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Abstract

This article focuses on the impact the demographic change in the student population in current K-12 classrooms has had on teacher education programs as it pertains to the preparation of culturally responsive preservice teachers. There exists an extensive body of literature that posits that the increase of cultural diversity in our current classrooms should be understood as a call for new teaching approaches that promote multicultural awareness among teacher educators to develop preservice teachers who exhibit culturally responsive teaching practices, behaviors, and attitudes. This comprehensive review of literature explored the current research on multicultural teacher education programs, and more specifically the challenges experienced and strategies adopted by teacher educators, while developing culturally responsive teachers. The problems associated with this review is the need for graduates of teacher education programs to have an understanding of culturally responsive pedagogy, and how teacher education programs can successfully produce culturally responsive teachers. Cultural responsiveness is important in modern education because of the diversity in society and in the educational system. Multicultural teacher education programs seek to address this issue by developing culturally responsive teachers, who will address human diversity as well as to promote social justice and equity in education.

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