The following resolution and statistics were submitted to the UFT Committee on Social and Economic Justice. ~ Sean Ahern
Draft Resolution on the Disappearing
Black and Latino/a Educator
Whereas the UFT supports the goal of increased hiring of Black, Latino and Asian educators as role models, as sound pedagogy, to advance labor solidarity and as a step to a democratic society, and
Whereas NYC employs a relatively low percentage of teachers of color city wide when compared with the community served and in this respect lags behind other large metropolitan areas, and
Whereas statistics offered below indicate a significant decline in the numbers of new Black and Latino educators hired since 2002, and
Whereas over three thousand uncertified UFT members, disproportionately Black and Latino educators, many with advanced degrees and years of dedicated service in hard to staff schools, were laid off in 2003 based on NYS certification exams that have no empirical data supporting their connection to student achievement, and
Whereas school closings have contributed to a disproportionate percentage of senior Black and Latina/o educators being consigned to the Absent Teacher Reserve, and
Whereas a disproportionate number of Black and Latino teachers have been sent to the ¡rubber rooms, and
Whereas the data obtained thus far indicates that the new teacher and administrator cohorts formed by the DOE under the direct control of Mayor Bloomberg are in effect, reversing progress towards a racially inclusive pedagogical staff in the NYC public schools, therefore,
Be It Resolved
That the UFT shall, as directed by President Weingarten, convene a public inquiry with a month to; 1) draw out the matters of fact as may be obtained, noting any obstacles, and 2) identify corrective measures, initiatives and changes in policy from top to bottom that may be enacted to increase the percentage of teachers of color in NYC public schools inclusive of suggestions for recruitment, hiring, certification, training and retention of well qualified educators, and
Be It Further Resolved
That the President shall report back such findings and proposals to the membership through the NY Teacher, to the Delegate Assembly, NYSUT, The Municipal Labor Committee, the NYC Central Labor Council, city wide parent organizations, civil rights organizations, the City Council, the Deputy Mayor for Education and the NYS Education Department before January 2009 and on this basis shall engage the membership and parents in a dialogue, seeking consensus for affirmative action on these proposals in all appropriate venues.
Statistics from Samuel Anderson's Blog at:
NEWLY
HIRED*
NEW YORK CITY
TEACHERS BY ETHNICITY
Years |
Indian | Asian | Black | Hispanic | White | Unknown |
| 1990-91 | 0.3% | 3.2% | 16.0% | 11.9% | 49.5% | 19.1% |
| 1991-92 | 0.1% | 3.2% | 16.0% | 15.3% | 58.4% | 6.9% |
| 1992-93 | 0.3% | 2.9% | 17.9% | 15.1% | 59.6% | 4.2% |
| 1993-94 | 0.4% | 3.1% | 18.4% | 13.9% | 59.6% | 4.5% |
| 1994-95 | 0.3% | 3.2% | 23.4% | 18.4% | 53.9% | 0.8% |
| 1995-96 | 0.3% | 3.1% | 22.9% | 18.4% | 54.1% | 1.3% |
| 1996-97 | 0.3% | 3.4% | 19.0% | 14.4% | 60.3% | 2.6% |
| 1997-98 | 0.4% | 3.8% | 20.1% | 15.3% | 56.7% | 3.7% |
| 1998-99 | 0.2% | 3.8% | 22.1% | 15.2% | 57.5% | 1.1% |
| 1999-00 | 0.2% | 4.4% | 24.8% | 16.4% | 53.8% | 0.5% |
| 2000-01 | 0.2% | 4.2% | 25.5% | 16.3% | 53.3% | 0.4% |
| 2001-02 | 0.2% | 4.9% | 27.2% | 14.3% | 53.3% | 0.2% |
| 2002-03 | 0.2% | 5.6% | 20.1% | 12.7% | 61.1% | 0.3% |
| 2003-04 | 0.2% | 7.2% | 16.7% | 10.6% | 65.0% | 0.3% |
| 2004-05 | 0.2% | 8.3% | 16.0% | 11.1% | 63.3% | 1.2% |
| 2005-06 | 0.3% | 7.2% | 14.5% | 11.7% | 65.0% | 1.3% |
| 2006-07** | 0.3% | 6.1% | 14.1% | 11.7% | 65.5% | 2.3% |
*New Hires includes teachers who were hired between 8/25 through 10/31 of each year. ** Data on the 2006-07 New Hires is current as of 8.22.2006
