There are two policies that apply to my program, but could be improved.

 

One is the P6812 CULTURAL PROFICIENCY EDUCATION BOARD POLICY which states that Wichita Public Schools must promote an inclusive environment. Although I love this idea, I am not sure how well it is being played out. If they could make it required for each high school student to attend a community forum once a month to meet others with similar or conflicting viewpoints, it would enhance their cultural competency. We see this having positive effects at Kansas State University through the Leadership Studies minor. A Lead 405 class that focuses on taking a stance against racial oppression holds three community forums for students to come meet others of different backgrounds and converse about social issues. This has helped humanize people from different backgrounds and helped to lessen the racial divide on campus. 

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The second policy that could be improved is the P6815 EXECUTIVE HIGH SCHOOL INTERNSHIP PROGRAM POLICY which states that certain advanced students may engage in an internship during high school. The policy has the intern working with teachers, administrators, and counselors. This is a great program, but is not inclusive to students who have after school jobs or are falling behind in their studies. Something to improve it could be a mentoring program implemented into the policy. It is more difficult to find a job without having connections, yet poor communities do not have access to the connections. If they could expand their program so it reaches underprivileged communities that assigns them a mentor in the industry they want to pursue, this could help the students do better on test scores, motivate them to go to college, and help them gain confidence in professional workplaces.