There is established a Minority Teacher Recruitment Policy Oversight Council within the Department of Education. The council shall consist of (1) the Commissioner of Education, or the commissioner's designee, (2) two representatives from the minority teacher recruitment task force, established pursuant to section 10-156aa, (3) one representative from each of the exclusive bargaining units for certified employees, chosen pursuant to section 10-153b, (4) the president of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities, or the president's designee, and (5) a representative from an alternate route to certification program, appointed by the Commissioner of Education. The council shall hold quarterly meetings and advise, at least quarterly, the Commissioner of Education, or the commissioner's designee, on ways to (A) encourage minority middle and secondary school students to attend institutions of higher education and enter teacher preparation programs, (B) recruit minority students attending institutions of higher education to enroll in teacher preparation programs and pursue teaching careers, (C) recruit and retain minority teachers in Connecticut schools, (D) recruit minority teachers from other states to teach in Connecticut schools, and (E) recruit minority professionals in other fields to enter teaching. The council shall report, annually, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, on the recommendations given to the commissioner, or the commissioner's designee, pursuant to the provisions of this section, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education. For purposes of this section, “minority” means individuals whose race is defined as other than white, or whose ethnicity is defined as Hispanic or Latino by the federal Office of Management and Budget for use by the Bureau of Census of the United States Department of Commerce.
(P.A. 16-41, S. 2; P.A. 17-56, S. 2.)
History: P.A. 16-41 effective July 1, 2016; P.A. 17-56 amended Subdiv. (4) by replacing “president of the Board of Regents for Higher Education” with “president of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities”, effective June 20, 2017.