Massachusetts 2023-2024 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H546 Compare Versions

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22 HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 973 FILED ON: 1/17/2023
33 HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 546
44 The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
55 _________________
66 PRESENTED BY:
77 Steven Owens and Manny Cruz
88 _________________
99 To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
1010 Court assembled:
1111 The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
1212 An Act addressing racial and cultural bias training in educator professional development.
1313 _______________
1414 PETITION OF:
1515 NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Steven Owens29th Middlesex1/17/2023Manny Cruz7th Essex1/24/2023Lindsay N. Sabadosa1st Hampshire2/1/2023Rebecca L. RauschNorfolk, Worcester and Middlesex2/1/2023Michelle M. DuBois10th Plymouth2/7/2023Tricia Farley-Bouvier2nd Berkshire2/14/2023 1 of 2
1616 HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 973 FILED ON: 1/17/2023
1717 HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 546
1818 By Representatives Owens of Watertown and Cruz of Salem, a petition (accompanied by bill,
1919 House, No. 546) of Steven Owens, Manny Cruz and others relative to addressing racial and
2020 cultural bias training in educator professional development. Education.
2121 The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
2222 _______________
2323 In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
2424 (2023-2024)
2525 _______________
2626 An Act addressing racial and cultural bias training in educator professional development.
2727 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
2828 of the same, as follows:
2929 1 Chapter 71 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby
3030 2amended by striking out section 38Q and inserting in place thereof the following section:
3131 3 Section 38Q. Every school district in the commonwealth shall adopt and implement a
3232 4professional development plan for all principals, teachers, other professional staff,
3333 5paraprofessionals and teacher assistants employed by the district, to include the professional
3434 6support teams established pursuant to section thirty-eight G, and annually shall update such plans
3535 7and set forth a budget for professional development within the confines of the foundation budget.
3636 8Said plan shall include training in the teaching of new curriculum frameworks and other related
3737 9pedagogical skills required for the effective implementation of this act, including creating
3838 10equitable, inclusive school and classroom climates, using participatory decision making,
3939 11delivering framework content to students in racially, linguistically, and culturally responsive
4040 12ways, and seeking parent and community involvement. The plan shall also include training in: 2 of 2
4141 13(1) analyzing and integrating diverse learning styles of all students in order to achieve an
4242 14objective of inclusion in the regular classroom of students with diverse individual and cultural
4343 15learning styles; and (2) methods of collaboration among teachers, paraprofessionals and teacher
4444 16assistants to integrate such styles. The plan may also include training in the provision of pre-
4545 17referral services within regular education. Said plan shall also include training for members of
4646 18school councils, pursuant to section fifty-nine C. Said plan shall include teacher training which
4747 19addresses the effects of gender and racial and cultural bias toward Black, Indigenous, and People
4848 20of Color in the classroom, as well as training on implicit bias. In any school district with English
4949 21learners as defined in chapter 71A, the plan shall provide training for teachers in second
5050 22language acquisition techniques for the re-certification of teachers and administrators. All
5151 23professional development plans required by this section shall be filed annually with the
5252 24commissioner of education.
5353 25 The commissioner of education for the commonwealth shall prepare each year a plan for
5454 26providing statewide assistance in the preparation and implementation of professional
5555 27development plans. The plan shall include data that demonstrates, statewide and by school
5656 28district, the types of professional development provided for educators who work with English
5757 29learners as defined in chapter 71A. The commissioner shall consult with the board of higher
5858 30education in developing said plan. This plan shall evaluate the feasibility of obtaining assistance
5959 31from institutions of higher education and private service providers. The plan shall be submitted
6060 32to the board of education for approval. A copy of said plan shall be submitted to the joint
6161 33committee on education, arts, and humanities of the general court.