Equity in Novato Unified School District means ensuring every student, and each individual has access to educational opportunities that challenge, engage, inspire and prepare them for a strong future. Equity also means that every student has the support, encouragement, and assistance needed to succeed in school.

NUSD’s CALL-TO-ACTION. The educational success of all students has a positive impact on the entire Novato community. It is in the best interest of our community to ensure that each of our students succeeds. NUSD’s intention is for our community to hold high expectations for each and every student.

NUSD is committed to: 

• examining and changing structures, policies, practices, and relationships to ensure equitable outcomes for all students. 
• setting clear and attainable academic and social emotional goals. 
• implementing strategies and actions that align with district goals to close the academic, access, and opportunity gap for all students. 

NUSD recognizes that equity is an enduring effort and a continuous work in progress and a commitment to find solutions. NUSD invites the greater Novato community partners to join in nurturing dialogue and finding common solutions as students access learning, social emotional development, and benefit from a rigorous and engaging education. Jointly, NUSD and the greater community is working toward closing the opportunity, academic, and access gap for all students. 

Novato Unified School District has a long history of promoting equity in our schools and confronting racism. This dates back to at least the 1990’s when a racial incident involving San Marin High School students and Tamalpais High School students impelled the district to begin dialogue and conversations around race, and to adopt strategies and policies to promote equity. Since at least that time, leaders in the district have continued these discussions on a regular basis.  NUSD has worked with the National Equity Project (NEP) to help us examine our beliefs, roles, policies, procedures, programs and structures to ensure we are doing all we can to ensure all of our students have the best opportunity to succeed. In the 2014-15 school year, a small group of administrators attended the Leading for Equity three-day institute offered by NEP, which served as a catalyst for not only self-reflection but as a springboard for action. In the 2015-16 school year, all district administrators attended the Leading for Equity institute, along with most Board of Trustees and some teachers.

In 2022, the Equity Imperative was updated to reflect our current work with Dr. Anthony Muhammad, Dr. Nancy Dome, and Samantha Brown from the Anti-Defamation League.

A universal goal is what we want to be true for each and every student in the Novato Unified School District (NUSD). Our universal goal in Novato is that:

All students will demonstrate proficiency in the academic and social skills identified in the Graduate Profile, which includes meeting the UC/CSU entrance requirements upon graduation so that they are prepared for and successful in college and career.