Bill > S2709

This bill aims to increase educator diversity in Massachusetts public schools and charter schools. The key provisions include: 1. Establishing the Educator Diversity Trust Fund to provide grants to school districts, charter schools, nonprofits, and higher education institutions for programs to increase educator diversity and professional development on culturally responsive and linguistically sustaining practices. 2. Directing the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to develop additional pathways for educator certification that may waive certain testing requirements, in consultation with stakeholders. 3. Requiring DESE to study the feasibility of providing no-cost testing for educator candidates who meet certain criteria and to study the bias and accessibility of assessments used for educator certification. 4. Directing DESE to study initiatives to incentivize diverse and highly effective educators to work in high-needs schools and districts. 5. Requiring DESE to set statewide educator diversity goals, collect and report diversity data, and establish guidelines for district and school plans to increase diversity among educators. 6. Requiring public school districts and charter schools to appoint a diversity, equity, and inclusion officer or team and establish an educator diversity council. 7. Establishing a 2-year teacher apprenticeship pilot program in partnership with higher education or school districts to support candidates, especially in high-needs areas. 8. Directing DESE to implement a public information campaign on available state scholarships and loan forgiveness programs for prospective educators.

Budget and Finance

Committee on Education (J)

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/S2709