Ace the Educating All Students (EAS) Challenge 2026 – Rally Your Teaching Superpowers!

Culturally sustaining pedagogy is an educational approach that recognizes and values the diverse cultural backgrounds of students. It aims to not only acknowledge but also maintain and build upon the cultural richness that students bring to the classroom. This approach is centered on the idea that education should enhance cultural identities rather than diminish them. By fostering an environment where cultural diversity is celebrated, educators help students connect their academic learning to their own experiences and traditions, thus promoting engagement and deeper understanding.

The focus on sustaining and nurturing cultural practices plays a crucial role in ensuring that students feel respected and valued for who they are, contributing to their overall academic success and personal development. This stands in contrast to methods that may prioritize standardized testing or limit discussions to historical contexts without relating them to students’ present cultural experiences. Understanding and implementing culturally sustaining pedagogy means encouraging students to draw from their cultural heritage as a foundation for learning and further developing their identities within an academic context.