Authorizing the Committee on Education to hold hearings to examine options for expanding the pipeline of Black male teachers and staff in Philadelphia schools. ?

WHEREAS, Only 2% of educators in American public schools are Black men. In Philadelphia, 54% of students are Black, but only 23% of teachers are Black and only 4% of teachers are Black men; and

WHEREAS, The Institute of Labor Economics found in a 2017 study that low-income Black students who have a Black teacher for at least one year in elementary school are less likely to drop out of high school and more likely to consider college; and

WHEREAS, Black teachers are more likely to be familiar with the cultural needs of Black students, thus creating a space for positive academic and social development to occur; and

WHEREAS, It has been found that Black educators have a positive impact on children of all races and the teaching profession as a whole. Accordingly, increased diversity in teachers and staff can benefit all students while helping to address persistent racial and gender disparities in student outcomes; and

WHEREAS, Diversity of non-teacher staff also promises to benefit all students in a similar manner while simultaneously reducing racial and gender disparities; and

WHEREAS, It is important that these teachers and staff are supported with equitable training and supports. Overall, Black teachers and staff are disproportionately recruited to teach in schools serving large populations of students of color, many plagued with a lack of resources and high teacher turnover rates; and

WHEREAS, Common experiences for these teachers and staff include inequitable teaching conditions, the lack of peer and leadership support, unrealistic accountability expectations and scarce resources; and

WHEREAS, It is, therefore, imperative that this Council consider opportunities to increase representation of Black men among teachers and staff in Philadelphia; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, The Council hereby authorizes the Committee on Education to hold hearings to examine options for expanding the pipeline of Black male teachers and staff in Philadelphia schools.

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