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Perspectives & Reflections from Latino Teachers

America is experiencing a diverse, cultural shift and the teacher workforce is lagging behind: while Latino students currently make up 25 percent of the U.S. student population, just 8 percent of the nation’s teachers identify as Latino. And although greater numbers of Latino teachers are entering the classroom, they, like other teachers of color, are leaving the profession at higher rates than their White peers.

To build and maintain a teacher workforce that is representative and capable of serving an increasingly diverse student population, district leaders must pay as much attention to understanding and creating the right conditions to retain Latino teachers as they do to recruiting them. This starts with listening to, and learning from, Latino teachers. Researchers at The Education Trust have done just that and have published their findings in a new report, “Our Stories, Our Struggles, Our Strengths: Perspectives and Reflections From Latino Teachers.”

By examining these dynamic experiences of Latino teachers, all educational stakeholders can begin to develop supports and working environments aimed at increasing the number of Latino teachers in the workforce and, more importantly, retaining them. This is imperative for building a truly diverse workforce capable of serving an increasingly diverse student population.

Learn more at www.EdTrust.org/LatinoTeachers and join in on the conversation on Twitter using #LatinoTeachers.

Making Change & Closing Gaps

As a part of on our ongoing celebration of Black History Month, Sarah Anthony of the Michigan College Access Network contributed her thoughts on overcoming obstacles and the importance of closing longstanding gaps in educational opportunity and achievement. The excerpt below is from her full blog post.

February is Black History Month — an annual celebration of the contributions and achievements of black Americans and a time to recognize the central role African-Americans have played in the history of the United States.  While this month provides an excellent opportunity to reflect on the past, we can also use this as an opportunity to acknowledge how far our state and country have to go to create equal opportunities for ALL citizens.

I know firsthand the role that a college degree can play in one’s life. As the first one in my family to graduate from college, I questioned whether I was college material. With a strong financial, academic and emotional support system, I was able to graduate from Central Michigan University (and later Western Michigan University). In 2012, I was elected as a county commissioner, making me the youngest African-American woman serving in that capacity.

Today, thousands of African-American students are sitting in classrooms wondering what life will bring after high school. For many, we know that there are academic, social and financial barriers that will hinder their path… Based on the significant racial gaps in educational attainment, it’s clear opportunities aren’t always equal.

If we want to position our state as a driving force in the national economy, we must work to close the educational attainment gap. All of Michigan’s residents need the 21st century skills necessary to compete in the global market economy.

Click here for the full blog post.

College Enrollment Gap 

Capital Update

The House Higher Education Appropriations Committee will meet on Thursday, February 22 at 9:00 AM in Room 352 of the State Capitol Building. The agenda will include an overview of the FY 2018-19 Executive Recommendation for Higher Education.

The Senate Higher Education Appropriations Committee will meet on Thursday, February 22 at 3:00 PM in Room 1100 of the Binsfeld Office Building. The agenda will include testimony from Wayne State University, Ferris State University and Central Michigan University.

Noteworthy News

Event Spotlight

Join the Education Trust-Midwest on Thursday, March 22, 2018 in Detroit or Friday, March 23, 2018 in Grand Rapids for a Solutions Summit. At each event, Ed Trust-Midwest’s executive director, Amber Arellano, will join other notable education experts in a discussion on what’s being done to address Michigan’s education crisis. Click here for more information and to reserve your seat.

Tweet of the Week

[@RocketshipEd: A Conversation With Teacher of the Year @nate_bowling About the Experiences - & Importance - of Black Teachers bit.ly/2sjgGKh #ReclaimingOurTime #BlackHistoryMonth @EdTrust