Schools in transition: Creating a diverse school community

Abstract

U.S. public schools are becoming increasingly diverse. By 2025, it is predicted that students of color will make up more than 55% of the school population across the United States. However, teachers and leaders of color make up less than 20% of the education workforce across the country. The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015) establishes a policy goal to increase the number of educators of color. Yet, the policy must go beyond simply increasing the number of educators of color; rather, the policy must assist schools in transitioning and engaging with a new generation of public school students and teachers of color. This study employed a qualitative approach informed by a narrative case study design to explore the challenges schools face in increasing the quantity and quality of racially diverse educators. The researchers examined a school district facing a rapid demographic change over a relatively short period. The findings showed challenges at multiple levels and cultural/racial systematic challenges facing many U.S. public schools. The researchers conclude with recommendations to multiple stakeholders (i.e., public schools, teacher preparation programs, leadership preparation programs) who impact the process of leading schools through the transition into highly diverse communities of learning.