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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1698 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 386
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Robyn K. Kennedy
_________________
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act addressing racial and cultural bias training in educator professional development.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Robyn K. KennedyFirst Worcester 1 of 2
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1698 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 386
By Ms. Kennedy, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 386) of Robyn K. Kennedy for
legislation to address racial and cultural bias training in educator professional development.
Education.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 299 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act addressing racial and cultural bias training in educator professional development.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 Chapter 71 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby
2amended by striking out section 38Q and inserting in place thereof the following section:-
3 Section 38Q. Every school district in the commonwealth shall adopt and implement a
4professional development plan for all principals, teachers, other professional staff,
5paraprofessionals and teacher assistants employed by the district, to include the professional
6support teams established pursuant to section thirty-eight G, and annually shall update such plans
7and set forth a budget for professional development within the confines of the foundation budget.
8Said plan shall include training in the teaching of new curriculum frameworks and other related
9pedagogical skills required for the effective implementation of this act, including creating
10equitable, inclusive school and classroom climates, using participatory decision making, 2 of 2
11delivering framework content to students in racially, linguistically, and culturally responsive
12ways, and seeking parent and community involvement. The plan shall also include training in:
13(1) analyzing and integrating diverse learning styles of all students in order to achieve an
14objective of inclusion in the regular classroom of students with diverse individual and cultural
15learning styles; and (2) methods of collaboration among teachers, paraprofessionals and teacher
16assistants to integrate such styles. The plan may also include training in the provision of pre-
17referral services within regular education. Said plan shall also include training for members of
18school councils, pursuant to section fifty-nine C. Said plan shall include teacher training which
19addresses the effects of gender and racial and cultural bias toward Black, Indigenous, and People
20of Color in the classroom, as well as training on implicit bias. In any school district with English
21learners as defined in chapter 71A, the plan shall provide training for teachers in second
22language acquisition techniques for the re-certification of teachers and administrators. All
23professional development plans required by this section shall be filed annually with the
24commissioner of education.
25 The commissioner of education for the commonwealth shall prepare each year a plan for
26providing statewide assistance in the preparation and implementation of professional
27development plans. The plan shall include data that demonstrates, statewide and by school
28district, the types of professional development provided for educators who work with English
29learners as defined in chapter 71A. The commissioner shall consult with the board of higher
30education in developing said plan. This plan shall evaluate the feasibility of obtaining assistance
31from institutions of higher education and private service providers. The plan shall be submitted
32to the board of education for approval. A copy of said plan shall be submitted to the joint
33committee on education, arts, and humanities of the general court.