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| 12-17-99 Contacts: Carlie Tartakov, Education, (515) 294-0669 Karen Donaldson, Education, (515) 294-7925 Cathy Curtis, Education, (515) 294-8175 Kevin Brown, News Service, (515) 294-8986 ISU, AMES MULTICULTURAL PROGRAM RECOGNIZED AMES, Iowa – A multicultural, non-racist education program created by two Iowa State University professors has earned state recognition. The Kuumba Multicultural Experimental School Research Project, administered by Iowa State professors Carlie Tartakov and Karen Donaldson and implemented in the Ames Community School District, has earned the Education Equity Award from the Iowa Department of Education. The award is "public recognition for educational agencies and programs that promote respect for diversity and equity in education for all students, regardless of race, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability or socio-economic status," said Thomas Andersen, equity consultant for the Department of Education. Kuumba – the Swahili word for creativity – is a five-year study that began in September 1997 with 20 ethnically diverse Ames students ranging from kindergarten age to sixth-grade. The students also come from a variety of socio-economic backgrounds. The students participate in weekly, three-hour programs and other special activities. Donaldson and Tartakov are measuring the program’s effectiveness on students’ current learning. They plan to continue tracking student behavior and attitudes to determine the long-term effects of the curriculum. Two sister programs are being instituted in South Africa and Massachusetts. -30- |
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