Carlsbad board gets year‑three Forward Together review; community calls for clearer discipline tracking

District staff and the Forward Together committee presented a three‑year review of the Forward Together plan, describing structural steps taken and new systems put in place: No Place for Hate committees across 16 schools, expanded bilingual community liaisons, increased elementary counselors, training with the Anti‑Defamation League and National Conflict Resolution Center, and a district focus on MTSS and UDL instruction.

Academic and perception data: Staff highlighted measurable improvements tied to MTSS work: among intervention students in TK–8, 56% moved from the lowest STAR ELA band to higher bands and 30% of students initially not meeting standards were meeting them in ELA by spring (24% in math). Student survey (Kelvin) results showed modest but steady improvements in perceptions of school climate and reductions in self‑reported harassment in some subgroups.

Accountability and community concerns: Many public commenters and some trustees said improvements are uneven across sites and raised concerns about discipline disparities, especially for minority students. Parents cited suspension data and asked the district to investigate disparities and restore confidence that restorative practices are applied equitably. Speakers requested clearer tracking of hate‑motivated incidents, victim follow‑up procedures and site‑level accountability for consistent administrative responses.

District response and next steps: Staff agreed to create clearer, front‑facing accountability documentation for Forward Together, to pilot targeted programming (student and staff trainings), and to standardize incident response protocols with ongoing training for administrators. Trustees directed staff to return a draft front‑facing plan (October timeframe was requested) and emphasized embedding the plan’s commitments into district routines and the LCAP where appropriate.

Why it matters: The Forward Together initiative is a central district effort to address bullying, bias, and inclusion while improving academic outcomes. Community speakers’ calls for more transparent discipline and consistent implementation reflect continuing mistrust after high‑profile incidents that have drawn public scrutiny.

What to watch: Staff will develop a public‑facing Forward Together accountability document and report back with implementation timelines and improved metrics, including discipline and victim‑support tracking.