AB 2353, as introduced, McCarty. Teacher professional development: culturally responsive instruction.
Existing law establishes various programs of professional development for teachers, including the California Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment System, and requires the State Department of Education to issue a request for proposals to contract for the development of standards for professional development for educators and instructional leaders.
This bill would require the department to develop a curriculum for professional development in covering culturally responsive instruction and make this curriculum available as part of its continuing education and professional development programs for teachers. The bill would state legislative findings and declarations relating to the importance of culturally responsive teaching.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
The Legislature finds and declares all of the
2following:
3(a) Culture is essential to learning.
4(b) Culture plays a role not only in communicating and receiving
5information, but also in shaping the thinking process of groups
6and individuals.
7(c) A pedagogy that acknowledges, responds to, and celebrates
8fundamental cultures offers full, equitable access to education for
9pupils from all cultures.
10(d) Culturally responsive teaching is a pedagogy that recognizes
11the importance of including pupils’ cultural references in all aspects
12of learning.
13(e) Culturally responsive teaching acknowledges the legitimacy
14of a pupil’s cultural heritage that shapes dispositions and attitudes.
15(f) Culturally responsive teaching builds bridges of
16meaningfulness between home and school.
17(g) Culturally responsive teaching uses a wide variety of
18instructional strategies that are connected to learning styles.
19(h) Culturally responsive teaching incorporates multicultural
20information, books, and other educational resources.
21(i) Culturally responsive teaching promotes the idea of the
22classroom family and all pupils are in it together.
23(j) Culturally responsive teaching teaches pupils that they
can
24be successful and that they are appreciated by educators who have
25high expectations of them.
26(k) Culturally responsive teaching develops the social
27consciousness of pupils to better handle the world of prejudice and
28racism.
Article 3.2 (commencing with Section 44475) is added
30to Chapter 3 of Part 25 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Education
31Code, to read:
32
The department shall develop a curriculum for
37professional development in covering culturally responsive
38instruction and make this curriculum available as part of the
P3 1department’s continuing education and professional development
2programs for teachers.
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