The legislation fulfills core advocacy priority for Teach Plus
Boston, Massachusetts, November 20, 2024—Teach Plus Massachusetts issued the following statement today after Gov. Maura Healey signed the Economic Development Bill that includes the Educator Diversity Act, lifting up the state as a national model for diversifying the teaching workforce.
Teach Plus applauds Governor Healey and Massachusetts legislators for passing the Educator Diversity Act, a groundbreaking law that opens new doors for teachers of color into the classroom. This legislation attempts to eliminate long-standing obstacles that have kept educators of color from the profession and creates innovative routes for them to become teachers. The reality of Massachusetts’ classrooms tells a clear story: While nearly half of our students are students of color, only one in 10 teachers share their cultural and linguistic background. The Educator Diversity Act will help close this critical gap, ensuring students see themselves reflected in their teachers—a proven factor in student success and achievement.
“With this legislation, Massachusetts is charting a bold path forward to remove barriers and build the diverse, talented teaching force our students deserve. Teach Plus and Teach Plus teacher leaders have been relentless champions for this change—testifying at hearings, writing opinion pieces, hosting briefings at the State House, and rallying support across the Commonwealth—all in service of creating opportunities for students in our state,” said Chris Marino, Teach Plus Massachusetts Executive Director. “We are excited to celebrate this win with our partners and to get to work helping to implement this crucial legislation.”
As members of the Massachusetts Educator Diversity Act Coalition, Teach Plus and Teach Plus teacher leaders have kept a drumbeat of advocacy for the Educator Diversity Act since 2021. Throughout, Teach Plus teacher leaders joined Latinos for Education to brief over 100 educators, students, and legislators on the law and rally support. The signed legislation includes all the provisions that Teach Plus has advocated for, including multiple certification pathways for teachers of color, a pilot for teacher apprenticeships, an establishment of a data diversity dashboard, and a focus on improving hiring and promotional practices for educators of color.
“This innovative legislation, a first-of-its-kind across the nation, will transform our schools by ensuring that all students see themselves reflected in their educators, empowering them to reach their full potential. This act tackles the educator shortage head-on, ensuring that our schools are staffed with dedicated and diverse professionals who can inspire and support the next generation,” said Ralph Saint-Louis, 2024-25 Teach Plus Massachusetts Senior Policy Fellow, and biology and chemistry teacher at Lowell High School in Lowell.
About Teach Plus
The mission of Teach Plus is to empower excellent, experienced, and diverse teachers to take leadership over key policy and practice issues that affect their students’ success. In pursuing our mission, Teach Plus is guided by our Student Opportunity Mandate: All students should have the opportunity to achieve their potential in an education system defined by its commitment to equity, its responsiveness to individual needs, and its ability to prepare students for postsecondary success. Since 2009, Teach Plus has developed thousands of teacher leaders across the country to exercise their leadership in shaping education policy and improving teaching and learning for students. teachplus.org/ma/
