Senate Bill S8666

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8666
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              March 28, 2022
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  BROOKS -- 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 school diversity offi-
   cers
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 1527-b
 to read as follows:
   §  1527-B.  SCHOOL  DIVERSITY  OFFICER.  1. THE   TRUSTEES OR BOARD OF
 EDUCATION OF EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT WITH TWENTY OR MORE ENROLLED STUDENTS
 SHALL DESIGNATE A DIVERSITY OFFICER. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL SUPPLY RELE-
 VANT RESOURCES FOR THE ORIENTATION AND TRAINING   OF    PUBLIC    SCHOOL
 DIVERSITY OFFICERS UNDER THIS SECTION. THE DUTIES OF A DIVERSITY OFFICER
 MAY  INCLUDE DEVELOPING METHODS TO PROMOTE DIVERSITY AND RETENTION AMONG
 FACULTY AND SCHOOL PERSONNEL; REVIEWING  SCHOOL  DISTRICT  POLICIES  AND
 PRACTICES  IN REGARDS TO DIVERSITY AND MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE
 SUCH POLICIES AND PRACTICES; RECOMMENDING POLICIES TO CREATE  AND  MAIN-
 TAIN  AN  ENVIRONMENT THAT IS EQUITABLE, FAIR, SAFE, DIVERSE, AND INCLU-
 SIVE; RECOMMENDING TAILORED AND DIFFERENTIATED PROFESSIONAL LEARNING  TO
 BUILD  CAPACITY FOR CULTURAL RESPONSIVENESS TO ADDRESS AREAS OF INEQUITY
 IDENTIFIED BY THE  SCHOOL  SYSTEM;  CURRICULUM,  PEDAGOGY,  PROFESSIONAL
 LEARNING,  INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS, AND ASSESSMENT DESIGN; ENSURING THAT
 CULTURAL RESPONSIVENESS INFORMS SCHOOL POLICIES AND PRACTICES AND GUIDES
 INTERACTIONS AMONG ALL MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY.
   2. THE DIVERSITY OFFICER SHALL PREPARE AN ANNUAL REPORT TO BE GIVEN TO
 THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S BOARD OF EDUCATION.
   3. THE  TRUSTEES OR BOARD OF EDUCATION OF EVERY SCHOOL  DISTRICT  WITH
 TWENTY OR MORE ENROLLED STUDENTS SHALL DESIGNATE A COMMITTEE ON DIVERSI-
 TY.  THE COMMITTEE SHALL INCLUDE THE DESIGNATED SCHOOL DIVERSITY OFFICER
 AND AT LEAST ONE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATOR, ONE STUDENT,  ONE  PARENT,  ONE
 DISTRICT  EDUCATOR, ONE TRUSTEE OR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, ONE RESIDENT AND
 ONE DISTRICT FACULTY MEMBER. SUCH COMMITTEE SHALL   EXAMINE,    EVALUATE
 AND  MAKE  RECOMMENDATIONS ON DIVERSITY IN EDUCATION. VACANCIES  IN  THE
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD11138-02-2
              

 S. 8666                             2
 
 MEMBERSHIP   OF THE COMMITTEE SHALL BE FILLED IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR
 ORIGINAL APPOINTMENTS.
   4.  THE  COMMITTEE ON DIVERSITY   IN   NEW YORK STATE SCHOOL DISTRICTS
 SHALL EXAMINE  AND  MAKE  RECOMMENDATIONS  ON  THE  FOLLOWING  SUBJECTS,
 INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO:
   (A) BARRIERS WHICH PREVENT STUDENTS OF COLOR FROM ENTERING THE  TEACH-
 ING PROFESSION, OR REMAINING IN THE TEACHING PROFESSION;
   (B) RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION EFFORTS FOR EDUCATORS OF COLOR;
   (C) MENTORSHIP PROGRAMS FOR CURRENT EDUCATORS OF COLOR;
   (D)  INITIATIVES  AIMED  AT ENCOURAGING STUDENTS OF COLOR TO ENTER THE
 TEACHING PROFESSION, ALSO KNOWN AS "GROW YOUR OWN" INITIATIVES;
   (E) SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS OF COLOR WHO ARE INTERESTED
 IN ENTERING THE TEACHING PROFESSION, AND  OTHER  FUNDING  MECHANISMS  TO
 ASSIST SUCH STUDENTS; AND
   (F) INITIATIVES  THAT  ENCOURAGE  TEACHERS  OF COLOR TO BECOME  SCHOOL
 LEADERS AND ADMINISTRATORS, AND BARRIERS THAT HAVE PREVENTED TEACHERS OF
 COLOR FROM BECOMING SCHOOL LEADERS AND ADMINISTRATORS.
   5.  THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE ON DIVERSITY SHALL RECEIVE NO COMPEN-
 SATION FOR THEIR SERVICES, BUT SHALL BE ALLOWED THEIR ACTUAL AND  NECES-
 SARY  EXPENSES  INCURRED  IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTIES PURSUANT TO
 THIS SECTION.
   § 2. This act shall take effect on the first of July  next  succeeding
 the date on which it shall have become a law.