Sidwell Friends School

City Journal reports, "Sidwell Friends published a 16-page brochure that committed the school to establish new affinity groups and impose mandatory Equity, Justice, and Community (EJC) training...Sidwell’s training reaches the highest level of the school’s governance, with 'a regular schedule for equity and anti-racism training for administrators and trustees.'

The school also announced the "development and implementation of enhanced equity training to increase competencies in differentiated instruction, culturally responsive pedagogy, anti-racist and inclusive teaching, curriculum development, and leadership." Additionally, the school said that it will "Require implementation of further student-centered, age-appropriate, anti-bias, anti-racist co-curricula and programming."

The school stated, "Part of the strategic-planning process will be to consistently review curricula to improve diversity of perspective and representation. Meanwhile, teachers are also dismantling traditional Western-focused educational norms. They are teaching through a vast spectrum of perspectives, whether it is using underrepresented primary sources to teach history, reconceiving reading lists for a globalized world, or learning about the disproportionate effect of climate change on minority populations."

The school announced a new "requirement for new faculty and staff to complete an intensive, introspective diversity and equity seminar within the first two years of employment." Additionally, the school said that there will be a "requirement that all employees complete training in equity instruction on a yearly basis, and that the evaluation process assesses an individual’s proficiency in teaching and working effectively with students from all backgrounds."

The school will "Prioritize the establishment of three separate endowments to fund the following positions: the Director of Equity, Justice, and Community; the Faculty Chair in African and African American Studies; and the Supervia Chair in Spanish and Latin American Studies."

The school announced, "On Aug. 31, Kendi spoke with the faculty and staff in a session... In the talk, Kendi specifically spoke about the role of education in building an anti-racist community."

Professional development facilitators "each led panels in their fields of expertise, from reconceiving American history to bias-training in future teaching, in order to help faculty and staff deepen their anti-racist work."

On July 21, 2020, Sidwell Friends highlighted its magazine which had a front page reading “Black Lives Matter.” This statement was also featured on its Twitter and Instagram accounts.

On June 18, 2020, Sidwell Friends announced on Facebook, “As we continue to learn about and examine the attitudes and actions that keep systemic racism in place and work to dismantle it, please join us as we consider an article by Dax-Devlon Ross ’93. Ross illustrates how a recent conversation with a fellow Sidwell Friends alum inspired him to issue a challenge to his white male friends. Let us seek to understand how racism affects and harms us all —and let us step up.” This statement was also featured on its Twitter and Instagram accounts.

On June 11, 2020, Sidwell Friends highlighted on Facebook, “After the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arberry, more than 1,100 faculty, staff, students, parents, alumni and friends expressed anger, grief, unity, and a need for social justice in the form of a silent protest—or not so silent given the boisterous honking of support by passing cars. Our community carried signs, kept 20 feet apart for social distancing, and created a human chain to promote awareness of systemic racism and the work of the Black Lives Matter movement.” This post was also featured on its Instagram account.

On June 9, 2020, Sidwell Friends announced on Facebook, “As a School community, we value equity, justice, and peace. For our children and the future of our world, we strive to teach about equality in order to eliminate systemic racism.” This post was also featured on its Instagram account.

On June 3, 2020, Sidwell Friends released a BLM statement from the Director of Equity, Justice, and Community on Facebook. This statement was also featured on its Twitter and Instagram accounts.

On June 26, 2020, Sidwell Friends posted a lengthy statement of anti-racism on Instagram.

On June 2, 2020, Sidwell Friends participated in “Blackout Tuesday” by posting on Instagram alongside a statement, “We are listening to our community.”

The Board of Trustees announced that it will be introducing a new Equity, Justice and Community Action Plan (EJC Action Plan). The school stated, "Despite efforts to create an equitable and inclusive institution, we understand that we as a community have not fully lived up to this basic principle. Our Black alumni and students have shared painful stories of not being treated equally or with dignity. We apologize for the harm that has been done. We further commit to identifying and addressing all forms of racism and prejudice in our community, particularly anti-Black racism. Simply put, Black Lives Matter."