Requires the department of education to establish professional development programs in culturally responsive instruction and provide access to those programs on its website.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
2973
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 23, 2017
___________
Introduced by M. of A. RODRIGUEZ -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to culturally responsive
teaching
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Legislative finding. The legislature finds and declares
2 that:
3 1. Culture is essential to learning;
4 2. Culture plays a role not only in communicating and receiving infor-
5 mation, but also in shaping the thinking process of groups and individ-
6 uals;
7 3. A pedagogy that acknowledges, responds to, and celebrates fundamen-
8 tal cultures offers full, equitable access to education for pupils from
9 all cultures;
10 4. Culturally responsive teaching is a major civilizing influence on
11 the development of a humane, responsible and informed citizenry, able to
12 adjust to and grow in a rapidly changing world. Culturally responsive
13 teaching can substantiate a claim to the prevention of human and social
14 costs to the state. Culturally responsive teaching develops the social
15 consciousness of students to better handle the world of prejudice and
16 racism. Culturally responsive teaching provides students with the back-
17 ground in social studies and humanities so that they will function
18 successfully and tolerantly in a participatory democracy and a multicul-
19 tural nation and world. Culturally responsive teaching incorporates
20 multicultural information, books, and other educational resources; and
21 5. It is recognized that students in public elementary and secondary
22 schools can only reach the levels of performance expected under the
23 provisions of this part with parental participation in the education
24 process. It is therefore, the policy of this state to provide culturally
25 responsive services for young children and their families. Culturally
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03941-01-7
A. 2973 2
1 responsive services for young children and their families should reflect
2 the importance of integration and diversity to the maximum extent possi-
3 ble in regard to characteristics such as race, economics, sex, creed,
4 capability and cultural differences. Services should be designed to
5 support and strengthen the family and be planned in consideration of
6 existing family values, with the primary concern being the welfare of
7 the child.
8 § 2. The education law is amended by adding a new section 3037 to read
9 as follows:
10 § 3037. Professional development in culturally responsive instruction.
11 1. The department shall establish professional development programs in
12 culturally responsive instruction and provide access to those programs
13 on its website.
14 2. Each superintendent of a school district shall develop, and present
15 to the local board of education for adoption, an accountability plan
16 ensuring that the district is complying with culturally responsive
17 instruction requirements established by the department.
18 3. Each school district's accountability plan shall be effective for a
19 period of three years, and shall be updated on or before July first of
20 each year.
21 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
