Part 3

CUlturally REsponsive and Sustaining Mindsets

Link to the NYSED Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Education Framework.

Link to the NYSED Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Education Framework

The New York State Education Department (NYSED) brought together a group of experts to consult on and create a Framework for Culturally Responsive and Sustaining Education. The Framework was created in collaboration with various stakeholders: students, teachers, parents, school and district leaders, higher education faculty, community advocates and policymakers. This framework "is intended to help education stakeholders create student-centered learning environments that affirm cultural identities; foster positive academic outcomes; develop students’ abilities to connect across lines of difference; elevate historically marginalized voices; empower students as agents of social change; and contribute to individual student engagement, learning, growth, and achievement through the cultivation of critical thinking” (pp. 6-7).  

CRSE Mindsets

Certain mindsets are conducive to being a culturally responsive and sustaining educator. The NYSED CRSE Framework outlines some of these mindsets. 

  • Take five minutes to read the Culturally Responsive and Sustaining mindsets (page 16) and then select one mindset as your focus.  

  • Take a few minutes and journal a response to these prompts: 

  • Why did I select this mindset? 

  • Why is this mindset important for being a culturally responsive and sustaining educator? 


Connecting to Instruction

The vision for culturally responsive-sustaining education contained in this framework gives us insight into what the framework creators see as the goal for CRSE. The creators also outline four principles of culturally responsive-sustaining education that outline the key components for how to get to this vision. 

  • Individually, read the vision and four principles and record personal connections, extensions, and challenges: 

  • Vision: pages 8-9  

  • Four principles: pages 14-15 

  • How are the ideas and information presented connected with what you already knew and have been doing in blended and/or remote learning? 

  • What new ideas did you get that extended or broadened your thinking in new directions? 

  • What is a way this challenges your thinking about your current practices related to blended and/or remote learning?


Optional: Group Reflection

 If you are engaging in this activity as a group of educators, do a group debrief. Have each participant share one reflection from their journal responses  with your community and colleagues and discuss together:  

  • What themes do we hear in our reflections?  

  • What questions do we still have that we may want to explore as a community moving forward?