Seal of Excellence for a Welcoming School

What is the Seal of Excellence?

Schools earning the Welcoming Schools Seal of Excellence will demonstrate and document the following benchmarks:

1. Policies and Procedures

Policies/Regulations/Procedures are in place and enumerated to include all aspects of diversity, including actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.

2. Leadership Team

A Welcoming Schools Leadership Team is established or integrated into an existing committee. The Leadership Team will include a cross-section of the school community, including administration, classroom teachers, non-instructional staff and supportive family members. The team will meet monthly during the academic year.

3. Professional Development

School staff must complete the following Welcoming Schools modules:

• Creating LGBTQ+ Inclusive Schools
• Embracing All Families (Elementary only)
• Creating Gender Inclusive Schools
• Preventing Bias-Based Bullying
• Supporting Transgender and Non-Binary Students
• Intersectionality: School Practices with an Intersectional Lens

Module delivery will take place over a period of 2-3 years and must be delivered by an authorized Welcoming Schools Facilitator.

4. Planned Lessons or Activities

For Elementary: Every student receives at least three Welcoming Schools lesson plans, including participation in the National Day of Reading.
For Secondary: Every student receives at least one Welcoming Schools lesson plan, including participation in the National Day of Reading.

5. Bulletin Boards/Newsletters

School displays (bulletin boards, newsletters and artwork) portraying Welcoming Schools themes throughout the school.

6. Family Engagement

Host at least one Family Engagement Event for families and community members sharing the Welcoming Schools approach through panels, movie nights, book readings and informational sessions.

7. Books and Resources

Welcoming Schools book lists are publicly available to all students in the library/media center and classrooms.

8. School Climate Assessment

A Welcoming Schools Climate Assessment will be used to gauge the success of developing a more inclusive school by working with the Welcoming Schools program.

9. Additional Artifacts

Demonstration of larger community-based support.