West Contra Costa Unified School District is changing how schools respond to racial slurs and other racial harm, requiring staff to document incidents, notify families and provide support to students who are targeted.
The new protocol, presented to the school board August 26, is part of an update to the district’s Anti-Slur Initiative and is intended to give schools a consistent response when racial harm occurs on campus.
LaShante Smith, the district’s director of positive school climate, said the changes followed a year of work with school leaders, community members and students, including a survey of district principals and a youth action forum on how students experience the district’s response to hate speech…