Student diversity is on the rise, with classrooms around the country being filled with students who come from different races, ethnicities, cultures and backgrounds. To ensure that every student feels seen, heard and valued, educators are putting an increased emphasis on promoting diversity in schools. By relying on inclusive teaching strategies and focusing on achieving educational equity, educators and administrators can create classroom environments that feel safe and welcoming for all students. 

Understanding Cultural Diversity in the Classroom

The Council for Exceptional Children notes that cultural diversity in education refers to the differences that exist among a student body as a result of their experiences, backgrounds and personal attributes. Cultural diversity is increasing in American classrooms, highlighting the importance of promoting diversity in schools. 

How Do You Promote Diversity in Schools? 

Educators can promote cultural diversity in schools by relying on inclusive teaching strategies and culturally responsive teaching methods. According to Education Week, culturally-responsive teaching is the practice of using the customs and characteristics of your students as a way to improve instruction in the classroom. For example, a teacher with a multicultural student body could actively work to build a library with reading materials that represent the cultures and experiences of the students within that classroom. 

Types of Cultural Diversity

Recognizing the types of cultural diversity that exist in the classroom can help teachers and educational leaders develop school policies that promote equity and inclusion. It is important to note that a student’s culture can be influenced not only by their background outside the school building, but also by their peer group that exists within the school. 

These are the types of cultural diversity to keep in mind when promoting equity in education: 

Ethnic and Racial Diversity 

When considering cultural diversity and the importance of equity, ethnic and racial diversity is often at the forefront of educators’ minds. Research published in the Health Services Research journal explains how race refers to a group of people with shared physical characteristics, whereas ethnicity refers to a group of people who have a shared language, origin and traditions. Recognizing that people from different races and ethnic backgrounds may have different experiences — or differing barriers to high-quality education — can help educators develop inclusive teaching strategies that ensure that all students in a classroom have the opportunity and ability to reach their full potential. 

Linguistic Diversity 

Linguistic diversity refers to language differences within a student body. For instance, in many classrooms, there are English language learners attempting to navigate an English-speaking classroom while becoming fluent in the language. 

Socioeconomic Diversity 

An individual’s socioeconomic background can have a significant impact on their educational experience and their ability to access the resources they need to thrive. For instance, technology is playing an increasingly prevalent role in classroom life, yet some students may not have access to high-speed internet or mobile devices outside their learning environment. 

Religious and Spiritual Diversity 

Students with different religious and spiritual backgrounds should be acknowledged, respected and considered within the classroom environment. Recognizing religious and spiritual diversity and working to create an environment in which all students feel seen and heard, can enhance learning outcomes for all students. 

Gender and Sexual Orientation Diversity 

Gender and sexual orientation diversity requires educators to respect and appreciate gender and sexual orientation differences. Working to make the classroom environment safe and inclusive for students who may identify as a different gender or whose sexual orientation differs from the majority. 

How Cultural Backgrounds Shape Learning

Cultural diversity can have a significant impact on a student’s learning experience and overall academic outcomes. An individual’s cultural identity is shaped by the experiences and interactions that they have as part of their community, which can include their home life as well as their school life. 

The Role of Language in Learning 

Language plays a pivotal role in learning, and students who have access to learning materials and resources available in their primary language are at an advantage among other peers. Recognizing the significant role of language in learning and knowing barriers that may exist for students learning a language outside their primary language, can help educators become more culturally aware and responsive. 

Different Approaches to Education Based on Cultural Norms 

Across the world, there are different approaches to education based on cultural norms that can shape a child’s learning experience or their behavior in the classroom environment. Educators should work to understand the different approaches to education around the world to create a more accommodating environment for all students in their classrooms. 

What Is Educational Equity?

The National School Boards Association defines educational equity as providing all students, regardless of culture, background, language, religion or any other factor, with the resources they need to thrive in academic and social settings. 

Defining Educational Equity and Its Importance 

Defined as the ability to provide all students with the resources they need to reach their full potential, educational equity is critically important in today’s diverse and multicultural landscape. However, achieving educational equity requires administrators and educational leaders to acknowledge the impact that cultural diversity can have on a student’s educational experience. 

Difference Between Equality and Equity in Education 

Equity and equality may sound like two interchangeable terms, but they refer to two vastly different concepts. Equity is the process of providing students with all the resources they need to thrive as individuals, whereas equality refers to providing all students with the same experiences and resources. 

Strategies to Foster Educational Equity 

Recognizing the importance of achieving educational equity in the classroom, educational leaders can implement these innovative strategies to bridge the equity gap in their schools. 

Inclusive Curriculum Design 

Inclusive curriculum design is the process of strategically designing, developing and implementing a curriculum in a way that supports the needs of all learners in the classroom. Inclusive curriculum design requires teachers to use multiple components and strategies to ensure that all students can access the material and succeed academically. 

Addressing Systemic Barriers in Education 

Systemic barriers in education have long existed, and they have had a detrimental impact on students from a variety of backgrounds. Educators can remove systemic barriers in education by: 

  • Developing accommodations for students who need them. 
  • Offering flexible seating options in the classroom. 
  • Adding accessible classroom materials that accommodate the needs of all learners. 
  • Creating and implementing a routine that provides students with structure and consistency. 

Why a Diverse Teacher Workforce Matters

Recognizing cultural diversity is the first step toward achieving equity, but actively working to hire a diverse teaching workforce is crucial to reaching that goal. 

Representation in the Classroom 

The workforce within a school building should reflect the cultural diversity of the classrooms, allowing students to feel that they are represented at all levels within the building. Students who see others who look like them or who come from similar backgrounds are more likely to feel confident and comfortable in the classroom environment. 

How Diverse Teachers Serve as Role Models

Diverse teachers serve as powerful role models, particularly for students from marginalized populations who may not often see others like themselves in positions of leadership. 

Cultural Competency in Educators 

Cultural competency is becoming increasingly important for educators, particularly as the classroom landscape becomes more diverse. Cultural competence refers to a teacher’s ability to provide all students with effective instruction, even if their culture differs from their own. 

Training Teachers to Understand and Address Cultural Differences

Before teachers can become culturally competent, they must be able to reflect on their own culture and background to acknowledge any bias that may exist. In many cases, teachers can benefit from advanced training to better understand the impact that their own culture has on their teaching strategies and to develop the skills needed to become a culturally competent educator. 

Promoting Diversity and Inclusion in Schools

Both teachers and educational leaders have to actively work to promote diversity and inclusion in schools to truly bridge the equity gap that exists in classrooms around the country. 

Diversity and Inclusion Efforts in Schools 

Diversity and inclusion efforts in schools vary widely based on the size of the school and its geographic location. Educational leaders should prioritize these efforts in their buildings, knowing that they can have a significant impact on the lives of the students who come to class there each day. 

Inclusive Policies

According to Education Week, school leaders can develop more inclusive policies by: 

  • Partnering with diversity, equity and inclusion professionals who can assist with program development. 
  • Soliciting student voice and input. 
  • Providing staff with training to improve cultural competencies. 
  • Setting measurable benchmarks to track progress. 

The Role of School Leadership

School leaders play a vital role in the development of inclusive policies, as they set the priorities for the school and have the ability to lead by example. 

Creating Safe Spaces for Dialogue on Diversity 

It is important to keep in mind that acknowledging and respecting diversity requires ongoing communication. Within the school community, leaders, students and teachers should feel comfortable talking about diversity and the steps that can be taken to create a more welcoming and inclusive environment. 

Building Student-Led Initiatives for Inclusivity

Student voice and agency plays a critical role in creating an inclusive educational environment. Offering student forums and giving students an opportunity to share their own experiences is one of the best ways to begin discussions about improving inclusion in education. 

Benefits of Embracing Equity and Inclusion in Education 

The benefits of promoting diversity in schools extends beyond the classroom environment, giving all students the opportunity to enjoy the lasting impact of inclusivity. 

Academic and Social-Emotional Benefits 

When all students in a classroom feel seen, heard and respected, they will enjoy academic and social-emotional benefits. Students who receive the support and accommodation needed to thrive on a personal level will perform better academically and create lasting connections with their school community. 

Preparing Students for a Diverse World 

The fact of the matter is that all students are going to enter a global economy in which they will need to interact with a wide range of people from all backgrounds. Promoting diversity in schools today ensures that they are prepared for those multicultural experiences in the future. 

Discover the Importance of Promoting Equity in Education at Keiser University Graduate School

Educational leaders at all levels recognize the importance of promoting diversity in schools but creating a strategy that improves education equity requires an advanced set of skills and knowledge. At Keiser University Graduate School, we offer a wide range of graduate degree programs for educators who want to advance their careers and promote inclusion in education. From our Master of Science in Educational Leadership program to our Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Leadership degree, educators from all backgrounds will find that they have the opportunity to invest in their own education and develop the leadership skills necessary to advance their careers. 

Request more information about our graduate degree programs today.