Mathematics, Teacher Preparation for Diversity

Teacher preparation for diversity is a relatively new aspect of teacher education, emerging in the 1970s as a response to demographic and social changes in the United States. A catalyst for this trend is the growing “mismatch” between the U.S. teaching force (approximately 85% White) and the school student population (more than 40% of color, and increasing). By 2035, ethnic minorities are predicted to make up a majority of the school student population. Thus, federal and state departments of education; accreditation programs; and national teaching, research, and education organizations (including the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics) have all called for teacher education programs to attend to issues of diversity and equity, with the goal of ensuring quality and effective instruction for all students. Some ...