Instruction Students' language and culture are valued. Teachers impart high expectations and provide strong support. Instucional conditions emphasize authentic communicative learning situations. Teachers use students' backgrounds and strengths in planning and implementing teaching episodes, making use of learning styles and collaborative work. Through interactive teaching, teachers provide opportunities for students to talk and write as a way to learn.
Teachers develop students' higher-order thinking skills.
A highly informal, family-like atmosphere exists, in which students help each other learn. Staffing Staff do not subscribe to the deficit model. Staff place responsibility with the schools to adapt to meet the needs of the child. Staff have received university preparation and continued staff development about specific adaptations that can be made. Teachers have a high sense of self-efficacy.