One of the most effective, yet rarely implemented, ways to support diversity in schools is with language immersion curriculum. Educators in the US are expressing more interest than ever in upholding the diversity of their students, and are searching for practical means to meet that goal. A few decades ago, North American schools could be considered progressive just by labeling, and sometimes marketing, a student body as “diverse.” This perspective has changed as schools have upgraded their role to actively create learning environments that can empower diverse groups of students - as well as teachers and administrators. However, implementing bilingual curricula has not yet been broadly considered.
From K-12 to higher education, school leaders and educators have long promoted the value placed in enrolling student bodies that represent the diversity found in our residential communities. These days, efforts towards this goal have inspired work nationwide to promote Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, establishing shared decision-making committees to review and address anti-bias, anti-racist policies.
In schools that have fully implemented bilingual immersion programs, diverse groups find true empowerment within school communities that actualize inclusivity as their core tenet of daily practices, stemmed from their curriculum.