New York - CACF applauds the Department of Education (DOE) for adopting a definition of culturally responsive-sustaining education (CR-SE). By having a shared definition and language across our school system, our students, parents, educators, and administrators will also have a shared understanding. This will help transform our schools and this is how we help fix our K through 8.

CR-SE backed by decades of research, provides the framework for how our schools support our children to learn about themselves, about their community, and about other communities. When our educators know how to support all our children through CR-SE, our children will have a strong sense of their own identity as well as our shared humanity. We will see our students engaged in their learning and gain the critical thinking skills they need for success.

The Asian Pacific American (APA) community is the fastest growing group in New York City. We are diverse, but together we have to fight the harmful impacts of the model minority myth which prevents our needs from being recognized and understood. CACF supports the DOE’s commitment to culturally responsive sustaining education as APA students would truly benefit from being seen for who they are and given the tools to connect their learning to their lives and identities.