TEACHER DIVERSITY IS SLOWING

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A report from the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) shows that while teacher diversity has been increasing in recent years, that growth is slower compared to the overall diversity of college-educated adults. In other words, the authors note, people of color are increasingly opting out of the teaching profession. “Teachers of color have a positive impact on all students—especially students of color—yet our teacher workforce continues to lack racial diversity,” says NCTQ President Heather Peske. “Addressing this issue begins with better data.” The report, “A New Roadmap For Strengthening Teacher Diversity,” analyzes data from NCTQ’s new Teacher Diversity Dashboard. The dashboard brings together hard-to-access federal data to highlight important trends in the racial demographics of the teacher workforce and broader population to inform teacher diversity efforts. Read the report at bit.ly/4h78CQu.

RESTRICTING CREDIT FOR AP AND IB COURSES

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Almost 10 years ago, the Progressive Policy Institute (PPI) released an analysis of school policies regarding Advanced Placement (AP) credit. It showed that, despite being one of the few ways students could seek to graduate in fewer than four years, the vast majority of the nation’s top schools restricted students from applying AP coursework toward degree credits. Unfortunately, according to PPI’s latest analysis, “despite strong evidence that successfully completed AP courses meet the standards of achievement expected by colleges and universities, the situation has deteriorated significantly as more schools seek to protect their revenue streams.” At the same time, schools have diminished the value of other college-level coursework, such as the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum. PPI found that colleges and universities also typically limit the amount of credit for IB coursework. Read the report at bit.ly/4gM1w44.

SUPPORTING INDIGENOUS YOUTH

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A research brief from Child Trends looks at how approaches that are “culturally-driven” and “land-based” can promote the mental health and well-being of Hawaii’s indigenous youth. To ensure the success of these interventions, the brief says, “they should be developed in partnership with Native Hawaiian communities. This collaborative approach ensures cultural relevance and empowers communities to lead their healing processes.” Effective approaches for Kānaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) youth can:

  • Facilitate connectedness.
  • Instill a sense of pride and positive self-identity.
  • Emphasize healing and resilience.

Read the brief at bit.ly/426yB6k.

NSC SHARES INSIGHTS ON GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION

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The National Student COUNCIL (NSC) had the opportunity to offer recommendations on gun violence prevention and safety to White House and federal officials late last year. NSC is a flagship student leadership program of NASSP.
In a December 17 letter, NSC President Anjali Verma writing on behalf of the council gave feedback on active shooter drills, mental health, and safe firearm storage. Following President Biden’s Executive Order on September 26, 2024, NSC representatives were invited to share their insights during three listening sessions with senior policy officials at The White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention and the U.S. Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency, and Justice. Read more at bit.ly/3PBGvwU.