What's happening
This bill requires New York schools to implement a culturally responsive curriculum, teacher training, and a pilot program with $25 million in funding.
Why it matters
Directly addresses the needs of New York’s diverse student population. by mandating that all schools (public, charter, and private) integrate curriculum content reflecting the histories and achievements of African American, Latino American, Native American, and Asian American communities, as well as the dynamics of racial oppression and inequity. This aims to make education more relevant and affirming for students of color, likely improving engagement and outcomes.
Establishes new requirements for both students and teachers. , making the completion of a culturally responsive course a graduation prerequisite and requiring future teachers to take a college course in effective teaching for students from diverse backgrounds. This may help ensure both students and educators are better equipped to understand and address cultural differences in the classroom.
Promotes ongoing cultural competency among educators. by embedding cultural responsiveness into professional development standards for all pre-K through grade 12 staff. This ongoing training could support a more inclusive and aware educational environment, potentially reducing bias and fostering equity.
Launches a substantial, targeted pilot program—with $25 million in funding—prioritizing high-need districts. (those with high poverty and English language learner populations) for culturally responsive education initiatives. This could drive innovation and best practices in addressing educational disparities, with an emphasis on meaningful community, family, and student input in program design and implementation.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Require Diverse School Curriculum
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Referred to finance
- Print number 2937a
- Amend and recommit to finance
- Referred to finance
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Require Diverse School Curriculum
In Assembly Committee · Education · Sponsor Diana Richardson
Full text
3 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
S. 2937--A A. 3648--A
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
SENATE - ASSEMBLY
January 30, 2019
IN SENATE -- Introduced by Sens. MYRIE, BAILEY, BIAGGI, COMRIE, GOUNARDES, HOYLMAN, JACKSON, PARKER, PERSAUD, RAMOS, SALAZAR -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
IN ASSEMBLY -- Introduced by M. of A. RICHARDSON, DICKENS, ARROYO, RIVERA, PRETLOW, COOK, JEAN-PIERRE, TITUS, BICHOTTE, SIMON, KIM, REYES, CRUZ, CRESPO, EPSTEIN, ORTIZ, DE LA ROSA, FRONTUS, SOLAGES, LAVINE, FERNANDEZ, HUNTER, DARLING, PICHARDO, BLAKE, RODRIGUEZ, VANEL, RAMOS, PERRY, ROMEO, DAVILA, JACOBSON, BRONSON, TAYLOR, NIOU, JOYNER, HYNDMAN, JAFFEE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Education -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to establishing a culturally responsive education curriculum and standards; and making an appropriation therefor
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 804-e to read as follows:
§ 804-e. Culturally responsive education curriculum and standards. 1. Culturally responsive education rules and regulations. (a) The commissioner shall promulgate rules and regulations for the implementation of culturally responsive education curriculum for all schools including elementary schools, junior high schools and senior high schools. In formulating such regulations, the commissioner shall seek input of parents, students and other stakeholders.
(b) In formulating the rules and regulations required by paragraph (a) of this subdivision, the commissioner shall recognize that: more than half of New York state's public school students are students of color;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04518-02-9
S. 2937--A 2 A. 3648--A
education that makes a cultural connection with students has been shown to improve educational outcomes; cultural responsiveness advances and accelerates student learning by honoring and supporting students' cultural, linguistic and racial experiences; in order for students to gain the full benefits of the diversity of New York state, culturally responsive education must be a part of the daily schooling experiences of all students; and cultural responsiveness will prepare educators to relate aspects of students' daily lives to the curriculum.
(c) All school districts, charter schools and private schools shall integrate culturally responsive education throughout the education of all students at all grade levels in accordance with the commissioner's rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to this subdivision.
(d) The commissioner's rules and regulations shall include, but not be limited to, curriculum standards for: African American history and achievement, Latino American history and achievement, Native American history and achievement, Asian American history and achievement, and the role of racial oppression and inequity based in the formation, growth and existence of our nation and state. The commissioner shall also develop model curricula for use by schools.
2. Graduation standards. The commissioner shall promulgate rules and regulations requiring all high school students to pass a course in a subject area that meets the culturally responsive education standards established by this section as a prerequisite for graduation.
3. Teacher certification. The commissioner shall promulgate rules and regulations to include completion of at least one college course in effective teaching for students of diverse cultural backgrounds as a prerequisite for teacher certification.
4. Professional development. The commissioner shall promulgate rules and regulations requiring cultural competency and culturally responsive education to be incorporated into the ongoing professional development standards for all pre-kindergarten through grade twelve educators.
5. Culturally responsive school climate assessment and/or rubric. The commissioner shall create a culturally responsive school climate assessment and/or rubric which school districts may utilize in assessing the cultural responsiveness of the educational climate in their schools and district. This assessment and/or rubric shall be consistent with the purposes of this section.
6. Pilot program. Within amounts appropriated therefor, the commissioner shall establish a pilot program in culturally responsive education and shall make funds available to school districts through a request for proposal. The award of such funds shall be based on criteria to be developed by the commissioner and approved by the board of regents. The commissioner shall prioritize districts with the highest needs as measured in terms of student poverty and English language learners and other demographic or community factors which the commissioner may identify. The criteria for an award shall include, but not be limited to, the quality of the proposal and its consistency with the purposes of this section, the ability of the school district to demonstrate parent, family, student and community engagement in the development and implementation of its proposal, the capacity of the school district to draw upon the direct experiences of its students, families and communities in implementing the purposes of this section, including but not limited to the ability to draw upon these experiences in implementing paragraph (d) of subdivision one of this section and the utilization of the culturally responsive school climate assessment and/or
S. 2937--A 3 A. 3648--A
rubric developed by the commissioner or of a comparable assessment and/or rubric in developing its proposal.
§ 2. The sum of twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000), or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated to the department of education out of any moneys in the state treasury in the general fund to the credit of the state purposes fund, not otherwise appropriated, and made immediately available, for the sole purpose of providing funding for the pilot program in culturally responsive education established pursuant to subdivision 6 of section 804-e of the education law, as added by section one of this act. Such moneys shall be payable on the audit and warrant of the comptroller on vouchers certified or approved by the commissioner of education in the manner prescribed by law.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law. Effective immediately the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to establishing a culturally responsive education curriculum and standards; and making an appropriation therefor
Purpose
To create culturally responsive education curriculum for all schools, including elementary schools, junior high schools, and senior high schools. Cultural responsiveness will support students' cultural, linguistic and racial experiences; in order for students to gain full benefits of the diversity of New York State.
Summary of provision
Section 1 of the bill adds a new section 804-e, culturally responsive education curriculum and standards. The commissioner shall promulgate rules and regulations for the implementation of culturally responsive education curriculum for all schools including elementary schools, junior high schools, and senior high schools. In formulating such regu- lation, the commissioner shall seek input of parents, students and other stakeholders. All school districts, charter schools, and private schools shall integrate culturally responsive education throughout the education of all students at all grade levels in accordance with the commission- er's rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to this subdivision. The commissioner's rules and regulations shall include, but not be limited to, curriculum standards for: African American History achievement, Latino America history and achievement, Native American history and achievement, Asian American history and achievement, and the role of racial oppression and inequity based in the formation, growth and exist- ence of our nation and state. The commissioner shall also develop model curricula for use by schools.
Section 2 of the bill the sum of twenty-five million dollars (25,000,000), or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appro- priated to the department of education out of any moneys in the state treasury in the general fund to the credit of the state purposes fund, not otherwise appropriated, and made immediately available, for the sole purpose of providing funding for the pilot program in culturally respon- sive education established pursuant to subdivision 6 of section 804-e of the education law, as added by section one of this act. Such money shall be payable on the audit and warrant of the comptroller on vouchers certified or approved by the commissioner of education in the manner prescribed by law.
Section 3 of the bill shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law. Effective immediately the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
Existing law
None
Justification
More than half of New York State's public school students are students of color; education that makes a cultural connection with students has been shown to improve educational outcomes; cultural responsiveness advances and accelerates student learning by honoring and supporting students' cultural, linguistic and racial experiences; in order for students to gain full benefits of the diversity of New York State, culturally responsive education must be a part of the daily schooling experiences of all students; and cultural responsiveness will prepare educators to relate aspects of students' daily lives to the curriculum.
Legislative history
None
Fiscal implications
Twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000), or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated to the department of education out of any money in the state treasury in the general fund to the credit of the state purposes fund.
Effective date
Effective Immediately
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.