UCLA Center for the Transformation of Schools

What’s the difference between microaggressions and hate speech?  CTS Faculty Co-Director Dr. Tyrone Howard’s most recent book, “Equity Now: Justice, Repair, and Belonging in Schools” was featured in a KQED article that highlights strategies to address hate speech and microaggressions in the classroom.  Microaggressions can be intentional or unintentional, and some perpetrators are unaware of the harm. Hate speech is usually intentional and a direct attack on an aspect of a person’s individual or group identity. Both are problematic in schools, and are particularly harmful to students of color. Dr. Howard urges educators to play a role in stopping hate speech in schools. The article lists 6 steps from “Equity Now” to address racism and hate speech in schools and classrooms.  Read the full article at https://lnkd.in/gr8EGHgs or purchase the book at https://lnkd.in/gdQNV2_A #equity #justice #equitynow #schoolreform #equityinschools #restorativejustice #hatespeech #microagressions #classroomstrategies

Dr. Kai Mathews speaks about how the teacher shortage and subpar credentialed teachers impact students in an interview with Education Consulting Services (ED Life Consulting) as a part of their Life Givers Speaker Series. Dr. Kai shares insights about how students in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities tend to have higher teacher shortages, and that students witnessing the minimal efforts to invest in their schools and communities can internalize that as a negative reflection of their own internal value. Learn more about the teacher shortage in California in the CTS CA Educator Diversity Project’s most recent report, California’s Teacher Education Deserts: An Overlooked & Growing Equity Challenge. Watch the full interview or read the report at https://lnkd.in/g2M5TcS5 https://lnkd.in/gCcuVAdG #teachershortage #CAed #educatordiversity #CAeducation #teacherdiversity #CAteachers #uclaresearch #edlife #edlifeconsultingservices

CTS California Educator Diversity Project Director Kai Mathews was featured in an EdSource article discussing the critical issue of unreliable education data in California. This impacts the public, researchers, schools, and California legislators’ decisions. Speaking about teacher demographic data specifically, Mathews said, “What we realized is that some people had some information that’s not publicly available, and it largely depended on past relationships. So some data is actually probably collected, it’s just not publicly shared with all of us.” The lack of updated educator data is concerning, especially with the ongoing teacher shortage and other workforce issues impacting teachers. Read the full article at: https://lnkd.in/gDwcVGRM #educationdata #educatordiversity #CAed #CAeducation #uclaresearch #educationresearch

Our latest study, ‘Barriers to Racial Equity for Teachers of Color and Indigenous Teachers in California’s Teaching Pipeline and Profession’ in collaboration with UCLA’s Civil Rights Project, was featured on California School Boards Association (CSBA)’s blog. CSBA cited our study to describe the obstacles preventing a diverse teacher workforce in California that matches the diversity of its students. These key findings include financial challenges, structural racism, culture and climate, curriculum and pedagogy, and testing. Read the full article at: https://lnkd.in/gRB98-FP Read the full study at: https://lnkd.in/gbS7n3uv #teacherdiversity #CAteachers #CAed #CAeducation #racialequity #uclaresearch

Our latest study in collaboration with the Civil Rights Project about barriers to equity for California teachers of color was featured in the Daily Bruin, finding that a teacher of color is more likely to take out student loans during their education than a white teacher as a result of historical and social factors, disproportionate employment opportunities and a lack of familial financial support. “There [are] still some clear and obvious barriers for people of color to enter the [teaching] profession, which allow[s] our numbers in the teaching population to look the way they do, with the majority of our teachers being white teachers.” -Dr. Kai Mathews, California Educator Diversity Project Director & study lead Read the full article at https://lnkd.in/g9gGssNp #teachersofcolor #educatordiversity #teachereducation #education #teachers #Californiateachers #studentteacher #newteacher #teacher #k12 #edchat #teachershortage #uclaresearch #eduresearch #teacherchat #uclaresearch #DEI

Our new study with the Civil Rights Project on racial equity barriers for teachers of color was featured in an EdSource article describing our findings in the study. The high cost of college and the cost of earning and keeping teaching credentials are just some of the many barriers teachers of color face. EdSource includes some of our recommendations in the report including: debt-free pathways to a credential, fair compensation for student teaching, teacher education enrollment caps, ethnic studies offerings and culturally relevant curriculum audits. Read the full article at https://lnkd.in/g9JJHBcH Read our recent study at https://lnkd.in/gbS7n3uv #teachersofcolor #educatordiversity #indigenousteachers #teachereducation #education #teachers #Californiateachers #k12 #edchat #teachershortage #uclaresearch #eduresearch #blackeducators #latinoeducators #chicanoeducators #aapieducators #indigenouseducators #teacherchat #uclaresearch #DEI

🌈 Celebrating Pride Month! 🌈 True celebration means standing up for LGBTQIA+ students, teachers, and school staff who deserve our unwavering support and for their rights to be protected. 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️ Educational spaces should be safe, inclusive, and affirming for everyone. This Pride Month, let's recommit to creating classrooms and campuses where every student feels valued and empowered. But our work doesn't stop there. The fight for LGBTQIA+ rights is intertwined with social and racial justice. We must continue to challenge systemic inequalities, advocate for marginalized communities, and champion policies that ensure equity and justice for all. #PrideMonth #LGBTQIAstudents #queeryouth #transyouth #SupportStudents #SocialJustice #RacialJustice #LoveIsLove #EqualityForAll #InclusiveEducation #TogetherWeRise #pride2024

Many states are placing restrictions on culturally responsive teaching methods and how these can be taught in teacher preparation programs. CTS California Educator Diversity Project Director Kai Mathews spoke to EdWeek about the implications of this on student engagement: “It’s not just for the historical knowledge and facts. It is also when we’re including students from a diverse background, to see themselves in the making up, and in the composite of, history and of society, and we’re bringing it into the classroom. There’s a relatability that then comes with the content that we’re teaching. It’s not just math for math’s sake.” Mathews highlights how important it is to make education relevant and meaningful to keep students engaged in learning. When students can’t relate to the subject content, schools are more likely to face larger problems like chronic absenteeism and student apathy. Read the EdWeek article at https://lnkd.in/e8wSVc3S #culturallyresponsiveteaching #socialjusticeeducation #teacherpreparation #teacherpreparationprogram

Reckon News covered our new research with The Civil Rights Project/Proyecto Derechos Civiles at UCLA that explores barriers to racial equity and recruiting and retaining people of color in California’s teaching pipeline and profession. “Equity work in our schools requires that we actively interrogate and dismantle policies and practices that act as barriers for people of color entering and sustaining in the profession. Essentially, our desire for equity must be driven by a greater — or at least equal — desire for justice. There is no uncoupling of the two.” - CTS California Educator Diversity Project Director Kai Mathews High tuition fees, growing debt, and unpaid labor during mandatory student teaching are examples of challenges that disproportionately impact teacher candidates of color. Read the news article: https://lnkd.in/gBeipS8J Read “Barriers to Racial Equity for Teachers of Color and Indigenous Teachers in California’s Teaching Pipeline and Profession” at: https://lnkd.in/gDZ_kQhK #teachersofcolor #indigenousteachers #educatordiversity #teachereducation #education #teachers #Californiateachers #k12 #edchat #teachershortage #uclaresearch #eduresearch #blackeducators #latinoeducators #chicanoeducators #aapieducators #indigenouseducators #teacherchat #teachersofinstagram #teachersofig #uclaresearch #DEI

UCLA CTS’ interactive TEP Deserts map was featured in an EdSource article on teacher vacancies in the West Contra Costa Unified School District. Our interactive map provides data on underprepared teachers and teacher education deserts in California. Read the full article at https://lnkd.in/gFQDyHh4 #teachereducationdeserts #TEP #teachereducation #teachereducationprogram #teachershortage #uclaresearch #eduresearch