(a)(1) Not later than January 1, 2021, the State Board of Education shall review and approve the black and Latino studies course developed pursuant to subsection (b) of this section by the State Education Resource Center, established pursuant to section 10-357a. The state board shall approve such course if, following a review of such course, the state board determines that the content of such course is rigorous, aligned with curriculum guidelines approved by the state board, and in accordance with the state-wide subject matter content standards, adopted by the state board pursuant to section 10-4.

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(2) Not later than January 15, 2021, the state board, in consultation with the State Education Resource Center, shall submit a description of the black and Latino studies course, which includes the scope and sequence and course objective, and a report on the development and review of such course to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a.

(b) The State Education Resource Center shall develop a black and Latino studies course. Such course shall be one credit and offered at the high school level. In developing such course, the State Education Resource Center may utilize existing and appropriate public or private materials, personnel and other resources, including, but not limited to, persons and organizations with subject matter expertise in African-American, black, Puerto Rican or Latino studies, and the curriculum materials made available pursuant to subsection (d) of section 10-16b.

(c) For the school years commencing July 1, 2022, to July 1, 2024, inclusive, the Department of Education shall conduct an annual audit to ensure that the black and Latino studies course approved pursuant to this section is being offered by each local and regional board of education. The department shall annually submit a report on such audit to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a.

(d) For the school year commencing July 1, 2021, and each school year thereafter, the State Education and Resource Center shall provide technical assistance to local and regional boards of education in the provision of professional development, pursuant to section 10-148a, and in-service training, pursuant to section 10-220a, related to the teaching of the black and Latino studies course approved pursuant to this section.