The Very Foundation of Good Citizenship: The Legal and Pedagogical Case For Culturally Responsive and Racially Inclusive Public Education for All Students

This comprehensive report demonstrates the power and benefits of a culturally responsive and racially inclusive education for all students, from both legal and pedagogical perspectives. Some state legislatures continue to try and undermine this type of curricula that help students use their own lived experiences to make sense of the world around them. The first section of this report marshals empirical evidence to demonstrate that teaching ethnic studies and a culturally responsive and racially inclusive curriculum is the most effective educational approach for students. The second section then makes clear that teaching in this manner is consistent with, and arguably required by, federal and state law. Finally, the report explains why prohibiting a culturally responsive and racially inclusive education harms students and likely violates the U.S. Constitution. This report is a useful resource for lawyers, policymakers, and educators who seek to demonstrate the empirical bases for a culturally responsive and racially inclusive education, as well as the legal arguments that support the position that teaching students in this manner is imperative.