Promising Programs and Practices in Multicultural Education

In order for all students to reach academic excellence, educators must acknowledge and respond to an increasingly diverse student population in the context of the ever-changing and complex world in which we live. NCREL, in collaboration with the nation's leading scholars and practitioners in multicultural education, has developed the following principles for education that is multicultural:

1. School policies and practices demonstrate respect for and acceptance of culturally and linguistically diverse students

2. Curriculum, instruction, and assessment build on students' culture, language, and prior experiences

3. Educators set high expectations for all students and provide opportunities to reach them

4. Students gain knowledge about a variety of cultures and languages

5. Schools construct culturally responsive and high-achieving learning environments through active partnerships with parents, families, and community leaders

6. Professional development helps educators examine their own beliefs and fosters understanding of culturally and linguistically diverse groups

NCREL's Urban Education Program has developed a selective listing of Promising Programs and Practices to provide examples - from across the nation - of professional development programs, school-based initiatives, and other efforts to implement culturally responsive education. Not intended to be exhaustive, this listing will assist you as you reflect upon, adapt, and restructure your own educational program to serve an increasingly diverse student population.

1. Professional Development Programs
2. School Initiatives
3. Curricular and Instructional Programs and Practices
4. Organizations

We also have developed a series of tools to help educators respond to the needs of students from a variety of cultural backgrounds. NCREL's products in multicultural education include a poster depicting research-based principles of multicultural education; an annotated bibliography of resources for multicultural education; a videotape highlighting exemplary models of culturally responsive education; a checklist to assess your school's multicultural practices; and a series of monographs addressing issues in multicultural education.