to stay in high-need schools were 20 percent more
are representative of the state’s need for a more
likely to stay than teachers who were not eligible for
diverse teaching population.
the bonus.164 Based on evidence from Tennessee and
other states, investing in efforts to retain high-qualit y
Radically Improve College Readiness Rates for
teachers in high-need schools could contribute to
Historically Underserved Populations. School
improving student outcomes for Tennessee’s high-
districts should develop and implement strategies
need student populations.
that will improve college readiness rates for students
of color and students living in poverty. In 2015, 9
Reflect the Diversity of Tennessee’s Student Body in
percent of African American students and 21 percent
Tennessee’s Teacher Pipeline. Tennessee’s teacher
of Hispanic students met three or more college
preparation programs should work together to
readiness benchmarks on the ACT, compared to 38
develop programs that incentivize students of color
percent of white students.168 If Tennessee intends to
and students who are economically disadvantaged
reach its goal of preparing all students for success
to pursue careers in education. Research has found
in college and career, it must place specific focus on
a growing mismatch between the representation
supporting students of color and students living in
of students of color and teachers of color in public
poverty on their path to college readiness. SCORE
schools.165 Additionally, education research has
should identify schools and school districts that have
found that students of color have higher academic
successfully increased the percentage of students
outcomes when they have relationships with and
of color and students living in poverty graduating
receive instruction from teachers sharing similar
from high school prepared for college and determine
backgrounds. For this reason, districts must recruit
what practices contributed to that success. These
and retain teachers of color in Tennessee’s schools,
schools and districts should then share these
especially in schools and districts where there are
strategies with districts and schools
larger populations of students of color. Tennessee’s
facing similar challenges.
teacher preparation programs should collaborate to
create innovative programs that focus on recruiting
and preparing students of color for careers in
education. The state may also consider ways to
incorporate measures of accountability for teacher
preparation programs for producing
teacher candidate pools that
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