Commitment to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Advocacy (“IDEA”)                                                                  

The Suffolk Education Foundation (hereafter referred to as “The Foundation”) is a non-profit foundation benefiting the students and staff of Suffolk Public Schools.  The Foundation has always maintained a policy of non-discrimination; however, the time has come that we, both as a Foundation and as a society, need to formalize our commitment to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Advocacy (“IDEA”) in our leadership and in the distribution of funds to qualified recipients of grants and scholarships offered through The Foundation.  We actively seek accountability from all stakeholders to help ensure the equitable distribution of funds to all groups represented in the Suffolk Public School System and in the Suffolk Community.

The Foundation Board of Directors commits to the concept of IDEA by following best practices including, but not limited to, the following:

 

RECRUITMENT

• Actively recruit for diversity in its leadership, to include but not limited to race, gender, religion, and sexual orientation of the Foundation’s Board of Directors, to the full amount of Directors allowed by the Foundation’s By-Laws.

• Reach out to all staff who work directly with students to identify members of marginalized groups and educate them on the scholarships available to assist and encourage these students to apply

DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS

• Identify projects that support diversity and service to marginalized groups.

• Encourage teachers to apply for instructional grants that serve to students that mirror the composition of   the school community and serve the greatest amount of students.

• Collaborate with the SPS Community Engagement and Title I Staff to make community visits and other appropriate communications with low-income and marginalized neighborhoods and apartment complexes, ensuring that these stakeholders in Suffolk Public Schools are fully aware of what is available for the benefit of their students’ post-secondary education.

• Collaborate with the Guidance Departments and other staff directly involved in students’ transition to post-secondary education to ensure that these staff members are fully aware of the scholarship and grant offerings by the Foundation, and to encourage them to give consideration to students from marginalized groups.

• Commit to include all marginalized groups in its funding, including but not limited to race, disability, religion, nationality, spoken/written language, sexual orientation/LGBT, gender identity, and immigration status.
   

The Board of Directors of Suffolk Education Foundation, both individually and as a body, commit to these goals and objectives, and proudly work diligently to ensure Inclusion, Equity, Diversity, and Advocacy in all areas of our operation. In addition, we commit to seek funding sources who embrace the concepts and principles included in IDEA.