Deerfield High School promotes equity and gender politics in school curriculum; school district hires firm Panorama Education

Deerfield High School incorporates racial equity and gender politics into several core courses taught in the curriculum for students. Classes with a focus on topics such as equity and gender include “Senior English – Race and Identity (REAL),” “Senior English – The Nature of Competition,” “American Studies: Literature,” “American Studies: History,” and “Issues in Modern American Society.”

On May 10, 2021, Deerfield High School’s district —Township High School District 113 — adopted a statement titled Resolution Reaffirming Our Commitment to Equity and Racial Justice. The resolution appeared to blame the school district’s perceived inability to provide more resources to students based on their race as a failure of providing racial equity: “Students of color experience more adverse outcomes than their white counterparts in multiple measures of educational equity: experiencing grading inequality, a diverse course placement, placement in lower-tracked academic courses, and unequal discipline.” The district also hired an employee with the position of Director of Equity and Inclusion.

Township High School District 113 has hired firms, including Panorama Education Inc. and CASEL, both of which are known for integrating Critical Race Theory into their work.