Resolve, To Promote the Inclusion of African-American History and Culture in the Curricular Offerings of School Administrative Units

Sec. 1. African-American history and culture in schools. Resolved: That the Department of Education shall, within existing budgeted resources, collect information and prepare and make available materials that promote the rationale for adding African-American history and culture, including Maine African-American history and culture, to the curricular offerings of school administrative units. The department shall include recommendations for curricular themes, resources for teaching African-American history and culture, including Maine African-American history and culture, and reviews of materials for teaching African-American history and culture. The department shall also identify educators in the State who are implementing model approaches to teaching African-American history and culture and highlight these educators in the distributed materials.

In collecting information and preparing materials under this section, the department shall convene a volunteer advisory group that includes representatives from African-American civil rights organizations in the State, African-American history and cultural organizations and the African American Collection at the University of Southern Maine.

Sec. 2. African-American students data analyses. Resolved: That the Maine Education Policy Research Institute shall provide to the Department of Education analyses of the school achievement, disciplinary actions and special education identification and placement of African-American students.

Sec. 3. Harassment and hate crimes data. Resolved: That, in collecting information and preparing materials under section 1, the Department of Education may request data on reported harassment and hate crimes based on race occurring in public schools from the Maine Human Rights Commission and the Department of the Attorney General, Civil Rights Team Project.

SUMMARY

This resolve directs the Department of Education, with assistance from the Maine Education Policy Research Institute, the Maine Human Rights Commission and the Department of the Attorney General, Civil Rights Team Project, as well as a volunteer advisory group that includes representatives from African-American civil rights organizations in the State, African-American history and cultural organizations and the African American Collection at the University of Southern Maine, to collect information and prepare and make available materials that promote the rationale for adding African-American history and culture, including Maine African-American history and culture, to the curricular offerings of school administrative units.