NAACP Resolution for Increasing National Board Certified Minority Teachers

WHEREAS, there is an increasing shortage of African American arid minority teachers in public schools; and

WHEREAS, only 13 percent of teachers nationwide are African American and more than 40 percent of all U.S. schools have no teachers of color on staff; and

WHEREAS, research shows when teachers of color are missing, minority students are more likely to be identified for special education classes, have higher absentee rates, and tend to be less involved in school activities; and

WHEREAS, approximately 2.7 million new teachers will be needed to join the teaching workforce over the next decade; and

WHEREAS, the "No Child Left Behind" legislation requires that all schools have access to highly qualified teachers for their students; and

WHEREAS, teacher certification offered by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards offers a nationally accepted sign of quality in the teaching profession and a nationwide standard for evaluating and encouraging quality teaching; and

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the NAACP calls on the federal government to establish a special fund to provide states with the means to support African American teachers seeking certification through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the federal, state, and local governments will provide financial and other incentives to encourage African American students to enter the education profession; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the NAACP calls on HBCUs and other colleges of education nationwide to work with NAACP state conferences to develop a range of appropriate cultural competency development opportunities for teacher education students prior to graduation.