SENATE DOCKET, NO. 465        FILED ON: 1/16/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 254

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Brendan P. Crighton

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act promoting racially and culturally inclusive K-12 curriculum.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 465        FILED ON: 1/16/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 254

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 304 OF 2021-2022.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

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An Act promoting racially and culturally inclusive K-12 curriculum.

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

Section 1E of chapter 69 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended in line 1 by inserting after “Section 1E.” the following:-

(a) Said section is further amended in lines 30-36, inclusive, by striking out the paragraph contained in those lines and inserting in place thereof the following subsections:

(b) Frameworks shall be designed to avoid perpetuating gender, cultural, ethnic, or racial stereotypes. Frameworks for all academic subjects shall be designed to build racially and culturally responsive knowledge and to combat racial and cultural bias. Frameworks shall elevate the history, achievements, and key writings of members of communities of color and other marginalized communities. The frameworks shall reflect sensitivity to different learning styles and impediments to learning. The board shall develop procedures for updating, improving, or refining said curriculum frameworks; and shall have a meaningful process for soliciting and incorporating input from stakeholders, including but not limited to educators, students, and members of communities of color and other marginalized communities, in the development of frameworks. A copy of said frameworks shall be submitted to the joint committee on education at least sixty days prior to taking effect.

(c) The department shall promulgate regulations setting forth a complaint procedure to enforce subsection (b). A final determination of a complaint by the department shall be appealable to the Massachusetts Superior Court.