S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   5589
 
                        2017-2018 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              April 19, 2017
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by Sen. HAMILTON -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on 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:
   Section 1. Legislative finding. The  legislature  finds  and  declares
 that:
   1. Culture is essential to learning;
   2. Culture plays a role not only in communicating and receiving infor-
 mation,  but also in shaping the thinking process of groups and individ-
 uals;
   3. A pedagogy that acknowledges, responds to, and celebrates fundamen-
 tal cultures offers full, equitable access to education for pupils  from
 all cultures;
   4.  Culturally  responsive teaching is a major civilizing influence on
 the development of a humane, responsible and informed citizenry, able to
 adjust to and grow in a rapidly changing  world.  Culturally  responsive
 teaching  can substantiate a claim to the prevention of human and social
 costs to the state. Culturally responsive teaching develops  the  social
 consciousness  of  students  to better handle the world of prejudice and
 racism.  Culturally responsive teaching provides students with the back-
 ground in social studies and  humanities  so  that  they  will  function
 successfully and tolerantly in a participatory democracy and a multicul-
 tural  nation  and  world.   Culturally responsive teaching incorporates
 multicultural information, books, and other educational resources; and
   5. It is recognized that students in public elementary  and  secondary
 schools  can  only  reach  the  levels of performance expected under the
 provisions of this part with parental  participation  in  the  education
 process. It is therefore, the policy of this state to provide culturally
 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.
              
             
                          
                                                                            LBD03941-03-7
 S. 5589                             2
 
 responsive services for young children and their families should reflect
 the importance of integration and diversity to the maximum extent possi-
 ble in regard to characteristics such as race,  economics,  sex,  creed,
 capability  and  cultural  differences.  Services  should be designed to
 support and strengthen the family and be  planned  in  consideration  of
 existing  family  values,  with the primary concern being the welfare of
 the child.
   § 2. The education law is amended by adding a new section 3038 to read
 as follows:
   § 3038. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE  INSTRUCTION
 WHICH FOCUSES ON UNDERSTANDING AND RESPONDING TO THE DIVERSE EXPERIENCES
 OF  STUDENTS AND PARENTS, DEVELOPING CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE LESSON PLANS,
 AND UNDOING IMPLICIT BIAS. 1. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL  ESTABLISH  AT  LEAST
 FOUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS IN CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE INSTRUC-
 TION ANNUALLY, AND PROVIDE ACCESS TO THOSE SESSIONS ON ITS WEBSITE.
   2. EACH SUPERINTENDENT OF A SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL DEVELOP, AND PRESENT
 TO  THE  LOCAL  BOARD  OF EDUCATION FOR ADOPTION, AN ACCOUNTABILITY PLAN
 ENSURING THAT THE  DISTRICT  IS  COMPLYING  WITH  CULTURALLY  RESPONSIVE
 INSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS ESTABLISHED BY THE DEPARTMENT. THE ACCOUNTABIL-
 ITY  PLAN  SHALL  INCLUDE  THE  AMOUNT OF CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE TEACHING
 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT INSTRUCTION OFFERED BY THE DISTRICT, THE NUMBER
 OF TEACHER PARTICIPANTS, AND A TEACHER EVALUATION SURVEY  THAT  MEASURES
 THE  EFFECTIVENESS  OF THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT INSTRUCTION OFFERED.
 EACH SCHOOL BOARD SHALL PRESENT AN ANNUAL REPORT TO THE DEPARTMENT STAT-
 ING THE  EFFECTIVENESS  OF  SUCH  PROGRAM  IN  PROFESSIONAL  DEVELOPMENT
 INSTRUCTION BY PRESENTING AN ANALYSIS OF THE TEACHER PARTICIPANT SURVEYS
 WHICH  MEASURES  THEIR  CONFIDENCE  IN  BEING CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE, AND
 STUDENT SURVEYS WHICH MEASURES  THE  CULTURAL  RESPONSIVENESS  OF  THEIR
 TEACHERS.
   3. EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT'S ACCOUNTABILITY PLAN SHALL BE EFFECTIVE FOR A
 PERIOD  OF  THREE YEARS, AND SHALL BE UPDATED ON OR BEFORE JULY FIRST OF
 EACH YEAR.
   § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.