ASCD Poll: Responding to Changing Demographics

In the ASCD poll, we asked how your district approaches increasing diversity. If you haven't taken the poll yet, please vote now.

In her Perspectives column, Editor-in-Chief Marge Scherer writes,

Historically a destination for immigrants, [the United States] is growing in diversity every day. Schools that have never before been ethnically mixed are now. It is commonplace for some districts to count languages spoken by their students in the dozens. Other school districts retain their segregated--and isolated--status even as their neighborhoods, country, and world become more diverse.

Tell us how your district approaches this increasing diversity. What strategies work best? What strategies don't work? Please share your thoughts by posting a comment.

Comments

[KS Cummins]

My school is in Indiana. We surveyed our students and found that our students represent 22 different countries, and if we included the birthplace of their parents we would have 35 different countries represented.
Two of our teachers formed a World Cultures Club. Last spring we held a festival to honor our diverse population. The festival began with dedicating flags that represented every country that is represented in our school. These flags currently stand in our lobby with the USA flag in the center.
The parents of our students set up booths with food from their culture. The public was invited to partake.
The evening ended with performances by students sharing their traditional dances.
In 30 years of teaching it was the most positive event I have seen. The festival will be repeated again this year.
This club also meets monthly after school. Each month one culture is chosen to share with the group. We have had middle eatern dancers and Indian musicians to name a few.