Educator Diversity
Having access to educators and school leaders of color is an essential driver of improved academic outcomes, social-emotional well-being, and cultural consciousness for students of all racial and ethnic backgrounds.
Although New York State is home to one of the most diverse student populations in the country, the makeup of the state’s educator and school leader workforce is majority White, failing to reflect our students, who are mostly of color. Many students of color do not have access to educators or leaders of the same race or ethnicity as them.
Ensuring access to educators who are well-prepared, supported, and reflective of students of color is essential to improving equity and opportunity in New York State’s schools.
Our Equity-Centered Approach
As the first organization to provide a statewide view of educators and leaders of color, we analyze data on educator and school leader diversity, and retention and recruitment of teachers of color. To close persistent gaps in representation across the state, we work alongside our partners from the New York Equity Coalition to advocate for equitable policies and opportunities to cultivate more educators and school leaders of color to reflect student diversity in schools.
Latest Resource
Brief: Celebrating progress on educator diversity in New York State
Our latest report on educator diversity draws lessons from how the New York State Education Department (NYSED), local school districts, institutions of higher education, schools, and advocates are working toward improving educator diversity and retaining teachers of color.
Featured Resources and Reports Over the Years
Report: Representation Matters
Resource: Educator Diversity Playbook
Student Voice: A Natural Connection and an Outlet
A Teacher's Perspective: Why I Teach
Data Snapshot
of schools in New York State do not have any school leaders of color.
Black and Latinx students attend schools without teachers of the same race.
More Resources
Teacher Retention in New York State
An analysis of educator retention data in New York State (NYS) from SY 2018-19 to 2021-22 shows that New York State public schools are challenged to retain teachers of color, in particular Black, American Indian, and Latinx teachers.
Grow Your Own initiatives make moves in the NYS Legislature
Ed Trust–NY supports legislation that will increase teacher diversity in New York State, and we’re celebrating the movement of a particular bill (A00068/S2140B) that passed the Senate and Assembly and now awaits the final steps in the process.
Testimony: 2023 Joint Legislative Budget Hearing — Elementary and Secondary Education
As the budget season progresses, we presented before the New York State Senate and Assembly 2023 Joint Legislative Budget Hearing regarding elementary and secondary education priorities.
Students Can’t Wait: Equity Priorities for New Yorkers in 2023
During our briefing, we joined with our partners from the New York Equity Coalition and discussed what our most recent research shows about the state of education in NY, what investments Governor Hochul proposed to help children and families, and our policy recommendations for the 2023 legislative session.
State of the State 2023 Priorities
A critical moment: Governor Hochul’s State of the State presents ideas and opportunities to advance educational equity
EdTrust-New York identifies key education equity investments in Gov. Hochul’s 2023 State of the State proposal
Our analysis of Governor Hochul’s 2023 State of the State proposal identified a number of critical investments that will help to support New York’s children and families beginning at birth through college and into the workforce.