This article describes a program designed to foster authentic inclusion and excellence in an elementary school learning community and research results from the first phase of this on-going project. Actively Building Capacity for Diversity sees successful inclusion of students with exceptional needs as part of a continuum of excellent educational practices that respect individual differences in learners, address the whole person, start from where they are and challenge each student optimally, to ensure equal access and opportunity for ALL students. For the first phase of this program five questionnaires were developed to form the Diversity, Individual Development and Differentiation (DIDDs) school evaluation package for administrators, teachers, parents, education assistants, and students. The surveys were organized around five quality education indicators defined by the participating School District. Overall the findings indicate that there are high rates of agreement among School