Current Issue #2 - Diversity

           The New York City Department of Education (DOE) has many offices and programs dedicated toward bettering our students’ education and lives. One office within the department, the Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity Management (OEO), informs all parties involved with education (students, parents, and administration) regarding their rights and responsibilities. For this assignment, I decided to take a closer look at the OEO’s Diversity Unit. Every year they submit a Diversity and Inclusion Policy Annual Report that addresses their policies and initiatives.

          Under their Diversity Initiatives (Section F), the OEO lists their Non-Discrimination Policy. This policy states that they are to “provide educational and employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, creed, ethnicity, national origin, alienage, citizenship status, age…” (p.13). It is required that this policy is displayed in every Department of Education office and school. The report also documents that this policy was recently distributed to all employees by Chancellor Carmen Farina on January 8, 2018.

          In a subsequent section, the process of how to file a complaint is presented. It explains that anybody involved with the Department of Education, including students and their parents, have the right to file a complaint if needed. The following section describes how the OEO carries out extensive non-discrimination training in the five boroughs and provides training sessions for other school districts based upon request. This year the OEO has reached almost 10,000 staff members.

          Having a non-discrimination policy in place in our school system is essential to create a healthy learning and work environment. The policy is clearly written and I think it is important to have the process of filing a complaint included. If I could suggest anything it would be for the OEO to provide mandatory non-discrimination sessions to schools outside of the five boroughs as well. Even out here on the eastern end of Long Island we have a diverse student population. I believe that staff everywhere can benefit from these non-discrimination training sessions.

Source:  

United States, New York City Department of Education, Office of Equal Opportunity and                      Diversity Management. (n.d.). 2016-2017 DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION ANNUAL                        REPORT & STRATEGIC PLAN (pp. 13-15). Retrieved June 10, 2018, from                            http://schools.nyc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/81F9D006-0B4D-4BA7-9028-  4B8936095DCC/221923/NYCDOE20162017DiversityandInclusionAnnualReport Str.pdf