New White Paper Series
The Spencer Foundation’s White Paper Series on Culturally Sustaining and Relevant Education (CSRE) highlights the importance of educational practices that affirm and build on the cultural and linguistic assets of students from diverse backgrounds. Research indicates that students thrive when they experience a sense of belonging and when educators incorporate culturally and community-aligned approaches to teaching. This growing body of work emphasizes the need for educational systems to center the social and emotional needs of learners, engage communities and families, and recognize cultural practices as assets.
The commissioned white papers synthesize research on culturally sustaining and relevant teaching and learning across various content areas. For example, one white paper discusses strategies for supporting Latinx students through approaches that validate their cultural and linguistic identities. Another paper emphasizes the need for culturally responsive leadership in schools to foster equity and inclusivity. These papers also explore future directions for research, policy, and educational practices that center cultural sustainability and equity. They provide insights for educators and policymakers to navigate this complex and critical field, addressing systemic inequities while fostering inclusive, responsive practices. By translating these findings into actionable strategies, the series supports efforts to create equitable and affirming educational environments.
You can explore the full series and related topics on the Spencer Foundation’s official website here.
