Int. No. 664
By Council Members De La Rosa, Gutiérrez, Louis, Nurse, Ossé, Marte, Avilés, Restler and Hudson
A Local Law to amend the New York city charter and the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to creating a school diversity monitor within the human rights commission
Be it enacted by the Council as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision c of section 905 of the New York city charter, as added by a vote of the electors on November 6, 2001, is amended to read as follows:
c. Studies. 1. To study the problems of prejudice, intolerance, bigotry, discrimination and disorder occasioned thereby in all or any fields of human relationship; and
(2) To study the prevalence and causes of racial segregation in schools of the city school district of the city of New York, including charter schools, and develop recommendations for remedying such segregation.
§ 2. Title 8 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new chapter 9 to read as follows:
Chapter 9: School Diversity Monitor
§ 8-901 Definitions. As used in this chapter, the following terms have the following meanings:
Chancellor. The term “chancellor” means the chancellor of the city school district of the city of New York.
Commission. The term “commission” means the city commission on human rights.
Department. The term “department” means the New York city department of education.
School. The term “school” means a school of the city school district of the city of New York, or a charter school under the jurisdiction of the department.
§ 8-902 School diversity monitor. a. There shall be a school diversity monitor which shall be appointed by the commission.
b. Whenever in the judgment of the mayor or the chairperson of the commission the public interests shall so require, the school diversity monitor may be removed from office by either.
c. Whenever a vacancy shall occur, a school diversity monitor shall be appointed by the commission within 30 days thereafter.
d. The school diversity monitor shall, in collaboration with the department pursuant to section 906 of the New York city charter:
1. Identify how school diversity data held by the department can be analyzed to best support the department’s school integration efforts;
2. Develop appropriate professional development training for department teachers in culturally responsive pedagogical practices;
3. Secure additional federal and state funding to train and supports teachers and staff in culturally responsive instruction;
4. Ensure that individual education programs are translated for all students, parents or guardians requesting such translation; and
5. Monitor racial and socio-economic segregation in schools and make recommendations to alleviate disparate impact discrimination.
e. The school diversity monitor shall possess such powers in addition to any other powers that may be assigned to him or her, pursuant to any other provision of law, by the mayor or the commission wherein such position has been established.
f. On or before February 1, 2023, and annually thereafter, the school diversity monitor shall report to the mayor, the speaker of the council and post to the commission’s website a report outlining the school diversity monitor’s work pursuant to subdivision d of this section for the previous calendar year.
§ 8-903 Rules. The commission may promulgate rules necessary to implement the provisions of this chapter.
§ 2. This local law takes effect immediately.
Session 13
LS #8552
1/18/24
Session 12
SIL
LS #8552
9/21/22