This book examines the meaning, necessity for, and benefits of multicultural education for students of all backgrounds, providing a conceptual framework and suggestions for implementing multicultural education in today's classrooms. It presents case studies, in the words of students from a variety of backgrounds, about home, school, and community experiences and how they influence school achievement. There are 11 chapters in three parts. Part 1, "Setting the Stage: Approaches and Definitions," includes: (1) "Why the Case Study Approach?" and (2) "About Terminology." Part 2, "Multicultural Education in a Sociopolitical Context: Developing a Contextual Framework," includes: (3) "Racism, Discrimination, and Expectations of Students' Achievement"; (4) "Structural and Organizational Issues in Schools"; (5) "Culture, Identity, and Learning"; (6) "Linguistic Diversity in Multicultural Classrooms"; and (7) "Toward an Understanding of School Achievement." Part 3, "Implications of Diversity for Teaching and Learning in a Multicultural Society," includes: (8) "Learning from Students"; (9) "Multicultural Education and School Reform"; (10) "Affirming Diversity: Implications for Teachers, Schools, and Families"; and (11) "Multicultural Education in Practice." An appendix presents resources for collaboration and educational transformation. (Contains approximately 360 bibliographic references.) (SM)