"They are aware; they choose to ignore it": The state of culturally responsive school practices through the lens of parents.

There is a continuous push from researchers, accrediting bodies, and national education and behavioral health centers to address the safety, well-being, and success of our diverse student population in U.S. schools. However, several states are introducing or passing bills that ban or restrict culturally responsive practices in schools. The opposing views overshadow the importance of cultural responsiveness for children and the benefits of cultural responsiveness from the caregivers' perspective based on their lived experiences. Therefore, this study utilized phenomenological inquiry to gain caregivers' experiences of culturally responsive (and unresponsive) practices in their child(ren)'s preschool or elementary school. Interviews were conducted with 13 culturally diverse parents and caregivers from varying racial, ethnic, linguistic, religious, and financial backgrounds. An analysis of the interviews revealed six themes: (1) creating an inclusive and safe educational space, (2) establishing a parent-school alliance, (3) a need for cultural cognizance in the school community, (4) accommodation of religious and cultural holidays, (5) culture in the curriculum, and (6) equitable access to educational opportunities. This study reflects an essential step toward examining and incorporating the perspectives of parents and caregivers into our practice, research, and policy efforts for enhancing cultural responsiveness in schools. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).