MTA applauds legislation to increase educator diversity
MTA applauds legislation to increase educator diversity
Massachusetts Teachers Association President Max Page and Vice President Deb McCarthy issued the following statement today in support of Governor Maura Healey’s signing of economic development bill:
The MTA applauds the inclusion of key elements of the MTA-backed “Educator Diversity Act” in the economic development bill just signed into law by the Governor. Moving beyond the rigid guidelines of the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL) will bring more diversity to classrooms across the state.
For decades, MTA educators have been developing strategies for fostering more racial, ethnic and linguistic diversity in our state’s teaching force. By fighting for more funds for schools, helping to raise wages for educators, as well as passing the Fair Share Amendment, which has allowed us to make public higher education debt-free for aspiring educators through the Tomorrow’s Teachers program and tuition-free community college, the MTA has shown its commitment to the simple truth that our students deserve to have more educators who look like them in their schools.
The educational experience of all students – regardless of their racial and ethnic background – will be enriched by having diverse teachers throughout their learning journey.
For too long, these tests have kept talented teachers out of the classroom, depriving our young people of learning from educators who reflect the growing diversity of our state. There are many ways to demonstrate competency for teaching, and now we can allow aspiring educators to truly demonstrate what they have to offer.
We look forward to working with DESE on an alternate licensure process, since this new law allows for the waiver of one of two MTEL testing requirements. We are also gratified by the additional measures in this law, which will increase educator diversity, examine making MTEL tests available at no cost for some candidates, establish alternate pathways toward licensure for vocational educators, and build on DESE’s efforts to establish a paid apprenticeship pilot program.
The educational experience of all students – regardless of their racial and ethnic background – will be enriched by having diverse teachers throughout their learning journey. Our students need our public schools to recruit and retain more exceptional educators of color, and now we have one more tool to help us do that. We look forward to more equity for educators and for students throughout the Commonwealth.