L.A.'s children of color are shortchanged

A new working paper from the National Bureau of Education Research suggests  schools in Los Angeles put children of color in the classrooms of less-skilled and -experienced teachers, reports Max Ehrenfreund for The Washington Post. Skill differences are enough to move the average black, Hispanic, or Asian student several percentiles lower on standardized tests. Harvard University's Thomas Kane, one of the paper's authors, made these results public while testifying in Vergara v. California, explaining how contracts can affect where the best teachers work, since teaching in an impoverished neighborhood is more challenging, and Los Angeles teachers with seniority have a contractual right to transfer to a post of their choice. Also, black and Latino families move more frequently, and as a result, schools must hire new, inexperienced teachers late in the summer when children unexpectedly fill classrooms. It's unclear whether these patterns hold nationally. A widely cited study by economists from Harvard and Columbia concerning New York City did not conclude that white students there got better teachers. Yet researchers generally agree that across the country, white students are likely concentrated in the best teachers' classrooms. Recent federal notices to states offer few specifics about attracting talented teachers to work where talents are needed most. Like many economists, Kane feels skilled teachers in disadvantaged neighborhoods should receive bonuses; however, identifying "the best" teachers poses additional questions. More

Source:  Public Education News Blast

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Los Angeles Education Partnership (LAEP) is an education support organization that works as a collaborative partner in high-poverty communities.