Tucson Unified hears long public defense of culturally responsive instruction as budget cuts loom

Dozens of teachers, parents and students pressed the Tucson Unified School District governing board on April 15 to keep full funding for the district’s Culturally Responsive Pedagogy and Instruction department, which provides mentor teachers, professional development and curriculum supports across grade levels.

Speakers described classroom examples and student outcomes they attribute to CRPI programming and urged the board to protect current staff and mentor-teacher positions amid proposed desegregation budget cuts.

The appeals came during the board’s call to the audience, when 15 people addressed the board in person and 13 submitted comments to be read aloud. Several speakers framed CRPI as central to teachers’ professional growth and to student engagement, particularly for historically underserved students.

“My ask to you this evening is that you preserve the current FTE for CRMTs to ensure our CR community receives consistent support in their…