Culturally responsive and sustaining education (CRSE) in mathematics aims to bridge students’ home and school lives. When educators draw on the skills, knowledge, and practices of students’ families and communities, they can foster learning and belonging in schools.

This brief addresses the need to navigate power dynamics and shift mindsets and behaviors to build meaningful, mutual partnerships with students’ families and communities. The brief also explores project-based learning as one approach to building connections to the local community and integrating home and community knowledge into mathematics education.