Resolution - Supporting Racially Inclusive Curriculums in Schools — File 24-0366

A Resolution Supporting Racially Inclusive Curriculums in Schools WHEREAS, The decades-long effort to dismantle policies and programs meant to ensure racial justice by the far-right in this country have escalated in recent years and have seen considerably more success since the Supreme Court’s disastrous decision to dismantle race-conscious considerations in education last year; and WHEREAS, The Act to Promote Racially Inclusive Curriculum in Schools would require all public schools in Massachusetts to implement racially inclusive curriculum across departments and would establish a Racially Inclusive Curriculum Trust Fund to provide grants to support this work; and WHEREAS, More than 60 percent of Somerville Public School students are students of color; and WHEREAS, Somerville High School students were less likely to attend a public or private college than the average Massachusetts student, according to Massachusetts Department of Education data from the 2022-2023 school year; and WHEREAS, Racially inclusive curriculum was associated with increased high school attendance, graduation, and college enrollment, according to a 2021 Stanford study; and WHEREAS, The Act to Promote Racially Inclusive Curriculum in Schools had its reporting date in the Joint Committee on Education extended to Friday March 15, 2024 and has the chance to be favorably moved out of committee; and WHEREAS, The Somerville City Council believes that every child has the right to self- knowledge and access to culturally relevant education; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Somerville City Council urges the favorable recommendation and ultimate passage of the Act to Promote Racially Inclusive Curriculum in Schools as well as that a copy of this resolution be sent to the members of the Joint Committee on Education immediately.