New Study: Diverse Teachers Reduce Student Suspensions in NYC
A new study by Matthew Shirrell has revealed that students of color in New York City schools are less likely to be suspended when taught by educators who share their racial or ethnic background. The research suggests that increasing the proportion of Latino teachers for Latino students could prevent around 1,500 suspensions over a decade.
Shirrell's study found a nearly 3% decrease in suspension likelihood for Asian, Black, and Latino students when taught by teachers of the same ethnic background. This trend highlights the importance of diverse teaching staff and professional learning to address teacher biases.
The study supports measures such as anti-racist training for teachers and inclusive curricula that reflect diverse ethnic backgrounds. It also emphasizes the need for all teachers to be mindful of their biases and supportive of students from various backgrounds. Teacher discretion in reporting student behavior significantly impacts suspension rates, making professional learning crucial for reducing disparities.
The findings underscore the importance of recruiting more diverse teachers and providing them with adequate training. Increasing the proportion of Latino teachers for Latino students could substantially reduce suspensions, benefiting both students and educators. Further research is needed to determine the exact cause of this association, but positive role modeling and reduced teacher bias are among the leading theories.
