Teachers of color were nearly twice as likely as White teachers to have entered teaching through an alternative certification route in 2020–21¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · associational r2 · q2
Currency · newest study 2025 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person · recheck by 2030: baselines and conditions change

Subclaims¶

q2 i? Teachers of color entered teaching through alternative routes at nearly twice the rate of White teachers (31% vs. 17%), with Black teachers the most likely of all groups to enter through an alternative route. → Carver-Thomas 2025

Evidence¶

Carver-Thomas 2025¶

Carver-Thomas, D., Leung-Gagné, M., & García, E. (2025). Supporting and sustaining a diverse teacher workforce. Learning Policy Institute. https://doi.org/10.54300/216.666

q2 · i? · associational · r2

Descriptive analysis of 2020–21 National Teacher and Principal Survey data on certification route by race/ethnicity. The report finds teachers of color "nearly twice as likely as White teachers to have entered teaching through an alternative route (31% vs. 17%)".

"Teachers of color were nearly twice as likely as White teachers to have entered teaching through an alternative route (31% vs. 17%) in 2020–21, with Black teachers being the most likely of all groups to enter through an alternative route."

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• Teachers of color disproportionately enter through alternative certification pathways, which predict higher turnover — possibly the same claim (merge candidate)
• Alternative and traditionally certified teachers were similar on academic credentials but differed in race, education major, concurrent coursework, and first-year mentoring — related
• Alternative certification programs grew to account for about one-third of all new teachers certified annually in the United States — related
• Alternative-route teacher certification enrollment has grown rapidly nationally and in Michigan, where just over 40% of candidates were in alternative programs by 2023 — related