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POLICY AGENDA
2022-2023
Recommendations for Creating a Strong, Diverse, Culturally Relevant,
and Qualified Educator Workforce Across the Commonwealth
1
IMPROVE DATA COLLECTION AND TRANSPARENCY AROUND EDUCATOR DIVERSITY.
2
3
INVEST IN TEACHER RETENTION.
INVEST IN INNOVATIVE, HIGH-RETENTION MODELS TO ATTRACT AND PREPARE DIVERSE TEACHER CANDIDATES, INCLUDING YOUTH, PARAPROFESSIONALS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
4
REDUCE THE FINANCIAL COSTS OF BECOMING AN EDUCATOR, WITH THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF MAKING IT FREE TO BECOME A TEACHER IN PENNSYLVANIA.
5
REMOVE BARRIERS FROM PENNSYLVANIA'S EDUCATOR PREPARATION AND CERTIFICATION PROCESSES.
6
BUILD CAPACITY AT THE PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO SUPPORT DIVERSIFICATION, DEVELOPMENT, AND STABILIZATION OF THE EDUCATOR WORKFORCE.
Research shows that teachers of color are good for all students, helping close opportunity gaps for students of color and earning high ratings from students of all races.
However, in Pennsylvania, the lack of racial and ethnic diversity in the teacher workforce and deficits in teachers' cultural competence are dire issues.
REVIEW and ENGAGE
You can access a PDF document with a full outline of our policy agenda and recommendations here.
The Consortium's Policy and Advocacy Committee meets monthly - we welcome your involvement!
State Board Presentation
You can view the slides of the presentation given on 5/4/22 in support of the CRSE Competencies here.
Taking PEDC's Advocacy Efforts on the Road
PAC-TE Fall 2021 Teacher Education Assembly
PEDC Co-Directors, Donna-Marie Cole-Malott and Juliet Curci, and PEDC Policy & Advocacy Committee Chair Laura Boyce presented the "Government Relations Committee" session at the PAC-TE Fall Conference in Harrisburg on Wednesday, October 27th. The session focused on the need for Culturally Relevant and Sustaining Education Competencies in PA.
PEDC & Teach Plus Advocacy Webinar
PEDC Policy & Advocacy Committee Chair Laura Boyce conducted a virtual webinar focused on how Pennsylvanians can advocate for equitable funding in education and resources to support educator diversity during the "budget season." Lots of great tips, talking points, and communication tools were shared!
Research For Action's Teach In: The Need for More Teachers of Color
On Saturday, April 23rd, Philadelphia community members gathered for a beautiful morning in FDR Park to learn about the state of educator diversity in Pennsylvania from RFA's new report, The Need for More Teachers of Color, and to hear the perspectives of Philadelphia students about the need for more Black teachers in their schools. PEDC members Saxon Nelson, RFA's Director of Community Engagement, and David Lapp, RFA's Director of Policy Research, were the event's hosts. Ansharaye Hines of The Center for Black Educator Development led a panel that featured Philadelphia high school students, Christopher, Nathalia, and Leah, who are participants in the Temple Education Scholars dual enrollment program. It was wonderful to have the chance to engage with so many PEDC friends - new and old - in person! PEDC was proud to be a featured partner supporting RFA's Teach In event.
Advocacy Days in Harrisburg with PAC-TE and Teach Plus
On Tuesday, April 12th, PEDC was a featured speaker during PAC-TE's Teacher Education Advocacy Day press conference event at the Capitol in Harrisburg. Laura Boyce, Chair of PEDC's Policy and Advocacy Committee, spoke on the need for state investments in education to address the educator shortage and to make investments in ensuring a high-quality and diverse educator workforce. On Tuesday, May 24th, PEDC members joined Teach Plus and Education Voters of PA to advocate for equitable funding for education in PA and investments in efforts to increase the number of teachers of color in the Commonwealth. Juliet, Mal, Rochelle, Amanda, Tawanna, Danielle, and Phebe participating in large group meetings with Representatives Longietti and Bradford, Senators Lindsay Williams and Hughes, and Eric Hagarty, the Acting Secretary of Education. Individual and small group meetings were had with legislators as well. The PEDC group then participated in Teach Plus PA's press conference event in the Rotunda of the Capitol. It was an impactful day that we look forward to replicating again during next year's budget season!