Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Education in K-12 Science Education

Science teachers that integrate CR-SE practices create student-centered environments that enable learners to 1) activate prior knowledge 2) make sense of phenomena through exploration, and 3) deepen an appreciation for the world. Students reflect regularly on what they learn and how their knowledge grows over time, and utilize their natural curiosity to ask questions, observe and notice patterns, and make sense of the world around them. Ideally, students grapple with social justice issues and propose solutions that will benefit themselves, their families and their communities. This document provides support to science teachers to expand CR-SE approaches in science throughout to ensure that all students have rigorous, engaging learning experiences in science, and to ensure they see their cultural identities reflected in their science classes.