Over the last two years, NSPRA’s School Communication Benchmarking Project Team has worked to research and develop a new section on equity and diversity communications for the association's Rubrics of Practice and Suggested Measures benchmarking publication on school communication best practices.

Presented by members of the project team, the "A New Benchmark for Equity Communications" session on Tuesday provided an in-depth look at the importance of approaching school communications with a focus on equity and how communicators can use this tool to increase the effectiveness of their messages and strategies.

Following a panel discussion, attendees worked in small groups to reflect on their districts’ equity communication practices in light of the new rubric.

“The new diverse, equitable and inclusive communications rubric is a way for school communicators to evaluate their strengths in this area as well as find opportunities to improve,” said project team member and presenter Erica Chandler, APR.

The new addition provides a starting point for districts to begin this critical work, said fellow project team member and presenter Brian Graves.

"Representation matters,” said project team member Superintendent Royal Gurley Ed.D. “Our students need to see themselves in the work that we do. They are not numbers; they are people.”

Missed picking up a copy of the new rubrics at the Seminar? Order yours now in the NSPRA online store.