Research Brief

Untapped Potential? Understanding the Paraeducator-to-Teacher Pipeline and its Potential for Diversifying the Teacher Workforce

Andrew Camp, Gema Zamarro, Josh B. McGee
September 2024 | Annenberg Institute at Brown University

This working paper from the Annenberg Institute at Brown University uses statewide administrative data to explore the actual implications of utilizing the paraeducator-to-teacher pipeline to diversify the teaching workforce. Though paraeducators are more racially and ethnically diverse than the teacher workforce, the report’s data find that the potential for the paraeducator-to-teacher pipeline to diversify the teaching profession may be limited unless  paraeducators are highly targeted. They show that Black and Hispanic paraeducators are less likely than White paraeducators to transition into teaching. These findings are particularly useful for policymakers and institutions of higher education considering generalized programs to transition paraeducators into teachers as a solution for workforce diversity.

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