News Update

Los Angeles County needs a more diverse teacher workforce, report says

School districts in Los Angeles County need to recruit and retain more teachers of color, particularly Latinx and Black educators, according to a report from the Greater LA Education Foundation released today.

The foundation is a philanthropic arm of the Los Angeles County Office of Education.

The report found that 57% of teachers and 61% of administrators in Los Angeles County are Latinx, Black, Asian, Pacific Islander, Native American, Filipino or multiracial, compared to 85% of its students.

The largest gap exists between Latinx students, who make up 66% of the student population, and Latinx teachers, who are 33% of the teacher workforce.

Research shows a diverse teacher workforce can help close gaps in academic performance for students of color.

There are several recommendations in the report for how government and education officials can incentivize teaching programs, including offering loan forgiveness, reduced credentialing fees, increasing starting salaries in lower-performing schools and offering housing and teaching stipends.

The report also recommends the expansion of pathways to teaching careers, including district-operated programs like residencies, where student teachers work alongside veteran teachers.