Massachusetts 2023-2024 Regular Session

Massachusetts Senate Bill S299 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.
OldNewDifferences
11 1 of 1
22 SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1237 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
33 SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 299
44 The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
55 _________________
66 PRESENTED BY:
77 Robyn K. Kennedy
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 :Robyn K. KennedyFirst WorcesterSteven Owens29th Middlesex1/20/2023Rebecca L. RauschNorfolk, Worcester and Middlesex1/23/2023 1 of 2
1616 SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1237 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
1717 SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 299
1818 By Ms. Kennedy, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 299) of Robyn K. Kennedy,
1919 Steven Owens and Rebecca L. Rausch for legislation to address racial and cultural bias training
2020 in educator professional development. Education.
2121 [SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
2222 SEE SENATE, NO. 285 OF 2021-2022.]
2323 The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
2424 _______________
2525 In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
2626 (2023-2024)
2727 _______________
2828 An Act addressing racial and cultural bias training in educator professional development.
2929 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
3030 of the same, as follows:
3131 1 Chapter 71 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition, is hereby
3232 2amended by striking out section 38Q and inserting in place thereof the following section:-
3333 3 Section 38Q. Every school district in the commonwealth shall adopt and implement a
3434 4professional development plan for all principals, teachers, other professional staff,
3535 5paraprofessionals and teacher assistants employed by the district, to include the professional
3636 6support teams established pursuant to section thirty-eight G, and annually shall update such plans
3737 7and set forth a budget for professional development within the confines of the foundation budget.
3838 8Said plan shall include training in the teaching of new curriculum frameworks and other related
3939 9pedagogical skills required for the effective implementation of this act, including creating
4040 10equitable, inclusive school and classroom climates, using participatory decision making, 2 of 2
4141 11delivering framework content to students in racially, linguistically, and culturally responsive
4242 12ways, and seeking parent and community involvement. The plan shall also include training in:
4343 13(1) analyzing and integrating diverse learning styles of all students in order to achieve an
4444 14objective of inclusion in the regular classroom of students with diverse individual and cultural
4545 15learning styles; and (2) methods of collaboration among teachers, paraprofessionals and teacher
4646 16assistants to integrate such styles. The plan may also include training in the provision of pre-
4747 17referral services within regular education. Said plan shall also include training for members of
4848 18school councils, pursuant to section fifty-nine C. Said plan shall include teacher training which
4949 19addresses the effects of gender and racial and cultural bias toward Black, Indigenous, and People
5050 20of Color in the classroom, as well as training on implicit bias. In any school district with English
5151 21learners as defined in chapter 71A, the plan shall provide training for teachers in second
5252 22language acquisition techniques for the re-certification of teachers and administrators. All
5353 23professional development plans required by this section shall be filed annually with the
5454 24commissioner of education.
5555 25 The commissioner of education for the commonwealth shall prepare each year a plan for
5656 26providing statewide assistance in the preparation and implementation of professional
5757 27development plans. The plan shall include data that demonstrates, statewide and by school
5858 28district, the types of professional development provided for educators who work with English
5959 29learners as defined in chapter 71A. The commissioner shall consult with the board of higher
6060 30education in developing said plan. This plan shall evaluate the feasibility of obtaining assistance
6161 31from institutions of higher education and private service providers. The plan shall be submitted
6262 32to the board of education for approval. A copy of said plan shall be submitted to the joint
6363 33committee on education, arts, and humanities of the general court.