Doug McCrory

Senator McCrory, Representative Gibson Honored For Championing Passage Of Black And Latino Studies In Public Schools Legislation

Today, State Senator Doug McCrory (D-Hartford) and State Representative Bobby Gibson (D-Bloomfield) were honored by the Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity & Opportunity for their leadership in passing legislation in 2019 to include Black and Latino studies in the Connecticut public school curriculum.

Public Act No. 19-12, “An Act Concerning the Inclusion of Black and Latino Studies in the Public School Curriculum,” requires local and regional boards of education to include African-American and Black Studies and Puerto Rican and Latino Studies in their curriculum starting with the 2021-22 school year. The State Education Resource Center will develop a separate one-credit high school course for both courses of study. School boards of education must offer the courses starting with the 2022-23 school year, but can offer either of the courses as early as the 2021-22 school year.

“For too long, the achievements and milestones of the Black and Latino communities have not been taught in-depth to our students. It was a disservice to these communities to not share their stories.” said Sen. McCrory. “These course electives will offer a rigorous and enriching educational experience to all students.”

“It’s great to celebrate the passage of Public Act 19-12 as it coincides with the completion of 400 years since the first slaves arrived on the shores of Virginia,” said Rep. Gibson.

“The Commission is honored to celebrate African American legislators during Black History Month for their pivotal role in ensuring that the histories of Black and Latino people are included in the classroom narrative of what makes Connecticut great,” said Steven Hernández, Executive Director of the legislature’s Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity. “It is especially critical that the Black and Latino children of the state see themselves woven into Connecticut’s historical quilt. Otherwise, a curriculum that fails to tell the true and full story of a people effectively renders them invisible, and is a disservice to all of us.”

The CWCSEO is a non-partisan agency of the Connecticut General Assembly that researches and promotes public policies that will benefit underserved and underrepresented communities in Connecticut.

The legislation championed by the legislators was approved with bipartisan support by the House of Representatives and Senate in May 2019 and signed by the governor the following month.

Also recognized today was Dr. James Thompson, Superintendent of Bloomfield Public Schools, with the Lemuel Haynes Lifetime Achievement Award for Education. He is a graduate of Hartford Public High School and began has career as an educator as an elementary school teacher in Hartford.

“Dr. James Thompson’s tenure as Superintendent of Bloomfield Public Schools and numerous educational contributions are a motivator for his fellow educators and make him well deserving of this designation,” said Sen. McCrory.

“It is particularly exciting to honor Superintendent of Bloomfield Public Schools Dr. James Thompson and his lifetime of educational accomplishments, especially since he was an integral part of the planning that led to passage of PA 19-12,” said Rep. Gibson.

About Doug McCrory: Sen. McCrory has represented parts of Hartford, Bloomfield, and Windsor since 2017. Due to his over 20 years as an educator, he sits on the Education Committee as Senate Chair. In addition, he sits on the Housing Committee as Vice Chair. He is committed to strengthening neighborhoods through education, development and civic engagement.

About Bobby Gibson: State Rep. Gibson is in his first full term representing Bloomfield and Windsor and currently sits on the appropriations and education committees and is the vice chair of the general law committee. Raised in Bloomfield, Rep. Gibson has a long history of serving the community. He is currently a teacher in town at Carmen Arace Middle School.