Demographic Imperatives for Educational Reform for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students

Rapid demographic changes in culture, race/ethnicity, and language in the United States have exerted a powerful influence on public schools, raising significant concerns or issues relative to the ability of the educational system to successfully educate all of its children as future citizens of a democratic society. Educational outcome data for students from nondominant sociocultural and linguistic backgrounds highlight the failure of public schools to successfully educate all students. This lack of success is reflected in higher rates of retention, attrition, and placement in special education; lower rates of high school graduation and college entrance; and fewer degrees awarded. Implications for the future of society and policy priorities are suggested.