DCA District Spotlight: Fargo Public Schools in North Dakota

In March 2024, The Jed Foundation (JED) and AASA, The School Superintendents Association, announced the selection of 15 school districts to participate in the District Comprehensive Approach (DCA) pilot, a transformational program that guides districts in improving systems of support for pre-K–12 students’ emotional well-being. 

In an ongoing series of blog posts, we feature each of the 15 districts and their work learning and leading powerful mental health and suicide prevention practices that will benefit students around the country. 

District: Fargo Public Schools in North Dakota

Number of schools: 26

Number of students: 11,000+

About the district: The Fargo Public School District (FPSD) serves the majority of the city of Fargo. The district’s mission is to educate and empower all students to succeed, whether they plan to attend college, join the military, or enter the workforce.

JED and AASA asked Dr. Rupak Gandhi, superintendent of FPSD, about what the district hopes to accomplish during its time in the DCA program. (Responses have been edited lightly for length and clarity.)

What is your primary reason for participating in the DCA inaugural cohort?

We want to develop a holistic, evidence-based approach to well-being that enhances the educational experience for all students. Participating in the cohort will facilitate positive transformations in policies, practices, and partnerships and create a more supportive, nurturing, and inclusive school environment.

What does participating in the DCA program mean for the culture of your district?

Participating in a program that prioritizes emotional health sends a powerful message about our district’s values. FPSD promotes a culture of empathy, compassion, and equity. Through our involvement in the DCA program, we aim to benefit students and their families by raising awareness, encouraging early intervention, increasing access to support services, and fostering greater community engagement.

How are you engaging your community in your DCA work?

We are sharing information about and encouraging engagement in the program through employee and community newsletters, school-level PTA and PTO meetings, and family-engagement activities.

As part of the DCA program, we administer surveys with stakeholders in our schools, including the faculty and staff survey at the beginning of the school year. We gathered feedback from nearly 100% of faculty and staff by embedding it in our annual back-to-school suicide awareness and prevention professional development. That ensured the voices of all staff — certified and hourly — were captured.

What impact do you hope to have on student mental health?  

By collaborating with community organizations, mental health professionals, and local and state agencies, we’ll create a strong, culturally competent support network that emphasizes suicide prevention and early intervention programming — and meets the needs of FPSD’s diverse students and families. 

We also know that FPSD has the potential to create a positive impact on public education nationwide by participating in the DCA program and serving as a model school district that prioritizes holistic student well-being, contributes to policy discussions, and shares knowledge and experiences.

Read about the other school districts in the DCA pilot program:

• Hardin Public Schools in Montana
• Harford County Public Schools in Maryland
• Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland