This book provides the practical strategies, tools, and resources school leaders need to fully implement cultural proficiency throughout the organization. Cultural Proficiency enables educators to value diversity, honour it with integrity, and preserve the cultural dignity of their students. Failing this places many of our students at risk of being excluded from the benefits and opportunities of being well educated. Culturally Proficient leaders embrace diversity and respond to it in ways that acknowledge and esteem cultural differences while simultaneously valuing and supporting similarities. Cultural Proficiency enables educators the knowledge and understanding of how to interact effectively with people in their environment who differ from them. Educators have a choice-they can either contribute to the academic achievement gap or challenge and change the conditions that support the inequities that created and perpetuate the gap. This book offers leadership strategies that are sensitive to how and why some children and youth fail in our schools and why others succeed. The authors also address accountability and data-based decision making.

The five principles of cultural proficiency are:

} culture is a predominant force in people's lives

} the dominant culture serves people in varying degrees

} people have both personal identities and group identities

} diversity within cultures is vast and significant

} each individual and each group has unique cultural values and needs.

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Features and benefits:

} reflective activities for individuals or groups

} examples of typical conversations that arise around the issues of diversity, multiculturalism, equity, entitlement, and racism

} typical behaviors associated with culturally proficient leadership organized around the responsibilities of school leaders

} a rich and detailed case study of a fictionalized school district interwoven throughout the book, providing opportunities for discussion and reflection

} professional development activities.