Studies are clear, kids that have at least one black teacher do better in school – they are more likely to graduate, set higher goals for themselves, and have higher self esteem. All teachers have the potential to make a positive impact on their kids though! at FLI we are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives that help bridge the racial divide for students, educators, schools, and communities. Our programs not only address DEI head-on, our support and 360 approach to education reform support our mission; all urban schools should have a staff that is as diverse and unique as the student body that it serves.
Don’t just take our word for it though, check out the measurable influence reported by studies done on this topic:
- ““If having a teacher with high expectations for you matters in high school, imagine how much it matters in the third grade,” Papageorge said. “Many of these kids can’t imagine being an educated person, and perhaps that’s because they’ve never seen one that looks like them. Then they get to spend a whole year with one.”” – “Report.” Oakplayer. 2017.
- “…not only did the black students assigned to black teachers graduate high school at higher rates, they also were more likely to take a college entrance exam.” – “Having Just One Black Teacher Can Keep Black Kids in School.” NPR, April 10, 2017
- “Having at least one black teacher in third through fifth grades reduced a black student’s probability of dropping out of school by 29 percent, the study found. For very low-income black boys, the results are even greater – their chance of dropping out fell 39 percent.” – “With Just One Black Teacher, Black Students More Likely to Graduate.” Johns Hopkins University. April 5, 2017
- “When a black teacher and a white teacher looked at the same black student, the white teacher was about 40 percent less likely to predict the student would finish high school.” – “Just One Black Teacher Can Boost Success of Black Boys.” Futurity. April 6, 2017.
- “Study authors hope these findings highlight the importance of training teachers on cultural responsiveness, or the ability to learn from and relate respectfully with people from other cultures, as well as the need for more teachers of color.” – “Black Students Are More Likely to Graduate if They Have At Least One Black Teacher.” State of Opportunity. April 10, 2017.
- “Papageorge also hopes that school policymakers consider the impact that putting a student in a classroom with a teacher of the same race can have on the student’s success.” – “Black Students More Likely to Graduate if they Have At Least 1 Black Teacher.” The Root. April 6, 2017.
- “…teachers of color are a relative rarity. The National Education Association has found that while students of color make up almost half of the public school population, teachers of color comprise only 16 percent of all teachers.” – “The Repercussions of the Black Teacher Shortage.” City Lab. August 16, 2017.
Join us in taking the facts and making a change. The shortage of black teachers is having a negative impact on kids, but we can make a difference.
Learn more @ https://futureleadersincubator.org!