Increase Teachers of Color Act
Saint Paul, MN – State Senator Patricia Torres Ray (DFL-Minneapolis) and State Representative Mary Kunesh-Podein (DFL-New Brighton) introduced legislation to increase the percentage of teachers of color and American Indian teachers (TOCAIT) in Minnesota classrooms.
"Breaking down barriers for people of color and American Indians to become teachers is an important part of fostering a productive, inclusive learning environment,” Rep. Kunesh-Podein said. “We know that when our educators reflect the diversity of their students we will truly be much more successful in narrowing achievement and opportunity gaps."
“The research is very clear, all students benefit from receiving instruction from teachers of color,” Sen. Patricia Torres Ray said. Yet, the 2019 Minnesota Teacher Supply and Demand Report indicates that the percentage of teachers of color has remained stagnant at 4 percent, while the percentage of students of color continues to grow rapidly in Minnesota and is now 34 percent.
The comprehensive legislation expands existing pathways to teaching, strengthens efforts to retain effective teachers, and provides incentives to attract more students of color into the teaching profession with scholarships and student teaching grants to complete their preparation programs. Over 1700 teacher candidates and more than 1300 TOCAIT would be supported by the legislation that the bill authors say is designed to finally start “moving the needle.”
“This is the most comprehensive racial equity proposal in education to close gaps that we’ve seen. Lawmakers and the Governor need to urgently address the unmet needs of one-third of the state’s students and do what is needed to increase the percentage of TOCAIT so students have equitable access to diverse teachers” said Violeta Hernández Espinosa, Education Legislative and Policy Director for the Minnesota Council on Latino Affairs (MCLA).
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