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Addressing the Teacher Shortage in Southern California
Abstract
This proposal outlines the Teach Rialto program, a comprehensive initiative aimed at addressing the pressing issue of the teacher shortage in Southern California. The program offers multiple pathways for individuals interested in pursuing a career in education, including high school students in Career Technical Education (CTE) programs, existing employees through Project Impact, and a teacher residency program. By providing financial assistance and support, Teach Rialto aims to develop highly effective and culturally responsive educators to meet the diverse needs of the Rialto Unified School District (RUSD) and improve student outcomes.
Purpose and Rationale
The purpose of the Teach Rialto program is to develop the next generation of educators for the RUSD and address the critical teacher shortage in Southern California. According to reports from the California Department of Education, the region has experienced a significant increase in demand for teachers, while the supply of qualified teachers has decreased drastically. This shortage has led to negative consequences such as larger class sizes, reduced course offerings, and difficulties in attracting and retaining high-quality educators, ultimately affecting student achievement.
The Teach Rialto program has been designed to provide solutions to these challenges. It aims to prepare highly effective, culturally responsive, and socially just educators who can effectively address the unique needs of teaching in Southern California's diverse communities. By offering a range of programs and financial assistance, Teach Rialto strives to attract and support individuals interested in pursuing a teaching career.
Need
The teacher shortage in Southern California, particularly in certain subject areas such as mathematics, science, and special education, poses significant challenges to schools and students. The demand for teachers has increased while the supply of qualified educators has decreased, resulting in various negative consequences for education. It has become crucial to address this shortage by implementing innovative programs that attract and develop aspiring educators.
Solution
The Teach Rialto program offers a comprehensive solution to the teacher shortage in Southern California. It consists of three main components: Teach Rialto CTE, Teacher Residency, and Project Impact:
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Teach Rialto, CTE: This program is designed for high school students in Career Technical Education (CTE) programs. It provides opportunities for students to explore teaching as a profession, develop essential teaching skills, earn college credit while still in high school, and receive support in transferring and gaining acceptance to California State University, San Bernardino.
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Teacher Residency: This program is designed for existing employees who are interested in pursuing a teaching career. It offers financial support and mentoring while completing the required university coursework for a teaching credential. The residency program allows teacher candidates to learn in authentic contexts with skilled mentors, ensuring they enter the teaching profession fully prepared.
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Project Impact: This program focuses on significantly increasing diversity in the teaching workforce by targeting minority males in the Inland Empire region who wish to become TK-12 teachers. Project Impact provides intentional outreach, recruitment, and financial support to prepare these individuals as highly skilled, collaborative, and innovative teachers committed to educational equity and social justice.
By implementing these programs, Teach Rialto aims to attract a diverse pool of aspiring educators, provide them with the necessary support and resources to earn teaching credentials, and ensure their successful entry into the teaching profession. This comprehensive approach will help alleviate the teacher shortage, improve student outcomes, and create a more equitable and inclusive educational environment.
Teach Rialto program offers an innovative and comprehensive solution to the teacher shortage in Southern California. By supporting this initiative, organizations can contribute to the development of highly qualified educators, address educational disparities, and make a positive impact on student achievement and the overall community.
To make this vision a reality, we need your help to reach our ambitious $18 million fundraising goal. Your generous donation will directly support the expansion of the Teach Rialto program, enabling us to recruit, train, and support even more passionate educators.
With your contribution, we will:
Expand the Teacher Residency program: By investing in Teach Rialto, you're investing in the next generation of educators. Your support will allow us to provide residency opportunities to aspiring teachers, ensuring they receive the practical experience and mentorship necessary to excel in the classroom.
Enhance teacher diversity and cultural competency: Diversity is our strength. With your contribution, we can increase efforts to recruit aspiring educators from diverse backgrounds, ensuring our schools reflect the rich tapestry of our community. By fostering cultural competency and understanding, we empower students to thrive in an inclusive environment.
Develop cutting-edge resources and technology: Education is evolving, and so should our approach. Your support will help us provide state-of-the-art resources, technology, and professional development opportunities to our teachers, equipping them with the tools they need to engage and inspire the next generation of learners.
Together, we can create a brighter future for Rialto's students. Your generous donation will have a direct and lasting impact on the lives of countless children, empowering them with the education they deserve and setting them up for lifelong success.
Join us today by making a meaningful contribution to Teach Rialto. Together, let's raise the $18 million needed to ensure the long-term sustainability of this vital program. Your support is an investment in the future of our community.
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Program Details
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Project Impact
Abstract
Project Impact was created to significantly increase diversity in the teaching work force through intentional outreach and recruitment of minority males in the Inland Empire who want to enter the TK-12 teaching profession in the Inland Empire. In partnership with California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) College of Education, the Rialto Unified School District will recruit scholars from within the classified and substitute teaching pools into Project Impact to prepare the men to become highly skilled, collaborative, innovative teachers, who will commit to work as agents for educational equity and social justice.
Purpose and Rationale
For students, having a teacher of color, who has high expectations, and can relate to their experiences, and serve as a role model can make a big difference in their school experiences. When students of color have teachers of color they are more likely to finish high school at higher rates and more likely to go to college. For example, having at least one black teacher from third to fifth grade can cut the high school dropout rate in half for black boys.
There is a dire need for male teachers of color. Black men make up just 1% of California’s teachers, and Latino men are less than 6% of the teaching force in the state. Data shows that Black and Latino male teachers are underrepresented in schools across the country. According to the National Teacher and Principal Survey, 1.3% public school teachers nationwide were Black men in the 2020-21 school year. Black and Latino men are sorely needed in the teaching field as the state of California struggles with unfair disciplinary practices, achievement gaps, and conversations surrounding culturally responsive pedagogy. Minority male teachers help improve academic outcomes of the students they serve.
In the Rialto Unified School District 4% of teachers are Black males and 11% are Latino male teachers. While this number slightly surpasses the state data, it still represents a need to increase males of color within our District that serves 96% minority students. Our District has a priority to recruit and retain highly qualified male teachers of color to provide students with a quality education and inspiration for our communities to thrive.
The Solution
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Project Impact focuses on underrepresented males within our educational system
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Project Impact is a partnership between CSUSB and the Rialto Unified School District
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Project Impact offers financial support to minority male employees who desire to earn a single subject, multiple subject, or special education teaching credential
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Project Impact scholars must be a certificated employee (substitute) or a classified employee (Grow our Own Model)
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Project Impact scholars are provided with mentors, professional development, networking opportunities, and academic support
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Project Impact scholars are committed to teaching in our District for three years upon successful completion of the program
The Need
Rialto USD is looking for passionate and innovative partners that are interested in supporting the Project Impact program. We have been fortunate for the past couple of years to have additional one time State funding that we have used to support long term solutions. However, in order to keep Project Impact in place, we need financial support from corporations or private sponsors. We believe you are an ideal partner to support the development of Rialto USD future teachers. We ask that you consider supporting this program.
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Career Technical Education (CTE)
Abstract
The purpose of the Teach Rialto CTE courses is to develop a grassroots movement that aims to inspire Rialto high school students to serve their communities by entering the field of education. Teach Rialto CTE will allow participating students to enroll and earn their bachelor’s degrees and teaching credentials, and return to their home district as teachers.
Purpose and Rationale
Employment in education, training, and library occupations is projected to grow 10 percent from 2020 to 2030, about 920,500 new jobs are projected to be added during that time. Student enrollment is projected to increase; therefore, postsecondary teachers and preschool, elementary, and secondary school teachers will be needed to meet the demand. The California School Boards Association has reported that the state needs roughly 100,000 teachers to provide high-quality education for the state’s current students, and the need is the greatest in historically underserved communities. Nationally, there are more than 280,000 fewer public school teachers now than at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
In Rialto, we believe that strong communities are achieved through strong partnerships and through Teach Rialto CTE we are excited to strengthen our partnership with California State University, San Bernardino to enable our youth to serve others through the noble profession of teaching. Teach Rialto will help bring students into positions of leadership and community engagement through the teaching profession.
The Solution
The high school courses that focus on Pre-School to second Grade teacher preparation in this pathway are, Child Development and Careers with Children. The courses that focus on fourth Grade to high school English, Math, Science & Special Education Grade teacher preparation are, Intermediate Education, and Careers in Education. Teach Rialto CTE also supports achievement in post-secondary learning that builds to a complete teaching credential. Students in this pathway have an opportunity to apply to California State University, San Bernardino and allows our pathway completers to finish their credential in five years instead of the normal six years. Students have additional opportunities for financial aid support and co-housed scholarships. The program further provides mentorship and encouragement for students that are going through Teach Rialto CTE. Parents will be involved in the process through a systematic program of communication and education.
The Need
Rialto USD is looking for passionate and innovative partners to support the Teach Rialto CTE students financially throughout their post-secondary education. We believe you are an ideal partner for Rialto USD students and families. We ask that you consider supporting our initiative.
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Teacher Residency
Abstract
Teacher Residency Programs are helping to address teacher shortages and support both students and teachers. High-quality residencies that offer aspiring teachers financial support can help address targeted teacher shortage areas, recruit a more diverse pool of teachers, and improve new teacher retention. In partnership with California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB), the Rialto Unified School District (RUSD) will embark on securing teacher residency funding to build on the understanding that teacher candidates need to learn in authentic context with skilled mentors in order to enter the teaching profession prepared to teach in any school setting.
Purpose and Rationale
California has invested heavily in teacher residency programs in order to attract greater diversity within the teaching workforce and to gain more teachers in hard-to-staff subjects. A residency program puts teachers in a classroom for a significant amount of time (typically for a year). Evidence shows that immersion is the best way to learn to teach. Practicing skills daily gives teachers a solid foundation for success and real impact in the classroom.
When academic coursework is combined with daily experience, teachers are able to apply what they have learned to gain deeper understanding about how to teach. Residency programs allow for mentor support to address learning opportunities as they are presented in real-life classroom situations and experiences.
Teachers that complete a Teacher Residency Program perform like second, third, even fourth year teachers.
Because they are better prepared, they are receive early job offers. Teacher residency completers become coveted recruits. They are ready to pursue their careers and are set up to succeed.
The Solution
In partnership with CSUSB, Rialto Unified School District will establish teacher residency programs to recruit and retain teachers that are prepared to enter our schools, ready to teach. Financial support will be given to all participants who pursue their single-subject, multiple subject, or special education credential through the state of California Teacher Residency program.
The Need
Rialto USD is looking for passionate and innovative partners that are interested in supporting the Teacher Residency Program. We have been fortunate for the past couple of years to have additional one time State funding that we have used to support long term solutions. However, in order to keep recruiting and retaining high quality teachers, we need financial support from corporations or private sponsors. We believe you are an ideal partner to support the development of Rialto USD future teachers. We ask that you consider supporting this program.
