Category
Professional Development for Cultural Competency
Category
Professional Development for Cultural Competency
State law encourages districts to provide professional development for school personnel on cultural competency.
Georgia Compiled Rules & Regulations 505-3-.110 Urban Education Endorsement Program
(1) Purpose. This rule states field-specific content Standard for approving endorsement programs that prepare individuals to teach in an urban setting in the field and at the grade level of their base certification and supplements requirements in Rule 505-3-.01, REQUIREMENTS AND Standard FOR APPROVING EDUCATOR PREPARATION PROVIDERS AND EDUCATOR PREPARATION PROGRAMS.
(2) Requirements.
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(a) A GaPSC-approved professional educator preparation provider may seek state approval to offer this field as either a stand-alone endorsement program or as an endorsement program embedded in a GaPSC-approved initial preparation program or an advanced (degree-only) preparation program. In addition to meeting all applicable approval requirements and Standard, embedded endorsement programs must meet requirements specified in paragraph (e) 3. (viii) of GaPSC Educator Preparation Rule 505-3-.01, REQUIREMENTS AND Standard FOR APPROVING EDUCATOR PREPARATION PROVIDERS AND EDUCATOR PREPARATION PROGRAMS.
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(b) To receive approval, a GaPSC-approved educator preparation provider shall offer a preparation program described in program planning forms, catalogs, and syllabi addressing the following Standard for the preparation of educators:
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- Standard 1: Context of Urban Education. The program shall prepare candidates who are able to:
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(i) Demonstrate an understanding of the dynamic context of urban schools and classrooms (e.g. classroom management, motivation, inclusive classrooms, and cultural relevance) as different from other contexts, and apply that understanding in their instructional practices;
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(ii) Situate urban schools in their broader historical, social, political and economic contexts and demonstrate a deeper understanding of the ways in which these factors shape communities and learning environments; and
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(iii) Demonstrate an understanding of the intersectionality of race, ethnicity, gender, class, language, ability, sexual orientation, and culture and the potential impact of these characteristics on students' educational experiences, and apply that understanding in their instructional practices.
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- Standard 2: Culturally Relevant Pedagogy, Curriculum, and Leadership. The program shall prepare candidates who are able to:
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(i) Demonstrate an understanding of the definition of culturally relevant pedagogy and leadership;
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(ii) Critically evaluate, develop, and implement culturally relevant and linguistically responsive curriculum;
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(iii) Demonstrate an understanding of evidenced-based models of culturally relevant teaching, learning and assessment practices;
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(iv) Demonstrate an understanding of the impact of students' diverse identities (race, ethnicity, gender, class, language, ability, sexual orientation, and culture), cultural backgrounds and experiences on teaching, learning, assessment practices, and academic success, and use this understanding to inform, plan, and implement culturally relevant teaching, learning, assessment, and classroom management practices; and
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(v) Research, evaluate and apply leadership and advocacy strategies that support a culturally relevant learning environment.
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- Standard 3: Urban Learner and Learning in the 21st Century. The program shall prepare candidates who:
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(i) Recognize the cultural capital of urban students and validate them as assets (funds of knowledge) to inform instructional practices and dispositions;
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(ii) Explore and experience the contexts in which students from urban communities live and form identities; and
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(iii) Investigate cultural trends and advancements in technologies that impact the learning of students from urban communities.
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- Standard 4: Communication, Engagement, and Partnerships with Families Schools and Communities. The program shall prepare candidates who:
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(i) Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of school partnerships between families, home and communities;
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(ii) Demonstrate the cultural competence to establish, elicit, and maintain clear two-way communication between school, families, home and communities;
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(iii) Become culturally self-aware by increasing knowledge and understanding of their beliefs and values in order to engage communities and support families; and
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(iv) Demonstrate an understanding of how to engage and establish authentic partnerships between families, schools, and communities to support student learning and wellbeing.
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- Standard 5: The Impact of Educator Culture, Perspectives, and Implicit Bias. The program shall prepare candidates who:
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(i) Demonstrate their understandings of how cultural norms and implicit bias impact their perspectives of urban education;
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(ii) Demonstrate an understanding of how to assess personal implicit bias; and
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(iii) Reflect on how personal knowledge of implicit and explicit bias can be used to create inclusive and equitable educational opportunities.
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- Standard 6: The Impact of Systems, Structures and Policies on Urban Education. The program shall prepare candidates who:
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(i) Demonstrate an understanding of how issues of race, gender, class, identity, privilege, and power impact students living in urban communities, and apply that understanding in their instructional practices;
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(ii) Demonstrate an understanding of the evolution of law and policies and its impact on urban education with an emphasis on institutional, structural, and environmental racism and classism, and apply that understanding in their instructional practices;
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(iii) Demonstrate an understanding of the impact of racism and classism on the institutional, structural, and environmental (e.g. facilities, housing, zoning, resources, technology, etc.) inequalities in urban education, and apply that understanding in their instructional practices;
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(iv) Demonstrate a deep understanding of the achievement and opportunity challenges facing students, families, teachers, and leaders working and living in urban communities, and apply that understanding in their instructional practices;
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(v) Demonstrate an understanding of the implications of student discipline policies and practices on student retention, dropout rates, and the school to prison pipeline; and
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(vi) Critically analyze the implications of school, district and/or state policies and practices on the over representation of culturally, racially, and linguistically diverse students in special education.
Official Code of Georgia Annotated 20-2-739. Conflict management and resolution; cultural diversity training programs
On and after July 1, 2000, the Department of Education shall provide training programs in conflict management and resolution and in cultural diversity for voluntary implementation by local boards of education for school employees, parents and guardians, and students.