Culturally Responsive Practice

Culturally responsive practice is an approach that encompasses and recognizes both students’ and educators’ lived experiences, culture, and linguistic capital. Culturally responsive educators reflect on their students’ as well as their own lived experiences, culture, and linguistic capital to inform, support, and ensure high-quality instruction.

They have high expectations of their students and demonstrate positive attitudes toward student achievement; they are committed to involving their students in multiple phases of academic programming, thereby supporting the unique abilities and learning needs of each student and fostering student success. The ongoing commitment to reflect and engage in this kind of exemplary practice to inform, support, and ensure high-quality instruction lies at the core of culturally responsive practice. This definition is drawn from the work of Gay (2010), Hammond (2014), and Ladson-Billings (2009).

The Culturally Responsive Practices Program

The Culturally Responsive Practices Program includes four courses (listed below). The learning opportunities live on the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce’s Learning Management System and on the Ohio Leadership Advisory Council’s websites. The learning can be facilitated in professional learning communities and is supported with facilitator guides and train-the-trainer opportunities. It also can be done by an individual through online learning platforms.

• Introduction to Culturally Responsive Practice: Facilitation Guide & Appendix

• Cultural Responsiveness: Facilitation Guide & Appendix

• Socio-Political Awareness: Facilitation Guide & Appendix

• Academic Achievement: Facilitation Guide & Appendix

Find Trained Facilitators

The Department offers free facilitator training to those interested in locally utilizing the Culturally Responsive Practices Program. Find the list of trained facilitators.