Beyond Benchmarks

The loss of academic engagement within marginalized student populations shows the pressing need for curriculum grounded in multicultural pedagogy, social justice, and equity. For this work, a multicultural curriculum was created for a group of 8th grade students typically labeled as being “at- risk” by their school district. This group included English-Language Learners, students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, and students who did not score well on previous standardized tests. Throughout the course of a unit of study in American History, these students were asked to determine the influences this new curriculum had on their behavior, academic performance, and attitudes. This book details how students not only became more engaged with the curriculum but more connected to school as well due to this process. Their reflections call for systemic change in American education that moves beyond the current climate of high-stakes testing and accountability. Educators, administrators, and anyone interested in changing our educational institutions can apply these findings and their implications within individual schools and classrooms.