Invest in retention of teachers of color through residencies, affinity groups, and induction/mentoring¶

Strategy · All strategies
Evidence · 1 claim (1 mixed) · 1 study (1 associational), q2 · 0 of 1 report an effect size · 1 claim rests on one study

Description¶

The brief warns that recruitment efforts "are compromised when districts and schools have difficulty retaining teachers of color," and recommends investing in high-retention pathways, leadership growth, and early-career support. Illinois' actions include an Alternative Educator Licensure Program requiring a first year of residency, Teacher Residency Planning Grants partnering higher education with high-need districts, a $2 million investment in affinity groups for educators of color for community building and professional development, and a two-year induction and mentoring program for new teachers.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Programming must provide ongoing support and growth opportunities and improve working conditions that disproportionately affect teachers of color

Constraints¶

• Illinois earned a red on cultural-competence professional learning for school and district leaders: an unpublished Advance Illinois survey found most districts had not done required implicit bias training or relied on unsatisfactory click-through training

Target Learners¶

• Teachers of color early in their careers and seeking leadership growth in Illinois

Target Learning Goals¶

• Retaining a diverse educator workforce and improving working conditions

Affordances¶

• Six Strategy State Educator Diversity Framework

Claims¶

• The article documents the typical induction support provided to first-year elementary school teachers in urban districts around the country. [~W]

Related Strategies¶

• Invest in high-quality induction and mentoring programs, which are associated with higher retention particularly for teachers of color
• Retain teachers of color through leadership pipelines, multi-year induction and mentoring, and culturally responsive school climates
• Invest in retention efforts for teachers of color that improve working conditions and provide personal and professional growth opportunities
• Build high-retention, supportive pathways into teaching for candidates of color
• Diversify the educator workforce through Grow Your Own programs, scholarships, and retention supports
• State and federal policy recommendations: recruit and prepare more candidates, retain new teachers through early-career mentoring, and improve working conditions
• Underwrite comprehensive preparation, improve teaching conditions, raise compensation, and expand induction to retain teachers of color
• Support teacher residency programs, which are associated with higher retention rates for teachers of color

Examples¶

-

Key Sources¶

• EdTrust. (2022). Educator Diversity State Profile: ILLINOIS. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED622786