The Brearley School

The applicants must "explain how their family's values align with the school's 'commitment to creating an anti-racist and inclusive school community.'" Parents are required to attend "'anti-racist training and ongoing reflection.'"

Stepping Through the Open Door: An Updated Strategic Vision for Brearley 2023 states that they recruit and retain diverse groups because "prioritizing what is best for students means, in part, that we create and maintain a talented and intentionally diverse environment of adults and students through recruitment, retention and development strategies."

Faculty and Staff have are being trained in "emotional responsiveness." Trustees and parents are being required to take anti-racism and anti-bias training.

The school announced, "Students, faculty and staff are participating in training and education sessions on topics such as antiracism and cultivating community throughout the year." Additionally, the development of "A racial literacy and antiracism curriculum for K–XII (which already has been implemented in some grades) to guide students in the acquisition of cultural competence is underway."

Brearley School has several specific requirements related to anti-racism. Firstly, parents are required to undergo two diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism workshops every school year as an application requirement. Secondly, a 500-word essay describing the parent's commitment to DEIA is required. Finally, an anti-racist statement must be signed by the parent, committing the parent to certain actions.

Departments will be "developing an inclusive curriculum and culturally competent pedagogy with the support of outside consultants." A new curriculum is currently being introduced in the Lower School, as well as in the English and History departments in the upper grades. The Physical education and Drama departments are also creating new programs.

A "racial literacy and antiracism" curriculum is underway.

The school created a "Policy Against Racism, Bias, and Bigotry" for all community members. "Age-appropriate discipline systems and Codes of Conduct" have been created for each division.

Danielle LaRoche King is the Director of Athletics at Brearley and has, "gone through extensive antibias training and works with all members of the Brearley Athletic Department to identify and reduce any racial or gender-based harm."

The school will conduct an equity audit.

The "Adventurous Intellect Fund" contains a "United Fund" that goes to "Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Anti-racism" initiatives.

The school's library website contains an anti-racism resource page, which includes readings by Ibram X. Kendi and the 1619 Project.

The school's library website contains an anti-racism resource page for "Birth-Class IV students and families." The resources include "Antiracist Baby."

The Alumnae Board held two town hall meetings, with school leaders, to discuss steps towards "creating an antiracist community."

The school provided an update on its DEI and Antiracism initiative at its 2021 reunion.

The school announced, "In recognition of the essential value of race- and ethnicity-based affinity space, the Office of Equity and Inclusion and the Dean of Students are working to support the creation, organization and funding of programming for new and existing affinity spaces."

The Diversity Club encourages "nonjudgmental dialogue about social justice". The school also has the Brearley Student Diversity Leadership Council which "represents the needs of historically marginalized students by creating spaces for healing, celebration and affinity; holding people and organizations to their statements of beliefs; providing accurate representation and aid; and acting as a liaison between students, educators and administrators to bridge the information gap."

The school announced that it was "committed to building an antiracist community." The school also said, "This work requires active introspection, self-awareness and the determination to make conscious and consistently equitable choices on a daily basis. We expect our faculty, staff, students, parents and trustees to pursue meaningful change through deliberate and measurable actions. These actions include participating in antiracist training and identifying and eliminating policies, practices and beliefs that uphold racial inequality in our community."

The school's statement of beliefs includes an antiracism statement.

According to the plan "Building an Antiracist Brearley," the Board of Trustees has established Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee. "Antiracist advisory groups for students, parents, alumnae, and faculty and staff" have also been formed. Each of these groups has a representative who sits on the DEI committee.

The school has hired an Associate Director of Equity and Community Engagement. It also appointed a DEI coordinator for each school division.

The Alumnae Board ratified its own Antiracism Priorities.

The school stated, "We are creating new antiracist systems and policies but that doesn’t mean that the culture immediately changes."

The Alumnae Board will, "Educate ourselves and our communities on ways to better embrace antiracist behaviors and systems" and "Ensure transparency, representation and antiracism protocols by the Alum Board itself."

On August 31, 2020, Brearley announced on Facebook that faculty are undergoing “Racial Literacy Curriculum” on “What it means to be an anti-racist educator.” This post was also featured on its Twitter and Instagram accounts.

On August 26, 2020, Brearley announced the creation of the “Advocating for Anti-Racism” reading list on Facebook. This list includes “How to Be an Anti-Racist” by Ibram X. Kendi. This post was also featured on its Instagram account.

On August 24, 2020, Brearley announced on Facebook that, “We also stepped into the important work to create an Antiracist Community, work which started this summer with the Board Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee and Head of School Jane Fried. This change forward will require commitment from every member of our community.” This post was also featured on its Instagram account.

On August 6, 2020, Brearley announced the new President of the Brearley Alumnae Association who will engage in “work that is even more critical today as we, as a society, come to terms with racial inequities and injustice.”

On July 19, 2020, Brearley announced on Facebook, “We are honored that Dr. Jacobs will lead an equity audit at Brearley and help guide our inclusion work” and “we are grateful for her insights and experience as we continue our efforts to create an anti-racist community.” This post was also featured on its Twitter and Instagram accounts.

On July 16, 2020, Brearley posted an “Anti-Racism Action Steps letter” on Facebook. This post was also featured on its Twitter and Instagram accounts.

June 15, 2020, Brearley announced on Facebook several initiatives for “confronting anti-black racism in our community.” This post was also featured on its Twitter and Instagram accounts.

On June 15, 2020, Brearley posted a lengthy statement on Facebook condemning racism by stating, “We acknowledge and apologize to our Black alumnae and students who are sharing their painful experiences of anti-Black racism at Brearley.” This post was also featured on its Twitter and Instagram accounts.

On June 7, 2020, Brearley took to Facebook and released a statement as part of its efforts to “support the fight against institutionalized racism and the violence and injustice that it breeds” and to “create a more inclusive, equitable and responsive community.” This post was also featured on its Twitter and Instagram accounts.

On June 2, 2020, Brearley participated in “Blackout Tuesday” on Facebook. This post was also featured on its Instagram account.

On June 2, 2020, Brearley announced on Facebook, “The Brearley School stands in solidarity against institutionalized racism and the violence and injustice that it breeds.” This post was also featured on its Twitter and Instagram accounts.

The school has a DEI Statement in which reads as follows: "The Brearley School believes that diversity of thought, practice and identity are essential elements in preparing students for principled engagement in the world. We believe in the importance of establishing and strengthening the structures and practices necessary to achieve equitable representation and participation in our school. We are committed to putting these beliefs into action and are therefore engaged in continuous study, self-reflection and dialogue in order to improve and adapt as we learn."

Stepping Through the Open Door: An Updated Strategic Vision for Brearley states the following: "Most recently, we faced the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic and the racial reckoning across our society. We worked responsibly and methodically to deliver its course of study safely and in-person for all students. The School also deepened its commitment to becoming an inclusive, antiracist and antibiased [sic] institution. We recognized the need to weave principles of inclusion and equity into our plans for the future to create a community of belonging for decades to come."