The Culturally Proficient School

An Implementation Guide for School Leaders

The first edition of The Culturally Proficient School was designed as a brief guide for school leaders on implementing the principles and practices of Cultural Proficiency at the building level. Unlike the Lindsey's first book, Cultural Proficiency: A Manual for School Leaders, which is summative in nature, this book was meant to be more 'how-to.' The authors describe it as a 'handbook' for building level leaders (including teacher leaders) who are 'seeking opportunities to have meaningful conversations about developing culturally proficient practices.' It was also assumed that the majority of readers of The Culturally Proficient School had already read Cultural Proficiency: A Manual for School Leaders. The first edition (and proposed second edition) incorporate many of the hallmark features of other titles in the CP series including a running (composite) case study and numerous reflective prompts. The book is lighter on foundational material such as historical background and heavier on skills, e.g., a full chapter on the 'Art and Science of Conversation.' This second edition is designed to bring forward the authors' latest learning about individual and institutional efforts to close access and achievement gaps. It will include the Cultural Proficiency Framework -- a more recent conceptual model that the authors have used in their latest publications. It will also include the most up-to-date version of the Guiding Principles of Cultural Proficiency (from 5 to 9 principles), new material on the art and science of conversation and its critical importance in the health of organizations, and significant updating to the running case study to better reflect the current accountability climate and new trends in policy and practice.