This is a case study of diversity initiatives at the New York State Education Department. Analysis of data collected from public and internal reports and semistructured interviews revealed three types of barriers to diversity: structural, cultural, and semantic. Results of the present study supported barriers to diversity identified in extant literature. Civil service requirements and the agency's culture stymied diversity efforts. The effects of social networks, limited accountability in hiring, and inadequate communication of the vision for diversity also impeded the diversity initiative.
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