Research shows that Black and Latinx students are more likely to succeed academically when they have at least one teacher who shares their racial or ethnic background. However, efforts to recruit more minority teachers, like those in Kansas City Public Schools (KCPS), are now facing legal and political opposition. The KCPS district is being sued by a parent group that alleges discriminatory hiring practices and is facing an executive order banning race considerations in hiring decisions.
David Blazar, associate professor of education policy, spoke with The Kansas City Beacon about his research on the impact of Black teachers and its relevance to the challenges in Kansas City.
“There is scientific evidence about the importance of Black teachers to Black students and non-Black students. There are practical reasons for why we need more teachers in schools. And so I am disheartened that this current push is being called out as discriminatory,” said Blazar.
