Bill would create additional pathways for educators of color and help school districts address shortage of diverse educators
Boston, Massachusetts – Today, the Massachusetts House of Representatives approved amendment 799 to the proposed Economic Development Bill (H.5007), which would include key features of the Educator Diversity Act in the final bill. Introduced by Representative Alice Peisch, the Educator Diversity Act strengthens Massachusetts’ teacher workforce by prioritizing and reinforcing educator diversity all along the educator pipeline, from preparation and recruitment to hiring and retention.
Amanda Fernandez, Chief Executive Officer of Latinos for Education, who has championed the bill along with a broad coalition of education nonprofits, school district leaders, and higher education institutions, issued the following statement on the House vote:
“The approval of this amendment moves our state closer to providing a national model for how to prioritize and invest in educators of color so that our classrooms and teaching workforce can more closely represent the rich diversity of our student population.
The research is clear: students can perform better and thrive academically when they have educators who share their culture, backgrounds and experiences. Currently, teachers of color only represent 10 percent of all teachers in Massachusetts and the COVID-19 pandemic has created a concerning education talent shortage. The Educator Diversity Act will help school districts make vast improvements towards closing the representation gap that currently exists and addressing the increasing shortage of diverse teachers they are facing.
Specifically, it will allow for more inclusive pathways to certification, streamline how the state and districts collect and report educator diversity data, and give school districts the resources they need to recruit, hire and retain more qualified teachers of color.
We would like to thank the House Chair of the Joint Committee on Education, State Representative Alice Peisch for championing this bill and amendment and Speaker Ron Mariano, House Ways and Means Chair Aaron Michlewitz, and Leader Frank Moran for their support, and we urge the Senate to include a similar amendment in their final economic development package. Our students, our schools, and our economy stand to benefit significantly from this bill.”
To learn more about the Educator Diversity Act, visit: www.latinosforeducation.org/educator-diversity-act/
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About Latinos for Education:
Latinos for Education is a national education non-profit organization focused on developing, placing, and connecting essential Latino talent in the education sector. The organization is mobilizing a network of skilled education leaders to ensure the voice of students and families is not only heard but factored into decision-making in schools, communities, and education institutions throughout the U.S. The organization also ensures Latino education professionals have access to a nationwide network of peers as well as career and professional development opportunities across the country through the members-only EdCentro network. For more information visit: https://www.latinosforeducation.org.
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