Professional Development for Diversity

As the United States’ population becomes more diversified and heterogeneous, there has been increased professional awareness about the importance of understanding diversity in education. Specifically, there has been an increased recognition of the need for educators with cross-cultural competence and the ability to address the needs of children from diverse backgrounds. Research and policy inform us that policy makers, personnel in higher education institutions, and school and early care and education program staff must take professional development in diversity very seriously. However, meaningful, effective training and ongoing professional development in diversity continue to be lacking. This entry examines the impact of changing demographics in U.S. classrooms and some of the challenges faced by educators, administrators, and policy makers as a result. This entry further discusses ...