A report released by the Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing Standards Board and prepared by Wilder Research found only 4.3 percent of Minnesota teachers are people of color, while more than 33 percent of Minnesota students are people of color.
State Rep. Mary Kunesh-Podein, DFL-New Brighton, said the legislation would provide incentives like scholarships and loan forgiveness to students of color who want to become teachers. The bill's sponsors said it would also help teachers of color with mentoring and professional development programs.
"We know that when our educators reflect the diversity of our students, we will truly be much more successful in narrowing our persistent achievement and opportunity gaps that are among the worst in the country," Kunesh-Podein said.
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