What is Rigor

Educational programs for immigrant students must be guided by multidisciplinary research that centralizes the voices of the “other.” The authors re-conceptualizes what is meant by integration and meaningful inclusion in order to address opportunity gaps experienced by many immigrant students. The data gathered through quantitative, qualitative, and auto-ethnographic research resulted in the Roots and Wings Transformative Model. This model can be adapted by schools to implement a transcultural and transformative program for immigrant students built on equity and teaching towards freedom in varied contexts across the globe. Included are concrete examples of ways to implement this model in the classroom and a collaborative needs-assessment tool. Students' ways of knowing and their communities' contributions become the pillars upon which learning the standards and educational experiences are built. A brief standards-based lesson plan for content and concept mastery and English language development is also presented.