As schools become more diverse with students of differing abilities and needs, this self-reflective and action-oriented guide helps you create and support more inclusive schools and classrooms that intentionally educate all students. Using the Five Essential Elements of Cultural Proficiency as a roadmap, this book presents: Students’ learning differences as just that û differences rather than deficits; Strategies that show you how to break though the common barriers to culturally proficient and inclusive schooling; Assessments that gauge your awareness and show you how to best serve every student’s needs.

What are equity and access gaps?, why do they persist? -- Using the tools of cultural proficiency and the vision and practices -- Of inclusive education as a conceptual framework -- Barriers to culturally proficient inclusive education -- Overcoming barriers and creating opportunities for learning -- Assessing cultural knowledge through authentic and differentiated -- Strategies -- Valuing diversity through inclusiveness -- Managing the dynamics of diversity through collaboration, creative -- Problem solving and conflict management -- Adapting to diversity through advocacy and universal design for -- Learning -- Institutionalizing cultural change -- Engaging in action : when all means all.