Teachers of color face a new test. Almost all educators are white. At the same time, the population of students is growing more and more diverse, a trend that will continue.

Stefanie Johnson, in her book “Inclusify,” cites research that indicates more diversity leads to better decisions.

Educators of color improve outcomes for all of our children, especially our children of color. Models are important in nonverbally signaling to children that everyone can be successful.

Research shows that when students of color have teachers of color, they are more likely to be placed in gifted programs, graduate from high school on time and feel cared for, and are less likely to be suspended or expelled.

It’s crucial that we have the courage not only to recruit teachers of color but to retain them — and understand what the policy implications are.

Minnesota must look at what the research is telling us and abandon policies that push out educators of color.

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