Governor Cooper’s DRIVE Task Force Approves Final Plan and Recommendations

Cary, NC. – The Developing a Representative and Inclusive Vision for Education (DRIVE) Task Force has voted to approve its plan developed for Governor Roy Cooper and has submitted the plan to the Governor. Almost exactly one year ago Governor Cooper announced Executive Order 113 establishing the Task Force, charged with creating a plan of action to increase racial, ethnic, and linguistic diversity within North Carolina’s educator workforce.

In May of 2020, Governor Cooper appointed 34 education stakeholders from across the state to the Task Force, with Dr. Anthony Graham, Provost of Winston-Salem State University, as chair. Seeking to understand the challenges and opportunities that lie within educator diversity in North Carolina across the educator pipeline, the Task Force established three subcommittees to address key areas of focus: recruitment, preparation, and support and retention. Since May, the Task Force has held a series of five meetings, with the first four on each area of focus, and the final to approve the recommendations.

“It has been an honor to chair the DRIVE Task Force, and I am proud of the work we have done to move the needle on the issue of educator diversity,” said Dr. Anthony Graham. “It is long overdue that our teacher workforce reflect the diversity of the students they serve, and I am hopeful that the recommendations and strategies we are setting forth will put us on the right path to achieve that goal.”

Informed by state and national resource expert presentations and stakeholder focus groups conducted by the subcommittees, the plan set forth by the Task Force includes 10 recommendations and 46 additional strategies that the state can pursue in order to increase the racial, ethnic, and linguistic diversity of North Carolina’s educator workforce. Among the 10 recommendations, the Task Force proposes the following:

• Developing scholarships, loan forgiveness, and tuition reimbursement programs for educators of color;
• Providing sustainable investments in educator preparation programs at North Carolina’s Historically Minority Serving Institutions and Historically Black Colleges and Universities; and
• Releasing an annual statewide report on educator diversity.

“As a former teacher and principal, I have seen firsthand the role that educators of color have in affirming student identity and improving outcomes for all students,” said Dr. Javaid Siddiqi, President & CEO of The Hunt Institute. “I applaud Governor Cooper for making a firm commitment to this issue and seeking input from such a wide array of education stakeholders from across the state.”

Once Governor Cooper has had the chance to review the report, key stakeholders and policymakers will begin the important work of building a more diverse educator workforce.

“We know that more diversity in our educator workforce will lead to better outcomes for our students and I appreciate the hard work of this Task Force to create strategies for increasing diversity in North Carolina classrooms,” said Governor Roy Cooper. 

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About The Hunt Institute

An affiliate of the Duke University Sanford School of Public Policy, The Hunt Institute is a recognized leader in the movement to transform public education. Marshaling expertise from a nationwide partner network since its establishment in 2001, The Institute brings together people and resources that help build and nurture visionary leadership, and mobilize strategic action for greater educational outcomes and student success. For more information, please visit: http://www.hunt-institute.org/