More Must Be Done To Diversify Teacher Workforce: Study

CALIFORNIA — Education leaders and policymakers aren't doing enough to increase teacher diversity, according to a report released this week by the National Council on Teacher Quality.

The report, "State of the States 2023: Policies to Increase Teacher Diversity" found that seven states have set public goals for increasing diversity in their teacher workforce; 14 have passed initiatives to retain teachers of color, and only a few states offer either financial incentives or career pathways explicitly to attract teachers of color.

Research has shown having teachers of color in the classroom increases academic outcomes for all students.

"We know the importance of teachers of color for all students, and we need to put state policies in place to attract, support and retain them," said Heather Peske, NCTQ president. "The good news is that state policymakers don't have to start from scratch. There are many examples of states leading the way. We need more bold action to scale these efforts."

The report credits California for spending $350 million on its teacher residency program, a pathway teachers of color rated highly in a Rand Corp. survey. California schools primarily teach students of color — 79% — but just 39% of educators are teachers of color.

The report recommends increased pay, better benefits, loan forgiveness and scholarships for teacher candidates, expanded teacher preparation programs at minority-serving institutions, teacher licensing reciprocity agreements, leadership pathways for teachers, teacher residencies and more supportive school administrators, to diversify the workforce.

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