Pay Gap for Teachers in Schools Serving More Latino and African-American Students

[EFerrari]

Significant Pay Gap for Teachers in Schools Serving More Latino and African-American Students, According to New U.S. Department of Education Data
September 27, 2011

WASHINGTON – The Department of Education today released new data showing that in school districts around the country, teachers at schools with more Latino and African American enrollment are paid $2,500 less on average than teachers in the district as a whole.

Because teacher salaries comprise the bulk of school districts’ budgets, they are an important indicator of how districts allocate resources. And in 59 percent of diverse districts around the country, the Department found, teachers in schools serving more Latino and African American students are being paid significantly less than teachers in schools with fewer students of color.

The finding is drawn from a survey of nearly 7,000 school districts in the 2009-2010 Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC), the largest sample ever included in the CRDC. The analysis of teacher pay, (one of several new data categories in the 2009-2010 survey) comes from results reported from 2,217 diverse districts – those with greater than 20 percent and less than 80 percent Latino and African American enrollment.

“America has been battling inequity in education for decades but these data show that we cannot let up.” said U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan. “Children who need the most too often get the least. It's a civil rights issue, an economic security issue and a moral issue.”

http://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/significant-pay-gap-teachers-schools-serving-more-latino-and-african-american-st

This is from last September but I don't remember seeing any mention, plus, we have ongoing discussions about the issues this article addresses. Fyi.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

1. I did not see a cost of living baseline approach used, nor average experience.

Both are important to get a better measure of things.