Abstract: This disclosure relates to methods and compositions useful for culturing astrocytes, producing astrocytes, expanding astrocytes, or promoting astrocyte development. In certain embodiments, this disclosure relates to cell culture compositions comprising components disclosed herein. In certain embodiments, this disclosure relates to methods of culturing astrocytes, promoting astrocyte development, or producing astrocytes comprising contacting a cell, stem cell, induced pluripotent cell, astrocyte, pre-astrocyte cell, or tissue with proteins BMP4, TGF?-2, TSLP, DKK1, and NLGN1 providing astrocytes.