NCCRESt

The National Center for Culturally Responsive Educational Systems

The United States is fortunate to have a diverse population, but in the 23 decades since its establishment, the US has faced many challenges to its democratic ideals. Chief among these has been responding equitably to the ethnic, linguistic, cultural, and religious differences that characterize its people. Schools continue to reflect this struggle even today.

In 2002, the National Academy of Science and the Harvard Civil Rights project both produced reports with concerning data on the disproportionate representation of students who are culturally and linguistically diverse in special education. NCCRESt was funded that same year by the US Department of Education to close the achievement gap between diverse students and to reduce inappropriate referrals to special education.

NCCRESt works with state and local systems to address ingrained school practices that contribute to perpetuating disparities in access to learning. We provide technical assistance and professional development to schools and their communities, including resources for early intervention, universal screening, progress monitoring, and culturally-responsive response to intervention.