Sponsored by:
Senator M. TERESA RUIZ
District 29 (Essex)
SYNOPSIS
Requires teachers to biennially complete two hours of professional development related to cultural competence.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning professional development for public school teachers and supplementing chapter 6 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The State Board of Education shall, as part of the professional development requirement established by the State board for public school teachers, require each teacher to complete two hours of instruction in cultural competency in each two-year period. This instruction shall assist a teacher to successfully teach students from cultures which are different than the teacher's own culture. The instruction shall include, but shall not be limited to, a discussion of: personal and interpersonal awareness and sensitivities; acts of microaggression in the classroom; and implicit bias.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
State Board of Education regulations at N.J.A.C.6A:9-15.4 require all active teachers in a school district to complete a minimum of 20 hours of approved professional development each year. This bill requires the board, as part of the professional development requirement, to require each public school teacher to complete two hours of instruction in cultural competency in each two-year period. The instruction must include, but need not be limited to, a discussion of: personal and interpersonal awareness and sensitivities; acts of microaggression in the classroom; and implicit bias.