"Pulling In": An Examination the Influence of State-Level Policies on Recruitment and Retention of Black Teacher Candidates in Mississippi

• In Event: Fairmont Roundtable Session Nine
  In Roundtable Session: Supporting Teachers of Color (Table 12)

Abstract

This study focused on state-level policies’ influence on recruitment and retention of Black teacher candidates in Mississippi. Issued in March, 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Mississippi Executive Order 1469 provided a moratorium on licensure exam requirements; passed in June, 2020, Mississippi Senate Bill 2511 eliminated the teacher education entry exam requirement. The moratorium on and elimination of exams could support an increase of Black teacher candidates and, subsequently, Black teachers in the State. To determine whether Mississippi’s EPPs seized this opportunity to “pull in” Black teacher candidates, enrollment, survey, document, and interview data were collected from Mississippi EPPs. Findings suggest EPPs must admit the “uncomfortable truth” that a focus on recruiting and retaining Black teacher candidates is minimal.

Author

• Qiana Cutts Givens, Mississippi State University
  Presenting Author