How progressive is Oregon?  

In 1989, (ODE had to go way back to make the numbers look bigger) 2.1 percent of Oregon teachers were minorities.  Ten years later the number increased to 4.1%.  Today…5.5%! 

That’s right, in almost 20 years Oregon has only increased diversity in the classroom by 3.4%. 

Compare that to the change in the student population.  The minority student population was 11.2% in 1989 and it’s 29.8% now. 

The gap between the percent of minority students and the percent of minority teachers has become wider. (Oregon Statewide Report Card 2008/09)

It’s no wonder that students of color continue to suffer from disproportionate rates of discipline, over-representation in special education and under representation in gifted programs.