The Jefferson County Board of Education is committed to a world class school system which supports educational excellence regardless of ethnicity, gender, national origins, different abilities, or religion. Equitable academic programs and services which respond to the needs of a diverse student population and which prepare all students for a changing workplace within a global economy are essential.

The Jefferson County Board of Education defines multicultural education as that which recognizes, values and affirms diversity in a pluralistic environment. Education that is multicultural fosters:

(1) intergroup understanding, awareness, and appreciation by students and staff of diverse ethnic, cultural, and linguistic groups represented in JCPS;
(2) positive attitudes toward cultural diversity, especially in early grades by dispelling misconceptions, stereotypes, and negative beliefs about themselves and others.
(3) dialogue about the impact of racism and other barriers to acceptance of our common humanity;
(4) development of positive, productive interaction among people and experiences of diverse cultural groups, and;
(5) understanding of historical, political and economic bases of current inequities.

The Jefferson County Board of Education believes that multicultural education has an immediate and direct connection to student learning and staff development that cultivates high expectations for all students, especially students from low income families and students of color.

The Jefferson County Board of Education recognize that multicultural education is not a limited experience but a continuous process that embraces and accepts the interdependence of national and global groups. We also recognize that multicultural education is an integral reform necessary in transforming the educational process to sustain an environment where diversity is valued and the commitment to multicultural education is evident.