Int 1552-2019

Be it enacted by the Council as follows: Section 1. District diversity working groups. a. Definitions. For purposes of this local law, the following terms have the following meanings: Community school district. The term "community school district" has the same meaning as such term is defined in subdivision 2 of section 2590-a of the education law. Department. The term "department" means the New York city department of education. b. The mayor shall establish a working group, for every community school district, to develop recommendations and a plan to foster and increase school diversity, according to the timeframe set forth in subdivision k of this local law. Each working group shall consist of at least 13 members. Members of each working group shall be appointed by the mayor, and shall include teachers from elementary and middle schools from the respective community school district who are currently employed by the department; principals from such district who are currently employed by the department; parents of students attending public schools in such district; students currently enrolled in public middle schools in such district; at least one representative of the community district education council within such district and the superintendent, or superintendent's designee, with jurisdiction over such district. c. For each working group, the mayor shall appoint a department representative to serve as a co-facilitator. d. Each working group may, at such working group's discretion, select a community based organization, from a list established by the mayor, to serve as a co-facilitator. e. No member shall be removed except for cause by the appointing authority. In the event of a vacancy during the term of an appointed member, a successor shall be selected in the same manner as the original appointment. f. Membership on a working group shall not constitute holding of a public office, and members of a working group shall not be required to take or file oaths of office before serving on a working group. Each member of a working group shall serve without compensation. g. No later than 3 months after the establishment of each working group, such working group shall be required to hold at least 1 public hearing to solicit public comment and recommendations on improving diversity in schools within the respective community school district. Each working group shall also create a website to solicit public comment and recommendations. h. The mayor may designate 1 or more agencies to provide staffing and other administrative support to each working group. i. Each working group shall examine the issue of school diversity in its respective community school district and develop recommendations and a plan to foster and increase school diversity. Areas to be examined shall include, but are not limited to: admissions policies, transfer trends, language access, gifted and talented programs, screened programs and student transportation. j. No later than 2 years after the establishment of a working group, such working group shall submit a report of its findings, recommendations and plan required pursuant to subdivision i of this local law to the mayor, chancellor of the city school district of the city of New York and the speaker of the council. Such report shall also include (i) an estimate of costs associated with implementation of such plan and (ii) if such working group chose not to have a community based organization co-facilitate pursuant to subdivision d of this local law, an explanation why a co-facilitator was not necessary. k. No later than 5 years after the effective date of this local law, the mayor shall have established a working group in every community school district as required by subdivision b of this local law, except as provided in subdivision l of this local law. l. The mayor shall not be required to establish a working group required by subdivision b of this local law in any community school district that has (i) created a plan to foster and increase school diversity within the 3 years prior to the effective date of this local law or (ii) has voluntarily engaged with the department to establish a working group to foster and increase school diversity as of the effective date of this local law. No later than 2 years after the effective date of this local law, the mayor shall submit to the speaker of the council a report on the activities and recommendations of such working groups. m. All reports required by this local law shall be posted on the department's website. � 2. This local law takes effect immediately and is deemed repealed upon issuance of all reports required by section one of this local law. MMB LS #8100 10/8/2019 5:27 p.m. 1 1