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Welcoming Schools 2021 Annual Report
Human Rights Campaign Foundation
Welcoming Schools 2021 Annual Report
Table of Contents
Letter From Jay Brown
Dear Friends,
This inaugural Welcoming Schools report from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRCF) celebrates the accomplishments of a program that began as a local community effort with a small group of parents in elementary schools and has grown to a national program committed to affirming LGBTQ+ youth and children in Pre-K-12 schools across the United States. Educators are facing unprecedented challenges with both the pandemic and an onslaught of anti-LGBTQ+ bills that target our most vulnerable youth. Welcoming Schools has amplified their efforts to partner with educators and administrators to center the needs of our most marginalized students and to cultivate in-person and virtual school classroom climates that center equity, compassion and care.
Over the past 15 years, Welcoming Schools has developed countless lesson plans, resources, booklists and professional development trainings that have become a north star for educators and administrators who strive to create school communities that center equity and justice for the children, youth and families that they serve. Welcoming Schools has begun to offer virtual professional development trainings for individual educators who might not otherwise have access to this information. The Welcoming Schools program is grounded at the intersection and is committed to working with schools and school districts to implement policies, procedures and practices that de-marginalize Black and Brown students.
The data is clear. Positive outcomes for LGBTQ+ youth rely on educators who have the skills and passion to create safe, affirming school environments. For educators, this is a clear mandate to ensure LGBTQ+ students are not only supported, but can thrive at school without fear of bias-based bullying. Welcoming Schools’ Seal of Excellence (SOE) provides schools with further benchmarking and acknowledgment of their commitment to the work.
Welcoming Schools has successfully forged partnerships with school districts and organizations that multiply our reach and deepen educator practices. As we look ahead, the HRC Foundation is excited by the possibilities we see for continuing to broaden Welcoming Schools’ capacity and impact nationwide as we move toward a time when LGBTQ+ inclusion is best practice in all schools.
Sincerely,
Jay Brown (He/Him/His) , Senior Vice President, Programs, Research & Training , Human Rights Campaign Foundation
Welcoming Schools is the most comprehensive bias-based bullying prevention program in the nation to provide LGBTQ+ and gender inclusive professional development training, lesson plans, booklists and resources specifically designed for educators and youth-serving professionals.
Introduction
Using an intersectional, anti-racist lens, Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Welcoming Schools program is dedicated to providing actionable policies and practices for educators. Ensuring school communities have access to the critical tools necessary to embrace family diversity, prevent bias-based bullying and support transgender and non-binary students is the primary goal of the program.
Welcoming Schools is committed to meeting the increasing demand for resources to support LGBTQ+ and gender inclusive schools. The inaugural Welcoming Schools Annual Report celebrates marked growth and expanded equitable access to virtual PreK-12 training opportunities for educators across the country and internationally. In 2021, Welcoming Schools trained over 16,000 educators in 37 states, the District of Columbia, Canada and Taiwan impacting over 3.9 million students. Over the past year, in response to the urgent needs of LGBTQ+ youth in middle and high schools, the Welcoming Schools program developed additional professional development and resources for secondary schools. At the same time, Welcoming Schools continued to deliver both in-person and virtual trainings, conferences, symposiums and virtual educator series for schools and educators nationwide.
History Of The Program
The idea for Welcoming Schools was hatched in 2004 by Greater Boston PFLAG and a dedicated group of community members hoping for a better way to address LGBTQ+ topics in elementary schools. At the same time, the HRC Foundation was building out tools to create LGBTQ+ inclusive policies and practices in the institutions that impact our daily lives.
Ellen Kahn, while working to build the HRC Foundation’s Children, Youth and Families programming, was eager to develop a program to help elementary schools support children with LGBTQ+ family members. Ellen organized a meeting of experts from across the country, including Kathy Pillsbury, who was part of the Boston group leading Welcoming Schools and it quickly became clear that Welcoming Schools would be a perfect addition to the Foundation. In 2006, Greater Boston PFLAG and GLSEN Boston officially transferred ownership of the Welcoming Schools program to the HRC Foundation.
Since the Welcoming Schools training program was first piloted in 2008, Welcoming Schools has grown to include both national and district-wide facilitators, a Seal of Excellence program, the production of short films and a website with free lesson plans, book lists and resources. As of 2021, Welcoming Schools has a team of over 50 nationally certified facilitators and 40 district-level facilitators that have trained educators in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Canada, Mexico and Taiwan, reaching over 10.5 million students. The Welcoming Schools program has also formed strategic partnerships with national and state organizations, as well as large districts across the country.
The Successful Shift To Virtual: Equitable and Accessible
Highlights from teachers who attended our virtual educator series:
"I feel so lucky to be able to learn this content knowing that my school isn't likely to offer training like this because of the climate in our community."
“This was one of the rare (virtual) experiences that felt actually interactive. The time flew by! Thank you!”
“It is not easy to have such large groups on a (virtual) presentation and I think that these were exceptionally well done. It was clear that the presenters cared deeply.”
“I loved your style and approach…This is more enjoyable than any other PD I have attended since virtual began in March 2020. Thank you!”
In response to the urgency of requests for professional development at the secondary level, Welcoming Schools rolled out new training modules, booklists and resources to support secondary school educators with attention to the unique needs of LGBTQ+ adolescents.
Booklists
Elementary School
Our elementary booklists help educators easily identify books that will support creating gender and LGBTQ+ inclusive schools, embracing all families and preventing bias-based bullying.
View Here
Secondary School
Our secondary booklists assist schools in selecting texts that allow students to see and explore their identities through school libraries and classroom texts, with a focus on highlighting and affirming LGBTQ+ and intersectional identities.
View Here
Analysis of a 2020 HRC Foundation survey of youth-serving professionals shows that they are far more likely to be equipped to serve and protect LGBTQ+ young people in their work when they receive targeted training on LGBTQ+ topics. Schools and other youth-serving organizations need to provide these learning opportunities for their staff, and individuals should seek out training — both in-person and online, to build their knowledge and skills for working with LGBTQ+ youth.
Educators who have engaged in Welcoming Schools professional development consistently report a deepened understanding of the urgency of this work and an increased confidence in their ability to support LGBTQ+ students and foster affirming, inclusive school environments.
What Our Educators Are Saying
“Making sure our students feel safe in school is the most important thing. If they don’t feel safe they can’t learn.”
“I am leaving the workshop feeling empowered and enthusiastic about making school a welcoming environment for all students.”
“This has been the most interactive and best-presented training I have attended in a while. The content was presented in such a way that challenged my thinking and also made me feel equipped to further dive into this work. Thank you!”
“I have been teaching for 26 years and I can honestly say this was one of the best trainings I have ever attended. It was much needed.”
The percentage of educators that feel they have the skills and knowledge to adequately support LGBTQ+ students more than doubles after Welcoming Schools training.
Cumulative Since 2011
by Welcoming Schools trainings and presentations
by Welcoming Schools training
have trained educators and schools
Welcoming Schools Cities Reached In 2021
Top 3 Resources
The Welcoming Schools website provides educators with checklists, guidance, booklists and lesson plans to continually improve their practice both in and out of the classroom. Welcoming Schools’ top three resources alone have been accessed over one million times!
What Does Gay Mean?
This resource gives educators definition and understanding of the word ‘gay’ and provides support for teaching elementary students that it’s ok to say gay.
View Here
What Do You Say to “That’s So Gay” and Other Anti-LGBTQ+ Comments?
This resource prepares educators with the language necessary to embrace teachable moments and provides examples of developmentally-appropriate responses to important questions about LGBTQ+ and gender topics.
View Here
Children’s Books with Transgender, Non-Binary and Gender Expansive Children
This resource provides recommended books for schools, libraries and homes to learn about and affirm transgender and non-binary identities.
View Here
Most Requested Trainings
1. Creating Gender Inclusive Schools
Provides guidance on developing a framework for creating a gender inclusive school. Educators gain the skills and knowledge to be able to respond to challenging questions related to gender.
“This workshop was OUTSTANDING! I had no idea there were so many terms involved with gender and sexual orientation.”
2. Preventing Bias-Based Bullying
Emphasizes the critical need to proactively address behavior that can lead to bullying and strategies to foster ally behavior among students, staff and other adults.
“I like the idea that there are many more individuals involved in a bullying situation than the person who is bullying and the person who is being targeted. We all play a role and can advocate. I think that is a powerful message for students to hear.”
3. Embracing All Families
Emphasizes the importance of seeing and embracing family diversity. Educators gain the skills and knowledge to be able to answer questions from students and families about the importance of welcoming all families in their school community.
“I appreciate the focus on love and family, as well as the practical language offered.”
Seal Of Excellence Program
Schools that prove themselves to be exemplary in implementing the HRC Foundation’s Welcoming Schools approach can earn the Seal of Excellence (SOE). Benchmarks for achieving the Seal of Excellence include having policies and procedures in place that include all aspects of students’ multiple identities, establishing a Welcoming Schools leadership team, completion of all Welcoming Schools training modules for staff, integration of Welcoming Schools’ lessons, books and activities as part of the structured curriculum, hosting family nights and sharing information and resources. Welcoming Schools’ intention is to foster growth towards equitable and inclusive school climates.
174 schools are currently involved in the Seal of Excellence program. INNOVATOR schools have reached all benchmarks and earned the SOE, DEVELOPING schools have completed multiple training modules and are well on their way to achieving the Seal, EMERGING schools have completed one or more trainings and are committed to continued engagement.
Welcoming Schools National Facilitators
Welcoming Schools trainings are implemented by a diverse cadre of certified facilitators who work with educators across the country. Our trainers are experienced leaders in the field of education, allowing them to provide meaningful connections to this work for schools and classrooms.
This was one of the first trainings that I have ever had that had POC presenters and non-binary presenters. It was refreshing and necessary.”
The presenter was clearly passionate about the subject and knowledgeable. He welcomed questions and answered them with responses that were comprehensive.”
District Spotlight
The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD), in Madison, Wisconsin first connected with Welcoming Schools in 2015, going on to adopt Welcoming Schools district-wide in 2017. After training passionate, school-based staff as district-wide facilitators and adding a district-level Welcoming Schools Lead, over 80% of the district’s elementary schools have officially opted into partnering with the program.
Community engagement has been integral to MMSD’s success. Annual events, such as Jazz and Friends Community and School Readings, Ally Superhero Nights, Diversity Nights, in addition to opportunities for engagement, such as ally clubs, student and parent panels, and PTO presentations have been powerful tools for embracing the diversity of backgrounds and experiences in their schools.
MMSD has also committed to ensuring schools that are newer to Welcoming Schools have the opportunity to collaborate with more experienced schools. Partner school retreats provide a space for schools to share successes and highlights, plan for the year ahead and incorporate resources that ensure student voices are heard and community needs are being addressed.
MMSD Data At A Glance:
- Over 1500 faculty and staff have participated in WS trainings to date
- Half of the MMSD elementary and middle schools are engaged in working towards the Welcoming Schools Seal of Excellence
- 3 schools have achieved the Seal of Excellence and are serving as innovators and mentors in the district
- Welcoming Schools has trained two teams of district-wide facilitators who lead the Welcoming Schools work in their District. All of these trainers are school-based educators who are passionate about diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging and give of their time freely to lead others in this work
- Welcoming Schools resources are embedded in elementary social-emotional learning and health curriculum scopes
- Schools committed to the Welcoming Schools program reported lower suspensions and disciplinary actions when compared to MMSD schools that did not participate, even when accounting for multiple factors.*
- 73% lower suspension rate in schools that participated in Welcoming Schools professional development
- 74% lower rate of assault
- 26% lower reports of endangering behavior
*McQuillan, M. T., Hohs, S., Herdina, J., Gong, X., & E. K. Gill (2021). Examining School Supports and Barriers to Improving the Health, Safety, and Academic Achievement of MMSD LGBTQ+ Students. Madison, WI: Madison Education Partnership. pp. 1-41.
Testimonials
As a young teacher, I had a student whose school experience was less than they deserved. They identified as a part of the LGBTQ+ community. While I can’t go back and change their elementary school experience, I can do everything in my power to prevent it from happening again. For over a decade, and with Welcoming Schools as my traveling partner, I have been working to keep that promise as a teacher, a principal and assistant superintendent.”
Welcoming Schools has shifted the social capital among students toward being an ally and away from bias-based bullying behavior. You see this reflected visually in the hallways and classrooms, in the way staff and students speak, and most importantly in the way our students show up with the confidence to be who they truly are.”
The training and resources provided by Welcoming Schools allowed for our child to seamlessly and safely return to school after socially transitioning over Summer Break. Her teachers, faculty, and staff were prepared, supportive, and informed all thanks to the many incredible offerings from Welcoming Schools. Our family could not be more thankful, and we share these resources with everyone who works with youth in an effort to help create a more compassionate world for all children.”
Current Partnerships
Welcoming Schools is grateful for the collaborative efforts of our current partners:
Acknowledgements
Cheryl Greene (she/her)
Director
Michele Hatchell (she/her)
Associate Director
Bre B (she/her)
Manager
Special Thanks
Thank you to HRC Foundation Senior Vice President, Jay Brown and HRC Senior Director of Programs and Partnerships, Ellen Kahn for their steadfast leadership and guidance.
Thank you to our amazing consultants, Toni Smith, Jennifer Herdina and Kathy Pillsbury, for continuing to create quality resources that make our program so effective.
A special thank you to our consultant, Cindy Bohrer, for drafting this annual report in addition to copy editing our resources.
Thank you to Kelly James for providing valuable support to the Welcoming Schools team.
Thank you to the entire Finance team for seamlessly partnering with us to make our fee-for-service model thrive and to the General Counsel team for their leadership and guidance with contracts.
Thank you to Charleigh Flohr for the data and analytics to showcase our research in a powerful manner.
Thank you to the Marketing & Communications team for elevating our important work.
A big thank you to all of our certified facilitators delivering Welcoming Schools professional development so effectively to schools and youth serving agencies worldwide.
Last but certainly not least, thank you to Tarine Wright for designing this annual report and to Josette Matoto and Bob Villafor for the design of our new logo.
Love conquers hate.
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