Studies: U.S. Teachers Nowhere as Diverse as Their Students

About 23% of U.S. public school students are Hispanic, but only 8% of teachers are Hispanic, too, according to new studies, Fox News Latino reports via the Associated Press. Overall, 48% of public school students are minorities, but less than 20% of teachers are minorities. This is a so-called "diversity gap" and more should be done to help teachers more accurately mirror the students in their classrooms, according to the study developers, the Center for American Progress and the National Education Association. According to the article: Teachers are always pushing their students to excel, said Kevin Gilbert, coordinator of teacher leadership and special projects for the Clinton Public School District in Clinton, Mississippi. It becomes easier for students to believe "when ...