[ Text of section added by 2024, 238, Sec. 218 effective November 20, 2024.]Section 38G3/4.
(a)To promote a diverse educator workforce, the department shall establish guidelines for plans to increase diversity among teaching, administration and staff positions of districts, as defined in section 2 of chapter 70, and charter schools, as defined in section 89. The guidelines shall be designed to help districts and schools achieve the following goals:
(i)identifying and eliminating discriminatory barriers to hiring educators in a district or school;
(ii)identifying, recruiting and hiring employees who are members of groups underrepresented in the educator workforce;
(iii)developing, promoting and retaining employees who are members of groups underrepresented in the educator workforce;
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[ Text of section added by 2024, 238, Sec. 218 effective November 20, 2024.]Section 38G3/4. (a) To promote a diverse educator workforce, the department shall establish guidelines for plans to increase diversity among teaching, administration and staff positions of districts, as defined in section 2 of chapter 70, and charter schools, as defined in section 89. The guidelines shall be designed to help districts and schools achieve the following goals: (i) identifying and eliminating discriminatory barriers to hiring educators in a district or school; (ii) identifying, recruiting and hiring employees who are members of groups underrepresented in the educator workforce; (iii) developing, promoting and retaining employees who are members of groups underrepresented in the educator workforce; and (iv) promoting equal opportunity in employment for educators; provided, however, that in developing such guidelines, the department shall consult with relevant stakeholders, including experts and school leaders from public school districts and charter schools that have experienced significant increases in hiring and retaining diverse educators.(b) The department shall establish a process for reviewing plans based on clearly defined criteria; provided, however, that a public school district or charter school shall amend any plan deemed not to conform with the requirements of this section; and provided further, that a public school district or charter school shall be deemed to have satisfied the requirements of this section if it has prioritized diversity in its 3-year plan required by section 1S of chapter 69 or in any other strategic plan developed by the district, as determined by the department.(c) The department shall require approved educator preparation programs to implement plans to examine and address barriers to equity in program enrollment and completion; provided, however, that the plans shall be required as part of the educator preparation program approval process and the department shall make each program's plan publicly available. The department shall establish guidelines for educator preparation program plans.(d) The department shall provide technical assistance to public school districts and charter schools related to their diversity plans.(e) The board of elementary and secondary education shall review progress on educator diversity on a regular basis and may provide further recommendations to districts and schools regarding educator diversity.