HLS 201ES-461 ORIGINAL
2020 First Extraordinary Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 55
BY REPRESENTATIVE DUPLESSIS
EDUCATION: Requests that the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education study
the history of racism, racism's effects on public education, and anti-racism education
and creates a task force to develop recommendations for implementing such
education
1 A RESOLUTION
2To urge and request the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to study the
3 history of racism in the United States, racism's effects on public education in
4 Louisiana, and anti-racism education and to create a task force to develop
5 recommendations for implementing anti-racism education in public schools.
6 WHEREAS, it is critical to acknowledge systemic racism throughout the history of
7the United States, including slavery, Jim Crow laws, redlining, voter suppression, and many
8other ongoing practices; and
9 WHEREAS, nationwide protests have raised awareness about injustices that exist at
10the intersections of race, class, and gender, including mass incarceration, the school to prison
11pipeline, zero tolerance disciplinary policies, symbols of white supremacy, police brutality,
12poverty, unaffordable housing, income disparity, unjust immigration policies, gender
13inequality, and poor access to healthcare; and
14 WHEREAS, schools should be places where racial equity is exemplified in
15meaningful, practical ways and have the potential to make positive and tangible social
16change in the world while empowering students to be stewards of their communities, their
17classrooms, their campuses, and each other; and
18 WHEREAS, schools are the appropriate places to develop conscientious, analytical,
19bold thinkers who are equipped to critically analyze racist practices, strive for social justice,
20and dismantle systemic oppression; the nation's well-being relies on a high quality public
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1education system that confronts systemic bias and institutionalized racism and leads the
2effort in ensuring that Black students and families thrive; and
3 WHEREAS, according to the state Department of Education, approximately fifty-six
4percent of the state's public school students are minority students, forty-three percent are
5Black, and sixty-nine percent are economically disadvantaged; and
6 WHEREAS, to develop critical thinking skills, students should experience curricula
7that include their cultural references in all aspects of learning and offer full, equitable access
8to education for students from all cultures; and
9 WHEREAS, Louisiana is committed to academic excellence and personal success
10for all students, and central to this commitment are racial equity and social justice in order
11to prepare every student to navigate and compete in a culturally rich society; and
12 WHEREAS, a research paper published in 2011 by the National Education
13Association states that there is considerable evidence that well-designed and well-taught
14ethnic studies curricula, which typically include racial issues, have positive academic and
15social outcomes for all students, regardless of their racial or ethnic backgrounds; and
16 WHEREAS, there is a tremendous opportunity for this state to teach all students
17about social justice, to be a leader for racial equity, to integrate culturally responsive
18practices and curricula, and to support students to become leaders in making their own
19schools safer and more inclusive learning environments; and
20 WHEREAS, the goal of the study provided for in this Resolution is to encourage
21ongoing critical reflection and courageous conversations concerning systemic racism, racial
22injustice, and racial and ethnic bias and to affirm the right of Black students to be treated
23with respect and dignity within schools and communities because when Black people are
24liberated, all are liberated; and
25 WHEREAS, the goal of creating the task force provided for in this Resolution is to
26challenge the insidious legacy of institutionalized racism and oppression that has plagued
27the United States since its founding and to analyze best practices related to the teaching of
28anti-racism in order to spark an ongoing movement of critical reflection and honest
29conversations in school communities for people of all ages to engage with issues of social
30justice.
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HLS 201ES-461 ORIGINAL
1 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
2Legislature of Louisiana does hereby urge and request the State Board of Elementary and
3Secondary Education (BESE) to study the history of racism in the United States, racism's
4effects on public education in Louisiana, and anti-racism education and does hereby create
5a task force to develop recommendations for implementing anti-racism education in
6Louisiana's public schools.
7 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that BESE shall submit a written report of study
8findings to the House Committee on Education and to such task force by December 31,
92020, which shall include, at minimum, the following:
10 (1) Analysis and summary of findings related to the effects of symbols of white
11supremacy on the experiences of students in grades kindergarten through twelve in
12Louisiana.
13 (2) Analysis and summary of findings related to inherent racism within disciplinary
14practices, mental health practices, and curricular content and teaching practices.
15 (3) Analysis and summary of best practices related to teaching students about
16racism.
17 (4) Definitions of and guidelines for appropriate anti-racism education, including
18grade-appropriate materials and benchmarks and a timeline for exposure to anti-racism
19education.
20 (5) Identification of appropriate facilitators and teachers of anti-racism education.
21 (6) Analysis of appropriate training and professional development for teachers of
22anti-racism education.
23 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall have the following eighteen
24members:
25 (1) The president of the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education or his
26designee.
27 (2) Eight members appointed by the state superintendent of education:
28 (a) A representative of the state Department of Education knowledgeable about
29diversity, equity, and inclusion.
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1 (b) Two representatives of community-based nonprofit organizations with a mission
2related to children and families who shall be reflective of multiple regions throughout the
3state.
4 (c) Two representatives of community-based nonprofit organizations with a mission
5inclusive of addressing the school to prison pipeline.
6 (d) One representative from a legal advocacy organization who is knowledgeable
7on school discipline issues.
8 (e) Two representatives of community-based nonprofit organizations with a mission
9inclusive of advancing equitable educational opportunities for all.
10 (3) One representative of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers appointed by its
11president.
12 (4) One representative of the Louisiana Association of Educators appointed by its
13executive director.
14 (5) One representative of the Associated Professional Educators of Louisiana
15appointed by its executive director.
16 (6) One representative of the Louisiana Association of Principals appointed by its
17executive director.
18 (7) One representative of the Louisiana School Boards Association appointed by its
19executive director.
20 (8) One representative of the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents
21appointed by its executive director.
22 (9) One representative of the Louisiana School Psychological Association appointed
23by its president.
24 (10) One representative of the Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools
25appointed by its executive director.
26 (11) One representative of the Children's Cabinet appointed by its executive director.
27 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall meet at least twice monthly
28in January through June of 2021 to do, at minimum, the following:
29 (1) Review the report of findings submitted by BESE pursuant to this Resolution.
30 (2) Develop plans for the implementation of anti-racism education.
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1 (3) Submit requests for follow-up information and provide feedback or informational
2resources to public school governing authorities related to anti-racism education.
3 (4) Solicit and receive from experts information on the implementation and cost of,
4and available funding for, anti-racism education.
5 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall submit to BESE, the state
6superintendent of education, and the House Committee on Education a written progress
7report relative to its work, which shall include recommendations, if any, for related
8legislation, by March 15, 2021, and a final written report of findings, conclusions, and
9recommendations to these recipients by June 30, 2021.
10 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
11president of the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and the state
12superintendent of education.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HR 55 Original 2020 First Extraordinary Session Duplessis
Requests the State Bd. of Elementary and Secondary Education to:
(1)Study the history of racism in the U.S., racism's effects on public education in La.,
and anti-racism education.
(2)Submit a written report of findings to this task force and the House Committee on
Education by Dec. 31, 2020.
Creates a task force to develop recommendations for implementing anti-racism education
in public schools. Provides that the task force shall have 18 members and shall:
(1)Meet twice monthly from January through June of 2021.
(2)Submit a progress report, including recommendations for legislation, if any, to
BESE, the state superintendent of education, and the House Committee on Education
by March 15, 2021, and a final report to these recipients by June 31, 2021.
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