Revisiting the "Decline" in Asian American and Pacific Islander Teachers

• In Event: Diversifying the Teacher Workforce for and From Diverse Communities and Contexts

Abstract

More than two decades after the first study documented the shortage of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) teachers (Rong & Preissle, 1997), this paper examines recent trends and factors that influence teacher career choice using the American Community Survey of 2013-2017. The results show a continued underrepresentation of AAPI teachers relative to AAPI students, a disparity that is smaller compared to Black and Latinx teachers and students. Findings also indicate AAPIs born in the United States with greater levels of English proficiency are more likely to become teachers than AAPIs not U.S.-born or those with lower levels of English proficiency. The study has implications for attracting and supporting AAPIs from immigrant and linguistically diverse backgrounds into K-12 teaching.

Authors

• North Cooc, The University of Texas at Austin

• Grace MyHyun Kim, The University of Texas at Austin