Center for the Transformation of Schools

Research from the UCLA Center for the Transformation of Schools and the UCLA Civil Rights Project explores obstacles to recruiting and retaining Teachers of Color and Indigenous Teachers (TOCIT) in California’s schools. Researchers sought perspectives from teachers and system leaders in teacher preparation to better understand current policies and practices that are contributing to teacher burnout, turnover, and early retirement. Despite California’s recent, large investments toward improving educator diversity, persistent higher rates of burnout, turnover, and early retirement among teachers of color and Indigenous teachers indicate other factors are at play. At a time when many states are eliminating Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs designed to foster positive race relations and equity, the research provides examples of persistent discrimination in the training process and the enormous economic barriers that many students of color face in accessing the educational and professional resources and support they need to become teachers. Learn more on the CTS website.