CALL FOR ACTION: Improving Minority Teacher Hiring in Waterbury

Waterbury Public Schools' educator staffing levels reveal that only 8% of the educator workforce is black or Hispanic. It is important to note that having race congruent student-teacher relationships improves student performance, lowers discipline sanction rates, and increases school connectedness for non-white students as much as it does for white students.

Considering the persistent disparities in performance, discipline, and graduation rates for non-white students in the Waterbury Public Schools more resources need to be allocated, and more effective strategies to hire more black and Hispanic educators must be embraced by the Waterbury Public Schools.

Therefore, we ask you or your organization to support these (2) actions we are requesting the Waterbury Public Schools take, which we believe will immediately impact hiring and retention rates of non-white educators:

1. The Waterbury Public Schools should implement Rooney Rules. This practice would require at least one non-white candidate be interviewed for each new teacher hire position and promotional opportunity. Legal experts have proclaimed the positive impact and legality of such rules. It's a reasonable, as well as a good faith effort Waterbury Public Schools to take.

2. Create a Minority Teacher Recruitment and Retention Performance Advisory Council. This council would be a local body that works collaboratively with the Waterbury Public Schools. It would be charged with reviewing current strategies to increase the effective recruitment and hiring of non-white educators.

Visit our Website for more information: RACCE.NET