Taking into account the recent acts of police brutality against Black individuals, local and national protests and movements for change that call attention to the dire need for justice and equality, as well as a history of deep-rooted and systemic racism in our country, I am writing to propose a set of steps and actions that Frisco Independent School District can take up to stand against racism and support students, parents, staff, and community members of color along with Black lives throughout our nation and world. As a current student who considerably appreciates and benefits from the challenging and integrated education provided by the district, I believe that Frisco ISD has not only the responsibility but also the ability to add a cultural and ethnic education elective course to the curriculum, as well as several racially inclusive resources. By adopting these ideas, Frisco students can be educated on important topics such as racial diversity, racial injustice, cultural diversity, and be taught not to discriminate based solely on race, ethnicity, origin, sexual orientation, religion, age, or origin. It is integral to facilitate open and honest conversations on these topics in and out of the classroom, as making people of diverse backgrounds feel respected and accepted within our community will better aide in students’ success and the future of our society as a whole. 

In order to face racism and the discrimination that has plagued our country and society for centuries upon centuries, we must all work together to be vigorously anti-racist. Per the recent statement posted on the Frisco ISD Instagram page on June 5, 2020, the district seems to share similar sentiments stating, “Together, as a community, we can all be the example our students need to make changes to our society. We will continue to partner with our community, parents, and staff to develop new ideas and implement new strategies for a better future for all Frisco ISD students.” While this statement is a step in the right direction, actions speak louder than words, especially when Black and Brown lives are at risk everywhere. To be an anti-racist ally and provide students with an education that will stay with them during their time in school and into their future endeavors, I excitedly propose the following idea components: 

-Add racially inclusive resources and racial justice books, articles, and media to the curricula of Frisco ISD’s Texas History, U.S. history, English, mathematics, and standard ILA and social studies departments. These resources can be used to engage students in dialogues about race, diversity, and equity, going beyond just discussing slavery and oppression.
-Create implicit bias and cultural competency training and diversity training for FISD students and staff.
-Have a zero-tolerance policy for racism and those who choose to engage in stereotypes based on ethnicity.
-Undertake a holistic (preferably third-party) review of the current FISD curriculum, hiring process, admissions, and student body administration. During this process, a search for potential areas of improvement in the fields of diversity, equity, and inclusion needs to be made to avoid systemic bias and inequities that have and may lead to opportunity gaps and disproportionality in discipline.
-Add an elective course option surrounding Cultural and Ethnic Studies. This course should educate students to be politically, economically, and socially conscious of race, racism, and personal connections to the history of both our local and national history, while also recognizing social patterns and universal qualities present in other societies as well as their own. The course should span from past to present history, focussing on themes of social justice, social change and reform, and social responsibility. Students would be provided a safe academic space to learn the histories, cultures, and intellectual traditions of Native peoples and communities of color while also highlighting gender and sexuality, things that traditional K-12 curricula across the nation tend to exclude. A 2016 study conducted by scholars at the Stanford Graduate School of Education (GSE) found that ethnic studies courses helped high school students increase their educational outcomes, attendance, and credits earned, especially for at-risk students. Researchers found that students’ GPA improved by 1.4 grade points, attendance rose by 21 percentage points, and class credits earned increased by 23. https://news.stanford.edu/2016/01/12/ethnic-studies-benefits-011216/

Having access to cultural and ethnic studies would help students gain a better understanding of other cultures while learning tolerance and respect. Given Frisco’s extreme diversity, it is especially important that students learn about the various cultures in our community, state, country, the world, and our shared identities. In the words of Mahatma Gandhi, “Our ability to reach unity in diversity will be the beauty and the test of our civilisation.” We can come together in these dire times to make a change, promoting inclusivity and leaving a positive imprint for future generations to come.