Sequoia Union High School District has guidance for affinity groups

The Sequoia Union High School District has “Affinity Group Guidelines” posted online. Affinity groups are groups of people segregated by identityf characteristics, such as race and ethnicity. The guidance is dated January 31, 2025. A question in this document asks: “Is it legal for SUHSD to have employee Affinity Groups?” The answer is then: “Yes. Affinity Groups and culture/identity-oriented celebrations can focus on specific identity groups, but MUST be accessible to, AND welcome, everyone.”

The district then explains later in the document: “However, because affinity groups may officially be open to anyone, but in practice be restricted to members of a particular group, it would be important for all information and literature about affinity groups to make clear that membership and participation is open to anyone interested. By this same standard, exclusion from a single reception may not be enough by itself to support a discrimination claim.”

This document explains that staff were trained in implementing affinity groups: “In 2021, at the recommendation of the Equity Diversity Council (EDC), SUHSD contracted with Teaching Well to train SUHSD employees on how to facilitate and conduct Affinity Groups.”