channel into policy, but it's unclear how systematically this feeds into formal decision-making beyond public comment.
10.3 Students facilitate restorative processes Implemented · 2/2 pts
Students directly facilitate conflict-resolution/restorative processes as trained peer mediators. <cite index="96-6">Peer mediation is a form of conflict resolution in which trained student leaders help their peers work together to resolve everyday disputes.</cite>
10.4 Student-led peer education Implemented · 2/2 pts
Students serve as trained peer mediators and also led curriculum research/writing in the African American History Summer Writing Institute. <cite index="89-12">This thirst for local history led to the creation of the district's first-ever Duval County African American History Summer Writing Institute.</cite>
Equitable Access to Support Services
11.1 Counseling & mental-health access for all Implemented · 2/2 pts
All DCPS students have access to school counselors and free mental health counseling via Full Service Schools. <cite index="99-8,99-11">All Duval County Public Schools students have access to counselors at their schools, and students attending any school can access free and confidential mental health counseling through Full Service Schools.</cite>
11.2 Targeted academic support (e.g., tutoring) Implemented · 2/2 pts
DCPS provides targeted tutoring via district partnership (Varsity Tutors) and individual schools run invitation-based intervention tutoring. <cite index="161-2">Duval Public Schools is partnering with Varsity Tutors for Schools to provide students with homework help, study support, and engaging instruction from live tutors.</cite>
11.3 Community partnerships expand services Implemented · 2/2 pts
Community partnerships like Duval Reads and Full Service Schools expand academic and support services beyond what the district provides alone. <cite index="170-3,170-4">Our literacy initiative, Duval Reads, provides intensive one-on-one and small-group literacy tutoring for students in elementary school, a pillar of support since 1999.</cite>
11.4 Systems to remove access barriers Implemented · 2/2 pts
The district explicitly frames student support services around removing barriers to access. <cite index="99-5">We aim to remove those barriers by offering a variety of student support services from within the district and through community partners.</cite>
Continuous Evaluation & Improvement
12.1 Standing committee/task force for discipline equity In-work · 1/2 pts
DCPS has standing task forces/committees touching on equity (African American history, policy review) but no single standing committee specifically named for 'discipline equity' was found. <cite index="181-4">Key policies to be reviewed include those focused on student achievement, school safety, and equitable opportunities for all students and staff.</cite>
12.2 Surveys/focus groups (students, families, staff) Implemented · 2/2 pts
DCPS conducts an annual district climate survey gathering feedback from parents/caregivers on school and district culture. <cite index="107-3,107-4">Duval County Public Schools has released their annual survey for parents and caregivers to give feedback about district and school culture, with DCPS stating the survey is used to improve schools and community engagement.</cite>
12.3 Benchmarking vs. state/national comparators In-work · 1/2 pts
DCPS is benchmarked annually against state accountability grades, though this is academic performance rather than discipline-equity specific benchmarking. <cite index="111-4">Duval County Public Schools is among the districts in Florida with a notable education score change, going from a 'B' grade last year to an 'A' grade this year.</cite>
12.4 PD & reflective practice culture Implemented · 2/2 pts
DCPS maintains an ongoing structured induction and professional learning system with reflective practice components for all new and continuing teachers. <cite index="116-10,116-11">The Induction Program prioritizes the overall well-being of teachers, including professional well-being sessions addressing prioritization, strengths development, habit formation, and goal setting.</cite>
Extra Credit
EC1 District-mandated local African American History curriculum uniquely developed in-house, offered as a credit-bearing middle school elective at two (expanding to four) middle schools - among the first in the state to do so. Implemented · 2/2 pts
<cite index="91-3">Lakeshore and Springfield Middle Schools are the only two middle schools in the state offering a high school level African American History elective that counts toward the high school diploma.</cite>
EC2 Calm Classroom mindfulness program implemented district-wide with measurable physiological outcomes (heart-rate reduction) tracked by schools. Implemented · 2/2 pts
<cite index="135-11,135-12">Schools tested students' heart rate before and after doing Calm Classroom and noticed that on average the student's heart rate went down five beats per minute.</cite>
EC3 35-year-long embedded high-school therapist program, among the longest-running school mental health models in the state, now paired with an annual student-led Youth Mental Health Summit. Implemented · 2/2 pts
<cite index="57-6">Duval County Public Schools has placed therapists inside its high schools for the past 35 years.</cite> The district also holds an <cite index="57-2">11th annual Student Mental Health Conference</cite> giving teens direct input into district programming.
EC4 Dedicated Center for Language and Culture (CLC) providing wraparound cultural-orientation, testing, and adult ESL services specifically for refugee/immigrant families district-wide. Implemented · 2/2 pts
<cite index="21-6,21-7">The CLC is a service center for refugee, immigrant and newly arrived families who speak a language other than English, offering homework assistance, evening language classes for parents, informational community sessions in various languages, and orientation to American schools.</cite>
EC5 Describe additional policy… Not rated · 0/2 pts
No rationale recorded.
