Minority teachers underrepresented in New Mexico schools

Fifty-eight percent of New Mexico teachers are white, despite minorities constituting an overwhelming majority of the state’s student body.

Study: Not enough minority teachers in classrooms, gap attributed to bias and lower college graduation rates

Findings released by a left-leaning think tank today demonstrate minority students will soon out-number whites, but a dearth of minority instructors is holding back students of color who could benefit from teachers with similar backgrounds.

Study: Minority students suspended more often than whites; teacher experience plays a role

A new study from a Colorado-based educational research group takes a comprehensive look at the disparity in punishments handed to minority and disabled students by school administrators.

N.M. religious leaders urge a continuation of driver’s licenses for undocumented

Over a hundred religious leaders in New Mexico have released an open letter to lawmakers asking them not to end a 2003 law permitting undocumented immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses. Fox News Latino reports:

Despite some bad news in national SAT results, analysts say worrying is premature

The College Board, which oversees undergraduate and graduate school entrance exams, released results for the 2011 SATs, revealing mixed news: More students took the test than ever before, posting scores that are some of the lowest in history.

Study: Whites receive disproportionate share of college grants, scholarship funds (graph)

The founder of the influential Fastweb.com and FinAid.org websites wrote a short research paper two weeks ago arguing college minorities receive a disproportionately smaller share of available private scholarships and grant funding. The paper has received renewed attention after popular blog Freakonomics mentioned it Monday.

Gov. Snyder backs Hoekstra in U.S. Senate race

Gov. Rick Snyder has endorsed former rival Pete Hoekstra for the GOP nomination for the U.S. Senate.

Texas redistricting plan faces new political questions on road to federal approval

A suit filed last week by state Rep. Marc Veasey (D-Fort Worth) is just one of many in federal courts around Texas now alleging the Texas Legislature’s new map for U.S. Congress seats under-represents the growth in Texas’ minority populations.

In the Houston Chronicle, Veasey complained that “statewide, 90 percent More…

Some ‘Response’ endorsers unfamiliar with AFA or anti-minority comments

American Family Association leaders’ attacks on minority groups are among the reasons LGBT, faith-based and grassroots groups have joined in denouncing Gov. Rick Perry’s August prayer rally in Houston, which is being bankrolled by AFA.

Atlanta and New Orleans schools show the many ways administrators cut corners

“When high stakes are attached to tests, people often act in ways that compromise educational values. High-stakes testing incentivizes narrowing of the curriculum, gaming the system, teaching to bad tests and cheating.”

That passage, taken from a July 1 letter education historian Diane Ravitch wrote to the New York Times More…