The Wauwatosa School District is committed to fostering an inclusive community in which the opportunity gap is closed and ALL students succeed. 

In the Wauwatosa School District, we strive to ensure that all students feel a sense of belonging. It is imperative that we create learning environments that are inclusive, accessible, equitable and diverse. It is our intention to create school communities that are welcoming environments that foster care and understanding for every student. Please find the working definitions of diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility, so that you have an understanding of how we utilize these words in our district.

Diversity: the practice of acknowledging, representing, honoring and supporting the different aspects of students, staff, and families identities, including but not limited to race, gender, sexual orientation, language, ability and socio-economic status.

Equity: the practice of ensuring that all students, staff and families have access to the resources and necessary support to ensure their individual successes. 

Inclusion: the practice of providing all students, families and staff with a positive school experience in all aspects. Inclusion is also the act of fostering diversity and addressing biases to ensure that all students, families and staff are included, valued, welcomed, seen and heard. 

Accessibility: the practice of removing barriers that hinder achievement for students, families and staff by providing the necessary tools and resources to allow them to fully participate, engage and thrive in the learning community.

Our core beliefs related to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility are: 

1. The elimination of institutional inequities and disproportionality starts with the staff responsible for serving all students. 

2. The staff of the Wauwatosa School District are responsible for the prevention of student failure, supporting students’  psychological safety and social-emotional growth all while focusing on continuous improvement for the District. 

3. The District shall ensure that educational programming is accessible, representative of the student population and equitable to all students. 

4. Instructional teams are deliberate in delivering culturally responsive teaching strategies daily. 

5. Instructional teams continuously work to increase and transform their instructional and professional capacities with the understanding that it will eventually positively impact all students. 

6. Instructional practices and curricular materials are proactively developed and revised to meet the needs of students and continuously improve student performance. 

7. Developing a sense of exemplary service, belonging and inclusion is the center of the District’s outreach efforts with all students, families, visitors and community members. 

8. Ensuring that all schools and classrooms are welcoming environments that fosters understanding and care for every student, family member and visitor. In short, the diversity that these stakeholders bring to our school community shall be honored and respected. 

9. Student performance is constantly monitored to assist educators adjust their practice accordingly, document progress and determine if the professionals are closing the disproportionality gaps in the District. 

10. Educators and the District will always persevere in serving students, even when a student lacks the perceived and/or historically acknowledged home guidance, support, academic background knowledge, fails to exert the expected effort, and/or struggles to consistently adhere to the District’s Student Code of Conduct.

It is the intent of the Wauwatosa School District to ensure that our families and educational community have access to valuable resources that cover a wide range of needs to assist them as needed. Wisconsin provides a myriad of community agencies that are available to guide the residents accordingly. As a close knit community, we pride ourselves in providing accessible resources that could be beneficial for our community. 

Each month, WSD University provides professional learning that highlights specific areas of focus related to student success. Parents and guardians will receive information, resources and tools that will assist them in bridging the gap between home and school, as well as have the opportunity to network and share stories with other families within the Wauwatosa School District. If you are interested in attending an upcoming WSD Parent University session, please complete this form. More information about meeting dates and times will be distributed in the coming weeks. If you have questions in the meantime, please contact LaShawnda Holland.

MEPA is a diverse, parent-led organization that increases cultural awareness throughout the District, supports academic achievement, fosters social-emotional growth, increases opportunities and experiences and creates a space that allows families to work collaboratively to advocate for their children. If you are interested in becoming a member or lending your skills or talents to this organization, please indicate your interest by completing this MEPA Form. If you have questions, please contact LaShawnda Holland.