In its “Top 100 Degree Producers” report published last month, the magazine found that during the 2013-14 academic year, Touro awarded 527 Master of Education degrees to minority students, compared to 366 at the next best-ranked school, the Teachers College at Columbia University. Touro also increased the number by 48 percent from the previous academic year, when the school awarded 357 Master in Education degrees to minority students.

By minority group, Touro ranked #1 in New York State in terms of awarding Master of Education degrees to Hispanics and African Americans. The school ranked #2 for graduating Asian Americans.

“New York is ethnically and culturally diverse and producing teachers who reflect that diversity is becoming more and more vital to strengthening our education system for future generations,” said Dr. Alan Kadish, President of the Touro College and University System. “Touro has long been committed to fostering a diverse group of highly-qualified educators and our continued top-ranked spot in New York State and growing diversity numbers are further evidence that we, as an institution, are continuing to rise to this very important occasion.”

Nationally, Touro ranked #7 for awarding the most Master of Education degrees to minorities overall, #4 for both Hispanics and Asians, and #8 for African Americans.

The rankings were determined by data gathered by the United States Department of Education from 4,800 public and private universities and colleges that were surveyed about the number of minorities they had graduated during the 2013-14 academic year.

“We foster a student population that recognizes diversity and serves as an embodiment of the wide arrange of cultures and backgrounds in the public school system,” said Dr. Arnold Spinner, dean of the Touro College Graduate School of Education. “With the knowledge and skills they gain here at Touro, many of our graduates reinvest in their communities and educate the next generation of young learners.”

Established in 1993, the School currently enrolls approximately 3,000 students, most of whom are in the M.S. programs in Education and Special Education. Other M.S. programs are offered in Instructional Technology, Mathematics Education, School Leadership, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), Teaching Literacy, and Biology Education. Additionally, the School also offers a number of certificate programs. Approximately 65 full-time and over 100 adjunct faculty teach at the School, which offers classes in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bay Shore and Valhalla – as well as online.

Touro's Graduate School of Education is the largest provider of new special education teachers to New York City's public schools, and one of the largest providers of teachers to "high need schools" – those that face special challenges in helping students succeed.

In addition to its degree programs, the School conducts significant research through its Lander Center for Educational Research, a federally-funded operation that helps public schools address problems that impact student achievement and equality of educational opportunity.