A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

Audience Approved by JDRP/PEP for all students, grades 6-9.

Description Respecting Ethnic And Cultural Heritage (REACH) is a nationally recognized multicultural education program designed for infusion into U.S. history and/or social studies curriculum. The program's goals are to increase knowledge and understanding related to cultural diversity while increasing social acceptance between cultural groups. The multicultural curriculum is designed around four phases:

• Human Relations Skills: Students participate in activities on self-awareness, self-esteem, interpersonal communications, and understanding group dynamics.
  
• Cultural Self-Awareness: Students conduct research on their own personal culture, family history, or community. This phase culminates with the Cultural Fair experience where each student presents a visual display at a major community event.
  
• Multicultural Awareness: Students study five booklets, the Ethnic Perspective Series. The booklets focus on U.S. History from different ethnic points of view. Listening tapes are available as an alternative to the booklets.
  
• Cross-Cultural Experience: Historical and cultural information in the booklets is made personal through dialogue and exchange with students and adults from different ethnic groups.

REACH is part of a four-unit multicultural/global training and curriculum organization, The REACH Center. Program units include High School REACH (high school), Project REACH (middle/junior high school), REACH for Kids (elementary), and REACH for Excellence (higher education/business).

Evidence of Effectiveness Students in REACH demonstrate statistically significant and positive changes in their attitudes towards other racial/ethnic groups, specifically in their expressions of social distance towards those groups.

Requirements REACH is usually implemented in all social studies classes at one grade level within the middle school/junior high. No special staffing or facilities are required. Participating teachers are trained by REACH staff or certified REACH trainers before using the materials in their classrooms. Training is typically over two days and a follow-up session is encouraged. Also, at least one classroom set of the Ethnic Perspective Series should be purchased.

Services Awareness materials are available at no cost. Program staff and certified trainers are available for out-of-town awareness sessions at the cost of travel and expenses. Follow-up consultation and monitoring are available to adopters. A 20-minute preview video explaining the program is available for the cost of postage. A trainer for trainers is also available.

Costs Training costs are negotiable but typically include travel, a $90 materials fee, and a $60 registration fee. Costs decrease as the number of participants increases. The materials include a teacher guide, the Ethnic Perspective Series, and workshop handouts. Also, at least one classroom set of the Ethnic Perspective Series should be purchased for each adopting school. Thirty sets of five booklets at $25 per set = $750 and includes a free set of the listening tapes and a free set of the Cultural Fair slides.

Contact

David Koyama, Director of Programs, The REACH Center, 180 Nickerson Street, Suite 212, Seattle, WA 98109. (206) 284-8584, FAX (206) 285-2073.

Developmental Funding: ESEA Title IV-C.
JDRP No. 84-16 (6/29/84)
Recertified (3/25/93)

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