SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – A bipartisan group of legislators led by Reps. Hodan Hassan (D-Minneapolis), Heather Keeler (D-Moorhead), and Sen. Jim Abeler (R-Anoka) joined advocates to discuss progress made on the 2021 Increase Teachers of Color Act. The act is comprised of a package of comprehensive legislation that seeks to address the severe shortage of BIPOC teachers that remains stagnant at 5%, while the percentage of BIPOC students (currently ~34%) increases annually. The act includes HF 217/SF 446 and HF 1041/SF 797.
“It is so important to invest in our next generation and have a teaching staff that reflects our community and our students in the classrooms,” said Rep. Keeler. “Representation matters and as the lead author of the higher education bill for the Increase Teachers of Color Act, I have the opportunity to be the strong voice to stand up for the injustice so many of us have experienced and help our students navigate their future endeavors.”
“We owe it to our students to give them the best education possible, and the most important factor in a quality education is our educators,” said Rep. Hassan. “It has been shown repeatedly that all of our students benefit when they have teachers of color and American Indian teachers, but this is especially true for our students of color and indigenous students. This act will ensure that our school education system has adequate resources to hire and retain teachers of color and American Indian teachers, while also creating a space for culturally relevant learning to take place. I’m glad that this important legislation is moving forward with bipartisan support.”
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