The NAACP Spokane Branch Education Committee wishes to clarify a statement published in the August issue of The Black Lens regarding equity position statements.
The statement refers to recommendations made by the Mead School District Board of Directors, not the Washington State School Directors’ Association (WSSDA). Specifically, the Mead School Board is recommending the retirement of equity-related position statements and associated resources.
We appreciate the opportunity to clarify this distinction and remain committed to providing accurate information to our readers.
Please see the updated statement below.
Statement from the Spokane Branch NAACP Education Committee Regarding the Mead School Board’s Proposal to Retire WSSDA Position Statements Related to Equity
The Spokane Branch NAACP Education Committee stands firmly in support of the Washington State School Directors’ Association (WSSDA) Equity Statement and the broader framework of WSSDA position statements that promote equitable educational opportunities for all students.
While the Mead School Board ultimately did not recommend retiring the WSSDA Equity Statement itself, it has proposed retiring numerous other WSSDA position statements related to equity. That distinction is important. The decision to retain the Equity Statement should not end public discussion of the board’s proposal to retire other longstanding policy positions that collectively help ensure students have meaningful access to educational opportunity, belonging, and the support necessary to succeed.
At its core, this conversation is about humanity. It is about affirming a simple principle: no person should have their value diminished, denied, or erased because of their race, ethnicity, culture, disability, gender, socioeconomic status, religion, language, housing status, or any other aspect of their identity. Every human being deserves dignity, respect, belonging, and the opportunity to reach their full potential. We also know that bias often interrupts this truth.
An equity statement is not about granting special treatment. It is about making a public commitment to fairness and ensuring that all students have access to the opportunities, support, and educational environments they need to succeed. It recognizes that students come to our schools with different experiences and circumstances, and that a commitment to equity helps ensure those differences do not become barriers to achievement. No one wants to be erased.
The same principle extends beyond a single statement. Many of the WSSDA position statements the Mead School Board has proposed retiring address issues directly connected to equitable educational outcomes, including language access, multilingual education, support for students experiencing homelessness, special education, student mental health, trauma-informed practices, sexual harassment prevention, tribal education, universal school meals, African American studies, and efforts to recruit and retain a diverse educator and governance workforce. Viewed together, these position statements represent an interconnected framework designed to help ensure every child has access to the supports necessary to thrive.
The recent incidents involving racialized violence in the Mead School District, along with allegations that district leadership failed to adequately address or disclose the racial component of the harm caused, demonstrate why commitments to equity remain necessary. Bigotry does not always present itself openly. It often exists beneath the surface and can be reinforced by silence, indifference, or a failure to acknowledge difficult truths. Equity requires us to be proactive in confronting those realities rather than waiting to respond after harm has occurred.
For that reason, preserving the WSSDA Equity Statement, while important, should not distract from careful public examination of the Mead School Board’s proposal to retire other WSSDA position statements related to equity. The public deserves to understand why these longstanding positions are being recommended for retirement, what principles will guide the district moving forward, and how district leadership intends to continue demonstrating its commitment to protecting students from discrimination and maltreatment while ensuring equitable educational opportunity.
We also acknowledge that representatives of the Washington State School Directors’ Association have indicated they are actively working to preserve equity-related position statements and do not support their retirement. This underscores that the current proposals originate with the Mead School Board and should not be interpreted as reflecting the position of WSSDA itself.
History teaches us that exclusion and discrimination persist. What is past is prologue. Progress is achieved when we expand our understanding of one another and affirm the worth of every person. Equity is not about division; it is about ensuring that no one is pushed to the margins and that every student has the opportunity to be seen, heard, and supported.
A healthy community is built by recognizing our shared humanity while respecting the diverse experiences that shape our lives. Public education has both the opportunity and the responsibility to create learning environments where every child feels safe, valued, and capable of reaching their full potential. The morale, well-being, and educational outcomes of students are directly influenced by these commitments and should never be disregarded.
The WSSDA Equity Statement reflects that commitment. Likewise, the broader WSSDA position statements reinforce the structures that help translate that commitment into practice. Together, they communicate that every student matters, every student belongs, and every student deserves the opportunity to thrive.
We call upon our community to consider our shared humanity and the kind of schools we want to build for future generations.
A diverse society requires thoughtful leadership that recognizes the needs of all who comprise it. Educational equity is not about favoring one group over another; it is about ensuring that every student has access to the resources, supports, and opportunities necessary to succeed.
Let us choose understanding over fear, dignity over exclusion, transparency over uncertainty, and an unwavering commitment to the value and potential of every human being.