Research has found that teachers of color contribute to better academic, behavioral, and socioemotional outcomes for diverse students. Despite these benefits, the diversity of the teacher workforce in the United States has not kept pace with increases in student diversity. States have adopted aspirational legislation aimed at increasing teaching…

In this paper, we examine the enactment of culturally relevant education in an urban early childhood setting in the US. This descriptive case study used a sociocultural framework that emphasizes the relationship between structure and agency. The research question that guided the study was: How does an urban, non-profit early childhood educational…

The growing diversity of student populations within the public schools of the United States and the lack of diversity present in the current pool of certified teachers are of great interest to colleges and universities seeking to increase the diversity of teacher candidates. Researchers explored the factors that encouraged African American male…

Expulsion and suspension rates among African American students are the highest of all racial groups across elementary, middle, and high schools. This study investigates whether a more racially diverse teaching force could alleviate exclusion rates among Black students. Using administrative data from the universe of K-12 public schools in the state…

Calls for the recruitment and retention of more Black male teachers have unfolded amid popular depictions of Black men as patriarchal disciplinarians. Against that backdrop, this article investigates how 11 Black male teachers were positioned as disciplinary agents in a predominantly Black urban school district on the east coast of the United…

Narrative inquiry and self-study are used as analytic and conceptual lenses to examine the author's teacher education course where he attempted to introduce the relevance and centrality of race and racism in society and thus education. Implications of the study point to the important role of personal experiences in curriculum development and…

Examines characteristics of urban principals nationally, discussing expectations for principals and analyzing data from a national survey of urban public school principals. Results reveal that over time, principals have become more diversified, have had stronger backgrounds in instructional leadership, and have actively pursued degrees and…

Reviews the reasons for increasing the diversity of the teaching force, especially in urban schools. Introduces the articles of this special issue, which address the roles of federal, state, and local governments in increasing teacher diversity, discuss successful programs for increasing diversity, and describe the experiences and perspectives of…

Discusses the emerging leadership qualities needed to establish and administer programs to recruit and prepare teachers of color. The discussion is derived from experience with the Pathways to Teaching Careers initiative funded by the DeWitt Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund. The importance of linking efforts by educational leaders is stressed. (SLD)

Uses data from the Schools and Staffing Survey 1993-94 to study the link between alternative teacher certification, minority teachers, and urban education and to compare alternatively and traditionally certified minority teachers in urban schools. Alternative certification appears to be effective in recruiting minority teachers to urban schools.…

United States teachers must be excellent, and they should resemble the U.S. student body in their diversity. Two approaches taken by the U.S. Department of Education, the "Recruiting New Teachers for Underserved Areas" program and the "Lighthouse Partnership Program," are aimed at increasing teacher diversity. (SLD)

Describes the Pathways program at Armstrong Atlantic State University, which attempts to answer Georgia's need for minority teachers by offering noncertified school district employees, most of whom are paraprofessionals, tuition and support so that they can earn degrees leading to teacher certification. Factors leading to program success are…