James A. Banks,
The Multicultural Dimensions Framework, developed by James A. Banks, outlines five key areas that schools can focus on to create more inclusive and equitable learning environments for all students.
The first dimension, Content Integration, encourages the inclusion of diverse cultural examples and perspectives across the curriculum, allowing students to see their identities reflected in what they learn. The second, The Knowledge Construction Process, helps students understand how knowledge is influenced by cultural assumptions and encourages them to question whose perspectives are represented or left out in textbooks and media. These two dimensions aim to broaden students' understanding and appreciation of diverse cultures while fostering critical thinking.
The third dimension, Prejudice Reduction, focuses on developing students’ attitudes and interactions to reduce bias and promote positive relationships among diverse groups. Equity Pedagogy, the fourth dimension, calls for teaching methods that adapt to the diverse learning styles, languages, and cultural experiences of students to ensure academic success for all. Finally, Empowering School Culture and Social Structure involves examining and transforming school policies, practices, and norms to support equity and social justice. Together, these five dimensions form a comprehensive framework for embedding multicultural principles throughout every level of the educational experience—from classroom instruction to institutional culture.