Report Addresses Critical Shortage of Diverse School Staff in Delaware
Human Relations Commission Issues Recommendations
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Press Release October 5, 2007 |
Contact: Juana Fuentes-Bowles, Director |
Schools throughout Delaware are experiencing a critical lack of diversity in teaching staff and administration, according to a report released today by the State Human Relations Commission. The report also reveals that charter schools have a particularly significant student-staff racial imbalance which, if not properly and promptly addressed, may force the schools to deal with segregation or other related issues.
Based on a complaint filed by the Coalition for Equal Justice in Public Education in 1999, the State Human Relations Commission conducted a study regarding the diversity among educators in public school districts. Minority Group Members were found to be significantly underrepresented in most of Delaware's public schools. Upon publishing the report, the Commission decided to assess the employment changes within the state's educational system after five years. The present report is a product of the data collected five years later.
Few changes are apparent since the 1999 review. Minority administrators and teachers are still significantly underrepresented in most of Delaware's public schools. In order to address the issue of under-representation, the Commission has recommended the following actions for school districts and charter schools:
- Implement a strategy to increase minority teachers and administrators
- Include voluntary submission of EEO-4 data on their applications
- Report applicant flow data by position titles, applicant race and gender, applicant hired for under-represented EEO-4 categories
- Work closely with the Department of Education for technical assistance and resources to address the under-representation of minority administrators and teachers
- Develop and implement an affirmative action plan
"We in Delaware all want our schools to achieve educational excellence and equality for all students. For students to become productive citizens in our multicultural society, a trained and qualified school staff that reflects society is crucial," said Gail Launay, Vice-Chairperson of the State Human Relations Commission.
The mission of the Human Relations Commission is to ensure equal opportunity for all people in Delaware by protecting against practices that discriminate based on race, color, age, religion, marital status, familial status, national origin, or persons with disabilities. www.statehumanrelations.delaware.gov
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