A new map that shows states with the most diverse teachers comes with troubling details about the changing workforce.
The National Council on Teacher Quality’s recently published dashboard warns that “college graduates from historically disadvantaged groups are moving away from teaching.” Just 10 years ago, more of these adults went into education than other careers. But those numbers flipped shortly before the pandemic.
“This trend indicates that, increasingly, Black and brown adults who earn college degrees are either choosing other professions or electing to leave the classroom after becoming teachers,” the report declares.
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Now, there are 1.5 percentage points fewer teachers from historically disadvantaged groups than expected when compared against working-age adults from historically disadvantaged groups with degrees, according to the dashboard.
The gap between students and teachers of color has also widened over the last decade—by 1.3 percentage points. Some 48.8% of students are from disadvantaged groups compared to only 21.1% of teachers.
Trends in two states
The report highlights trends in two states—California and Pennsylvania—to gauge the plight of diverse teachers. In both states, students and the working adults are becoming more diverse.
The number of teachers from disadvantaged groups in California has grown to 32.8% from 24.5% over the last decade. Growth in Pennsylvania, however, is flat even as the state diversified more quickly.
The report recommended that administrators use the diversity dashboard to:
- Benchmark where efforts to diversify the workforce stand
- Set specific, data-driven diversity goals for their districts
- Gain insight into where policies are succeeding
- Identify state and national trends for individual or collective demographic groups
- Compare trends of adult populations (those who can pursue teaching) to the teacher workforce (those who are teachers).
How to develop more diverse teachers
The report also offers guidance on reversing the growing gaps revealed above. “A comprehensive approach to ensuring all students have access to a diverse teacher workforce begins with improving the K12 educational experience for students of color,” the report advises.
These students should have opportunities to explore education in supportive college and career preparation programs.
Administrators should also work with colleges of education to provide high-quality clinical experiences so student teachers are “prepared to meet the demands of a modern classroom.” This will increase the likelihood that new teachers of color will remain in the profession.
Finally, school districts must widen the pipeline beyond higher education with grow-your-own programs and apprenticeships for students and other district employees.
