Student Diversity and Teacher Preparation in Multicultural Education: Global Trends in the 21st Century

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session 8
  In Roundtable Session: Preparing Teachers for Culturally Diverse Students and Multicultural Societies

Abstract

The call for more equitable educational systems highlights the global importance of multicultural education, yet how widespread is cultural and linguistic diversity in classrooms around the world, and how prepared and supported do teachers feel in providing education that upholds multiculturalism? In this paper, analyses of secondary data on students and teachers in over 40 countries from the Program for International Student Assessment and Teaching and Learning International Survey reveal a 44% increase in students from immigrant or language minority backgrounds since 2000, but few teachers feel prepared for teaching culturally and linguistically diverse classrooms. Results further suggest that preservice teacher education, ongoing professional development, and school climate may be effective policy levers in multicultural education preparation.

Authors

• Grace MyHyun Kim, The University of Texas at Austin

• North Cooc, The University of Texas at Austin