BILL NUMBER: S1988                Revised 2/5/24

SPONSOR: JACKSON
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the education law, in relation to directing the commis-
sioner of education to convene statewide and regional conventions to
bring together underrepresented educators

 
PURPOSE:

This bill directs the commissioner of education to convene statewide and
regional conventions to bring together underrepresented teachers to
discuss experiences, best practices, and provide for mentorship and
networking opportunities.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 adds a new Section 115 to the Education Law to direct the
commissioner to annually convene a statewide convention of underrepre-
sented teachers and administrators to discuss experiences, best prac-
tices, and provide for mentorship and networking opportunities. This
              

section also directs the commissioner to convene at least five regional
conventions to bring together underrepresented educators. Underrepre-
sented educators are defined as teachers and administrators who partic-
ipated in a "grow your own" initiative, My Brother's Keeper, Teacher
Opportunity Corps program, higher education opportunity program, educa-
tion opportunity program, or other similar programs.

Section 2 of the bill is the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

According to the State Education Department, a total of 2,629,970
students enrolled in grades k-12. Based on 2016 - 2017 data, 44%
(1,155,959) of students identify as White. The data collected also shows
1% (17,500) are American Indian or Alaska Native, 17% (455,376) are
Black or African American, 26% (696,822) are Hispanic or Latino, and 9%
(247,032 are Asian r Native Hawaiian/ Other Pacific Islander.  The
remaining 2% (57,281) of New York's 2,629,970 students are multiracial.
In recent years the number of students enrolled has dropped significant-
ly by 181,433 since 2016-2017 school year. During the 2021-2022 school
year, there was a total of 2,448,537 students who enrolled in grades
k-12. According to the State Education Department, 41% (1,003,496) of
the total students enrolled are White. The data collected by the State
Education Department also reveal that 10% (248,580) of the 2,448,537
students in New York are Asian or Native Hawaiian/ Other Pacific Islan-
der, 29% (706,423) are Hispanic or Latino, 16% (394,838) are Black or
African American, and 1% (17,845) are American Indian or Alaska Native.
The other 3% (77,355) of students are multiracial. From these studies we
can conclude the percent of student enrolled for those who are Hispanic
or Latino, Asian or Native Hawaiian/ Other Pacific Islander, and multi-
racial have increased, while the enrollment of Black or African Ameri-
can, and White students have decreased. The enrollment percentage for
American Indian or Alaska Native remained the same.

According to the State Education Department in 2016- 2017, eighty
percent of New York's roughly 210,000 teachers are White. Data collected
from the State Education Department has also found only 18,000 teachers
employed are Black or African American and approximately 16,000 teachers
are Hispanic or Latino. Studies conducted also show that more than 200
school districts did not employ any teachers of color. In 2021-2022, the
amount of teachers New York employ dropped by 2.4%. Studies show 77% of
approximately 205,000 teachers are White. Research reveals only 8%
(15,896) of teachers are Hispanic or Latino, 9% (18,614) are Black or
African American, 3% are Asian, and less than 1% are American Indian. In
addition, there are still over 160 school districts without teachers of
color. Although the percentage of White teachers have dropped, the
percentage of teachers who are Black or African American and Hispanic or
Latino did not change. Furthermore, the percentage of Asians and Ameri-
can Indian representation in the workforce as teachers is extraordinar-
ily low.

Both the enrollment of students and employment of teachers have
decreased since the 2016-2017 school year. The enrollment of students
dropped by 6.9% from 2,629,970 to 2,448,537 students and the employment
of teachers dropped by 2.4% from 210,000 to 205,000 teachers. The
difference between the percentage of teachers employed and the percent-
age of students enrolled is significant. There is an overwhelming 77% of
White teachers compared to the number of White students with a differ-
ence of 36% and other teachers that are employed in 2021-2022. The
percentage difference of Black or African American and Asian students
and teachers in that same year was 7%.  The percentage gap between
Hispanic or Latino students and teachers is the second largest. As
demonstrated in the studies and data, there is a disproportionate repre-
sentation in ethnic diversity of teachers in New York State compared to
students. Many school districts still do not have teachers of color.

The lack of diversity in our educator workforce can leave educators of
color feeling isolated and unsupported. Studies have found that mentor-
ship, networks of support, and opportunities to express experiences can
assist in creating support within the field. This bill seeks to build
and expand these networks by convening regional and statewide
conventions so that teachers and administrators of color feel supported.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2021-2022: S.1984 - Passed the Senate/A.2399 - Referred to Education

2019-2020: S.7642 - Passed the Senate/A.9730 - Referred to Education

 
STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.