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Welcome and Introduction to Guide
The Equity and Diversity Education (EDE) Department seeks to ensure that all students participate in and benefit from a high quality education in the Clark County School District (CCSD). For the past ten years, this has prompted the continuous development and distribution of the Southern Nevada Multicultural Resource Guide. The guide is designed to provide multicultural, equity, and diversity educational information and support to schools, families, and the community for all K-12 students in the CCSD. The Guide also contains outreach components from CCSD to families, the community, businesses, churches, civic groups, organizations, and higher education - all for the distinct purpose of utilizing collaborative efforts and resources that provide educational support to all students.
The Guide has as its premise: "It takes a whole village to raise a child." Forty-five years of research documented in "Strong Families, Strong Schools: Building Community Partnerships for Learning" by the U.S. Department of Education emphasizes that schools cannot successfully provide the entire education for students and that a collaboration of efforts from families and the community must be incorporated to ensure student success in the 21st Century. "Closing the Achievement Gap" has now become a more pressing concern in education and has far-reaching negative effects for the academic achievement of many students. The achievement gap now is extended to four years for African American and Latino students in both reading and mathematics. If this trend continues, the student rise in dropout rate will pale in comparison to the significant number of future Nevadan citizens who will be uneducated and unskilled in an increasingly technical world that requires job-ready skills in reading, mathematics, science and technology.
The EDE Department continue to be involved in culturally diverse programs and equity services that emphasize the need for all students to be proud of their achievement, culture, ethnicity, and community. To this end, the Guide will support students in the full development of their self-esteem through academic competence. Additionally, the guide will provide information in the following EDE areas: Equity & Diversity Programs, CCSD Professional Staff Development, Nevada Department of Education Resources, CCSD and University Multicultural Resources, Multicultural Holidays and Programs, Diversity Classroom Activities, Culturally Diverse Scholarship Information, Organizational Websites, Curriculum and Professional Development, Multicultural Library Resources, KLVX/Channel 10 Videos and more. If students are to achieve to the highest level of self-actualization in academics as well as civic responsibilities, appreciation, respect, and high-expectations must be extended to ALL students. It is our hope that the Southern Nevada Multicultural Resources Guide will serve as a compass that points to continuous success and educational accomplishments for students, staff, and the community.
Linda E. Young, Director
Equity & Diversity Education Department, Clark County School District
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