Malloy Says New State Law Improves Recruitment & Retention of Minority Teachers

Gov. Malloy Says New State Law Will Bolster Efforts to Increase Diversity and Maintain the High Quality Expertise Among Connecticut's Teachers

Governor Dannel P. Malloy today announced that a new state law he signed will advance the state's efforts to improve in the recruitment and retention of minority teachers in an effort to increase diversity in the classroom and ensure the state can continue to provide high-quality education for all of its students.  The Governor and State Department of Education (SDE) Commissioner Dianna Wentzell held a roundtable discussion on the topic this morning at Carmen Arace Middle School in Bloomfield to highlight these efforts.

"In every sector, diversity leads to better decisions and improved outcomes.  In the context of education, better decisions lead to improves out comes for children, which is necessary in order to sustain our growing economy," Governor Malloy said.  "This legislation is a significant step toward ensuring every child in our state has equitable access to excellent teachers whose diversity reflects that of our student population.  We are proud of Connecticut's diverse population - it is a source of strength for our state."

 

According to the most recent data available on EdSight - the state's interactive education data portal - approximately 44 percent of Connecticut students are minorities, while only 8.3 percent of educators are minorities.

The legislation, Public Act 16-41 - An Act Concerning the Recommendations of the Minority Teacher Recruitment Task Force, includes several provisions aimed at increasing diversity, including:

  • The establishment of the Minority Teacher Recruitment Policy Oversight Committee within SDE
  • The requirement of SDE to conduct an annual survey of students on the effectiveness of minority teacher recruitment programs in the state
  • The requirement of SDE to report annually on the effectiveness of minority teacher recruitment programs using results-based accountability methods
  • The elimination of a satisfactory score on the Praxis exam as a licensure requirement for educators and instead requires the score be used as an entry requirement into preparation programs, as determined by the preparing institution
  • The requirement of SDE to review and approve proposals to create alternative route to certification programs for school support staff and to award educator certificates to qualified applicants who complete the programs
  • The removal of barriers for awarding an educator certificate to out-of-state teachers
  • The modification of criteria for teacher certification interstate agreements

The legislation is part of a larger, long-term effort to increase the diversity and maintain the high quality of Connecticut's teaching population, and in the recent past, the state has taken concrete steps to ensure every student has equitable access to excellent teachers whose diversity reflects their own.

At Bloomfield High School the percentage of African American teachers increased from 23.1 percent during the 2009-10 school year to 29.6 percent at the end of the 2013-14 school year, while the percentage of Hispanic and Latino teachers increased from 2.6 percent during the 2009-10 school year to 4.2 percent at the end of the 2013-14 school year.  At Carmen Arace Middle School, the percentage of African American teachers increased from 27.7 percent to 38.5 percent from the 2009-10 school year to the 2013-14 school year, and the percentage of Hispanic and Latino teachers increased from zero to 2.6 percent during the same time period.

To assist in these improvements, the Bloomfield school district implemented a comprehensive system of supports for all teachers and does an excellent job of recruiting and retaining teachers of color.  For example, the district receives teacher recommendations from members of the community and current staff and employs public relations and networking strategies that publicize Bloomfield as a welcoming environment for all teachers.  Additionally, district administrators work closely with SDE's Office of Certification to assist candidates with the certification process, provide assistance with forms and relevant questions, and facilitate the submission of required documentation through Bloomfield's human resources to support prospective candidates.

To read the Press Release in its entirety, click here. 

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Submitted by Darien, CT

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