Educator Diversity Resources

At this briefing, speakers discussed a new report from the Learning Policy Institute, Diversifying the Teaching Profession: Barriers to Recruiting and Retaining Teachers of Color and How to Overcome Them. The report reviews the research on the recruitment and retention of teachers of color, examines the current state of teachers of color in the workforce and the factors that affect their recruitment, hiring, and retention, and highlights opportunities for policymakers to grow a stable workforce of teachers of color in their districts and states.

Teachers of color help close achievement gaps for students of color, particularly in high-poverty environments, and all students benefit from having teachers of color. Unfortunately, although more teachers of color are being recruited across the nation, there are growing gaps between the demand for such teachers and the supply. This Washington, DC, briefing examined the federal and state policies that support a well-prepared and diverse teacher workforce.

State policies impact both teaching conditions and equitable student access to well-qualified teachers. What policy approaches influence teacher supply, demand, and retention, and what can your state consider to better support teachers and students?