A Closer Look at Culturally Responsive Instuction

6. Cognitively Demanding Instruction

There can be an assumption by some that a classroom that includes Culturally Responsive Teaching, Equitable Practices, and Universal Design for Learning is not as academically rigorous as a classroom that doesn't include those items. Academic Rigor and Instructional Equity are NOT mutually exclusive. 

Boston Public Schools (BPS) has placed "Instructional Equity" at the heart of their Instructional Vision.

BPS Instructional Vision:

Boston Public Schools students are the citizens, leaders, scholars, entrepreneurs, advocates, and innovators of tomorrow. BPS must ensure that 100% of those students are ready for college, career, and life. In order to realize our vision, we must transform teaching and learning in BPS. Our students must have access to authentic learning opportunities that will prepare them for success in the rapidly changing world in which we live. The Essentials for Instructional Equity enable this transformation.

BPS has developed four competencies that comprise their Essentials for Instructional Equity, one of which is "Facilitate Cognitively-demanding tasks & instructions".

The items above a pulled from a Boston Public Schools document entitled "BPS Essentials for Instructional Equity".