Underrepresented Students in Teaching

It is crucial for the teaching workforce to be diverse. Research has shown us that when students have at least one teacher who is the same race or gender as they are, they are more likely to receive higher scores on standardized tests, attend school more frequently, and receive less suspensions throughout the school year. Overall, having a diverse teacher workforce can lead to positive outcomes for all students.  

What the Data Shows Us

• During the 2017-2018 school year, 79% of public-school teachers in the United States were white, while Hispanic teachers made up 9%, and black teachers made up 7% of the workforce.
• During the 2017-2018 school year, 76% of teachers in public schools were female, while only 24% were male. 
• Having at least one Black teacher early on reduces a Black student’s likelihood of dropping out of school by up to 39%. 
• When Black students have two Black elementary school teachers, they are 32% more likely to go to college. 
• For teachers of color, having a more diverse teaching staff may help them retain their position by diminishing feelings of isolation, frustration, and stress. 

References: Institute for Education Sciences, 2019; Gershenson, Lindsay, Hart, Papageorge, 2017; Carver-Thomas, 2018

Diversifying Classrooms

Our goal is to diversify classrooms to improve the equity of education for students. Learn more in the video below.