The BOCES of New York State has renamed and expanded the former DEI Repository as the Culturally Responsive Learning Exchange, a statewide resource-sharing platform designed to support school districts as they advance Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Education (CR-SE) and align their work with New York State’s Portrait of a Graduate (PoG) vision.
The Exchange serves as a dynamic professional learning network where districts can access, share and learn from resources that promote student belonging, inclusive instructional excellence, family and community engagement, and college, career and civic readiness. By gathering and highlighting successful practices from across all 37 BOCES regions, the Exchange helps schools build learning environments where every student can thrive and develop the skills, mindsets and competencies outlined in the PoG.
Organized around the four principles of New York’s CR-SE framework, the Exchange features resources in the following areas:
Creating a welcoming and affirming environment
Resources that help the school community feel safe, represented, respected and valued. Materials include family engagement resources, student voice and engagement tools, community-building strategies and practices that strengthen a sense of belonging.
Identifying inclusive curriculum and assessment
Resources that support the selection and implementation of instructional materials and assessments that reflect diverse perspectives, encourage critical thinking and promote meaningful learning experiences for all students.
Fostering high expectations and rigorous instruction
Materials and practices that support engaging, challenging learning experiences while recognizing and responding to students’ diverse strengths and needs. Resources include policies, plans and instructional strategies that encourage academic growth and achievement.
Engaging in ongoing professional learning
Provides tools and resources for educators and leaders to continue developing their knowledge and practice, including professional learning materials, policy guidance, cultural responsiveness resources and equity-focused leadership support.
The Exchange is a reflection of the valuable, practice resources and experiences already working in school districts across the state. Every district has resources worth sharing, and by contributing to the Exchange, educators and leaders help create a growing collection of tools that support schools statewide while reducing the need to recreate resources independently.
The Culturally Responsive Learning Exchange is open to all. Resources are free, and districts are encouraged to contribute their own materials and successful practices. Submissions are reviewed by Tangible Development to ensure alignment with CR-SE.