From Research to Policy: A Community-Informed Educator Diversity Road Map

• In Event: Pipe Dreams: Humanizing the Teaching Profession and Pipeline Through Liberatory Imagining

Abstract

This presentation highlights findings and policy implications of research conducted by Californians for Justice, The Education Trust-West, and Public Advocates to develop a community-informed California Educator Diversity Road Map. The COVID-19 pandemic has made it more difficult to be an educator and has accelerated educator retirements. As a result, California, like much of the nation, is facing a growing educator shortage. Recent racial injustices and the anti–critical race theory movement have only emphasized the urgent need for more educators of diverse backgrounds. In addition, addressing the teacher shortage must be done thoughtfully to ensure that new educators are fully prepared and supported to stay in the profession.
Theoretical Framework. The Road Map builds on research that established the importance of racially and linguistically diverse teachers (Carver-Thomas, 2018), as well as recent reports on how California can grow a more diverse educator workforce (Bristol, et. al, 2022).


Methods. A series of focus groups were held with: students, educators, school and district administrators, prospective educators, and grassroots partners. The goals of the focus groups were to understand (1) which recommendations focus group participants prioritized as most likely to promote recruitment and retention of educators from diverse backgrounds, (2) what modifications would make the recommendations more effective, and (3) whether they would suggest additional recommendations.
The focus groups themes underscore the need for the state and school districts to be even bolder and more comprehensive in the steps they take to diversify and support the educator workforce across the pipeline. The findings point to a need to humanize the teaching profession, especially for future and current educators of color and multilingual educators.


Findings. Key recommendations that emerged from the focus groups include:
The state should undertake a bold series of investments to attract and retain diverse educators by increasing and making more equitable teacher compensation, and supporting educators with housing, transportation, and child care costs in the schools with the most concentrated poverty and lack of educator diversity.
The state should support the development of clear and accessible institutional pathways for candidates of color from diverse high schools and community colleges into the teaching profession by promoting deeper partnerships and collaboration among districts, higher education institutions, and community based organizations.
The state should expand support for candidates of color and multilingual teacher candidates to pursue and complete educator preparation through all pathways, traditional and alternative.
4. LEAs should solicit the input of students and families of color in hiring and feedback processes.

Significance. The Road Map has been shared with policymakers and will guide ongoing advocacy efforts to secure policies that build a more racially just education system for students and educators. While the focus groups were based in California, the findings have implications for national efforts to diversify the educator workforce.

Authors

• Jana Luft, The Education Trust - West

• John Affeldt, Public Advocates

• Shilpa Ram, California Civil Rights Department

• Rosa De Leon

• Domique Garrett-Scott, University of Texas at Austin