To provide rigorous academic opportunities while prioritizing student well-being and sense of belonging, high-quality charter schools need to take a proactive approach to addressing academic and emotional learning needs. This means establishing a socially and culturally responsive environment that not only honors diverse cultural backgrounds but also supports positive identity development.

Drawing on insights from research and practice, this resource for charter school leaders outlines three essential actions to cultivate Culturally Responsive and Sustaining Education (CRSE) and ensure whole-person wellness. Each section provides concrete examples and valuable resources, empowering educators to build welcoming, responsive environments that benefit individual students and fortify the broader systems that support them.

Key Insights

Charter school leaders and teachers can learn about three key actions for cultivating socially and culturally responsive school environments:

  • Utilize diverse sources of data and information to understand your school community and student needs, including student perceptions of their learning experience.
  • Empower identity development through culturally responsive and sustaining teaching and learning.
  • Support a school culture of psychological, emotional, and physical well-being.