HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 973        FILED ON: 1/13/2009

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 359

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Nine

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An Act to Promote Gender Equity in Education..

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

The General Court finds and declares that:(a) gender bias is widespread in educational programs in Massachusetts, and such inequities have a disproportionately negative impact on women and girls; and(b) gender equity training is one of the most effective means of eliminating inequitable practices in our state’s schools.

SECTION 2. Subsection 1L of section 29 of Chapter 71 of the acts of 1993 is hereby amended in paragraph one by inserting the following sentence at the end thereof:— Comprehensive interdisciplinary health education and human service programs shall include programs and policies to address sexual harassment and violence against women and girls, including, but not limited to, acquaintance rape and violence prevention.

SECTION 3. Subsection 1G of section 3 of Chapter 71 of the acts of 1993 is further amended by inserting after the phrase “racial imbalance;”, the phrase “gender equity;”.

SECTION 4. Subsection 1G of section 3 of Chapter 71 of the acts of 1993 is further amended by inserting the following paragraph at the end thereof:— The advisory council on gender equity shall consist of members who are comprehensively knowledgeable in the areas of gender-role socialization impacts on the educational needs of children and gender-equitable policy. The council shall coordinate training programs for teachers and other instructional personnel regarding gender-equitable teaching methods, the promotion of leadership of girls and young women, and policies to encourage the participation of girls and young women in those classes and fields which are traditionally male-dominated, including, but not limited to science, technology, math, computers and vocational education. The council shall make recommendations to the commissioner and the department regarding the implementation of such training programs.