Transfer Students Are Key to Building a More Diverse, Better Prepared Teacher Workforce

This is an excerpt from a longer article by Education Trust.

Expanding preparation pathways for transfer candidates and supporting their success are vital steps toward increasing representation of Black and Latino educators in Texas.

One promising strategy to address this challenge is expanding access to high-quality teacher pathways by better supporting aspiring educators who start at community colleges.

According to a recent survey of teacher candidates at one four-year institution in Texas, a majority of the undergraduates in the last two years of their bachelor’s degree in education are transfer students. These candidates overwhelmingly reported that they had not only planned to transfer upon entering community college but also knew they wanted to major in education.

The survey findings also underscore transfer students’ unique assets and challenges. Compared to their peers entering directly from high school, transfer candidates tend to have more extensive work experience and place greater value on credit transfer, course availability, job placement, and the ability to stay close to home when choosing a college. They also face greater financial barriers to staying enrolled, highlighting the importance of having support services and paid clinical opportunities for students.

Creating clear and accessible preparation pathways

Creating more clear and accessible preparation pathways for transfer candidates is essential for Texas to cultivate a more diverse teacher workforce. Statewide, 70% of students of color begin their higher education at a community college, and nearly two-thirds of already-employed educational aides with some college but no degree are Black or Latino. Research shows that all students benefit from a strong, diverse teacher workforce, and Texas data shows that educators of color are significantly more likely to stay in the profession than their white peers.

Fortunately, our partners at US PREP are launching Educator Preparation Partnership Pathways in multiple regions across Texas to bring together leaders and practitioners from both community colleges and four-year universities to design collaborative solutions to better recruit and support the success of transfer candidates. Strategies include simplifying credit transfer by establishing clearer articulation agreements, improving advising structures, leveraging funding streams, and promoting paid apprenticeship and residency programs.

Read the full article on Education Trust.