As part of its three-year strategic plan, the Illinois State Board of Education is launching a pilot program with 24 Illinois colleges and universities to develop plans for recruiting and retaining teachers of color. After the pilot program concludes, the Board plans to create best practices for the state's teacher prep programs. A report by the National Center for Teacher Quality indicated that, overall, almost one in three test-takers of color who fail the teacher licensing exam on the first attempt do not retake the test within three years.
November 23, 2021
October 14, 2021
Law Society of BC updates directory to reflect gender pronouns
Members at the Law Society of British Columbia's annual meeting passed a resolution to implement changes to the member portal and online lawyer directory to reflect the use of gender pronouns. The Society also decided not to hold debate about the Supreme Court of BC's directive on the use of gender-inclusive language in court, which directs those participating in court proceedings to state their name, title, and pronouns.
September 29, 2021
Law Society of British Columbia annual report
The Law Society of British Columbia has released its 2020 annual report. The report gives an update on development of an Indigenous intercultural competency course, in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's report. The Law Society also implemented a diversity action plan "to promote diversity within the law society and the legal profession, to address discriminatory barriers, to improve intercultural competence education, to advance outreach and collaboration efforts and to track and report progress." The annual report also highlights work done to address mental health in the legal profession, including removing questions about medical fitness from the Law Society Admission application form. For more information about the Law Society's Mental Health Task Force, view this CLEAR webinar recording.)
August 18, 2021
Ontario College of Teachers: new governance structure and recruitment of Council members
The Ontario College of Teachers is undergoing a legislated transition to a new, modernized governance structure. The new structure is intended to streamline College operations to be more effective and efficient. The modernization includes the appointment of Council and committee members to include an equal number of licensees and members of the public. Dr. Derek Haime, OCT, Registrar and CEO, states, "Our new governing body will be more inclusive and better reflect and serve Ontario’s diverse population, capturing a wide range of expertise, skills, knowledge and perspectives."
March 31, 2021
FSMB launches Task Force on Health Equity and Medical Regulation
The Federation of State Medical Boards has established a task force to "evaluate education and training programs to assist state medical and osteopathic boards in identifying opportunities for understanding and addressing systemic racism, implicit bias, and health inequity in medical regulation and patient care." The task force will conduct a literature review on implicit bias, systemic racism and health equity in medical regulation; identify current state medical board initiatives around implicit bias; work towards creation of a public-facing platform with educational resources for addressing implicit bias in medical regulation; and engage with professional medical associations, academia, government, and regulatory agencies to include a state regulatory perspective in the discussions.
A member of the task force, Marlon Brown with Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, delivered a webinar for CLEAR about Michigan's Executive Order requiring implicit bias training for all licensed healthcare professionals. A recording of the presentation is available.
August 06, 2020
NCARB discusses future of architect licensure
In a recent interview, leadership of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards shared plans for the coming year. NCARB plans to develop task forces to explore practice and ethics issues and guidance, better raise awareness of the importance of architecture licensure, and focus on equity, diversity and inclusion in the architecture profession. They highlight NCARB's commitment to addressing challenges to licensure, such as cost and time, as well as addressing racial disparity in architecture licensing. (Updated Policy on Diversity and Inclusion)
December 27, 2018
UK: Solicitors Regulation Authority looks at diversity
A new report from the Solicitors Regulation Authority researches "what is being done, and what can be done, to improve the representation of female and black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) solicitors in senior roles such as partners or directors." The report reviewed barriers and issues faced by these groups. The report includes responses from firms with "exceptional diversity profiles" and draws on examples of providing ongoing training and development opportunities; encouraging attendance at diversity events; leading by example with commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion; providing EDI training; and setting up diversity groups.
