| As teachers look upon the faces of the children sitting in their desks, they will see children that have different needs than the children ten years ago. Significant demographic changes within our schools has created an awareness that solicits teachers to reflect on who is sitting before them and how to instruct to meet all students educational needs. The children of the 21 st century deserve to have teachers that are prepared to evaluate, instruct, access, and respond to their current strengths and weaknesses based on grade level standards. Teacher preparation programs have the responsibility to mold future educators that are culturally proficient to deliver instruction and create an environment that will promote student growth.;Understanding the demographic changes can be guided through the history of legislative educational and social influence, 2010 Census data, Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) reports of state and district progress, and the changes that the California State University systems has made in their teacher education programs based on demographic change. This will provide a place to begin reflecting on how to provide a comprehensive teacher education program that instills cultural proficiency. |
