| Issue |
Status/Date |
Level |
Summary |
 Background Checks |
To governor 12/2012 |
P-12 |
Requires the Board of Education to conduct a fingerprint-based background test before issuing a teacher or child care license. Directs the board to develop procedures for dissemination of criminal background records to districts, townships, and school principals periodically, but not less than every three years.
http://www.malegislature.gov/Bills/187/House/H04307
Title: H.B. 4307
Source: http://www.malegislature.gov |
P-3 |
Signed into law 09/2012 |
P-12 |
Establishes an Early Literacy Expert Panel to develop recommendations to have all students in the commonwealth reading proficiently by the end of third grade. Outlines who will serve on the panel, and logistics including term limits and meeting criteria.
Requires the panel to advise the departments of early education and care, elementary and secondary education and higher education and the executive office of education on the refinement and implementation of plans for early literacy development on the following:
(1) comprehensive curricula on language and literacy development for children in early education and care programs and grades pre-kindergarten to third grade
(2) effective instructional practices to promote children's language and literacy development in early education and care programs and grades pre-kindergarten to third grade
(3) pre-service and in-service professional development and training for educators on language and literacy development, the administration of screenings and assessments, and the analysis of data gained through screenings and assessments to make instructional decisions
(4) developmentally appropriate screening and assessment to monitor and report on children's progress toward achieving benchmarks in language and literacy development across educational levels prior to third grade and measuring school readiness and children's reading proficiency from pre-kindergarten to third grade
(5) family partnership strategies for improving the quality, frequency, and efficacy of home-school interactions to support children's literacy and language development, as well as for building community capacity to support family literacy practices
(6) action steps to implement the recommendations contained in "Turning the Page: Refocusing Massachusetts for Reading Success" by Nonie Lesaux.
Requires the panel to advise on leveraging existing and new federal grant opportunities and private funding to support language and literacy acquisition for children from birth to third grade.
Requires an annual report on the activities of the expert panel in advising the departments and sets forth requirements for the content and availability of the report.
http://www.mass.gov/legis/journal/desktop/Current%20Agenda%202011/H4243.pdf
Title: H.B. 4243
Source: http://www.malegislature.gov/ |
At-Risk (incl. Dropout Prevention) |
Signed into law 08/2012 |
P-12 |
Requires districts to continue to provide educational services to students who have been suspended or expelled. Requires principals to ensure that students who are suspended from school for 10 or fewer consecutive days, whether in or out of school, shall have an opportunity to make academic progress during the period of their suspension, to make up assignments and earn credits missed. A principal must develop a school-wide education service plan for all students who are expelled or suspended from school for more than 10 consecutive school days, whether in or out of school. Provides that instructional costs associated with providing alternative educational services for suspended or expelled students are eligible for reimbursement.
Requires districts to report to the state department of education the specific reasons for all suspensions and expulsions. The department is required to annually make available to the public district-level de-identified data and analysis.
Requires the commissioner to investigate any school that expels a significant number of students for more than ten days cumulatively in a school year.
Requires school administrators to notify a student's parent or guardian of the charges and the reason for the suspension or expulsion in English and in the primary language of the home.The student will also receive written notification, and have the opportunity to meet with school leadership to discuss the infraction. If a student has been suspended or expelled for more than 10 school days for a single infraction or for more than 10 school days cumulatively for multiple infractions, the parent or guardian will receive written notice of the right to appeal and the process for appealing. The superintendent or his or her designee shall hold a hearing with the student and his or her parent or guardian within 3 school days of the student's request for an appeal. At the hearing, the student shall have the right to present oral and written testimony, cross-examine witnesses, and shall have the right to counsel.
School administrators must notify the superintendent of any out-of-school suspension imposed on a student enrolled in kindergarten through grade 3 prior to such suspension taking effect.
Provides that no student may be suspended or expelled from a school or district for a time period that exceeds 90 school days.
Requires the school committee for each city, town or district to establish a pupil absence notification program in each of its schools that notifies a parent or guardian of his child's absence if the school has not received notification. A parent or guardian must be notified if his student has at least 5 days in which he or she has missed 2 or more periods unexcused in a school year or has missed 5 or more school days unexcused in a school year.
Provides that no student who has not graduated from high school can be considered to have permanently left public school unless an administrator of the school which such student last attended has sent notice within a period of 5 days from the student's tenth consecutive absence to the student and his or her parent or guardian. The district must offer at least two dates and times for an exit interview between the superintendent or his designee and the student and his parent or guardian to occur prior to the student permanently leaving school. The purpose for the exit interview is discussing the reasons for the student permanently leaving school and considering alternative education or other placements. The department is required to publish a model protocol for conducting exit interviews with students; and maintaining a list of research and information relative to the consequences of dropping out, the benefits of earning a high school diploma and a list of alternative education resources and programs available to the student.
http://www.mass.gov/legis/journal/desktop/Current%20Agenda%202011/H4332.pdf
Title: H.B. 4332
Source: http://www.malegislature.gov/ |
P-3 Child Care |
Signed into law 08/2012 |
P-12 |
Defines family child care providers and family child care services.
Provides that family child care providers shall be considered public employees so that the commissioner may make deductions to compensate family child care providers pursuant to a rate structure for voucher and contracted payments. Asserts that family child care providers are not be eligible for benefits through the group insurance commission, the state board of retirement or the state employee workers' compensation program.
Prohibits family child care providers from engaging in a strike, or inducing, encouraging or condoning a strike, work stoppage, slowdown or withholding of services by any family child care provider.
Sets forth regulations for collective bargaining of family child care providers.
http://www.malegislature.gov/Bills/187/House/H03986
Title: H.B. 3986
Source: http://www.malegislature.gov/ |
Students--Athletics/Extracurricular Activities |
Signed into law 08/2012 |
Postsec. |
Establishes the afterschool and out-of-school time coordinating council, consisting of 15 members. Outlines members, terms, meeting frequency, and 4 evaluation. Requires the council to consult with and solicit input from various persons and groups, review existing state and local programs and policies on afterschool and out-of-school time programs and make recommendations to the departments of early, elementary and secondary and higher education. Requires the council to prepare and submit an annual progress report concerning the council's activities with appropriate recommendations concerning afterschool and out-of-school time programs.
http://www.malegislature.gov/Bills/187/Senate/S02111
Title: S.B. 2111
Source: http://www.malegislature.gov/ |
Leadership--Principal/School Leadership--Evaluation and Effectiveness |
Signed into law 06/2012 |
P-12 |
Requires the State Board to establish and maintain a data system for the purpose of assessing the effectiveness of district evaluation systems in assuring effective teaching and administrative leadership. Requires that such information be made publicly available. Provides that information that is evaluative in nature and which may be linked to an individual educator may not be disclosed.
Protects the right of a superintendent to lay off teachers pursuant to reductions in force or reorganization resulting from declining enrollment or other budgetary reasons. Provides that a teacher with professional teacher status may not be laid off due to a reduction in force or reorganization if there is a teacher without such status or who is less qualified on staff. Provides that a professional teacher may not be displaced by a more senior teacher with such status unless the more senior teacher is currently certified and is at least as qualified for the position as the junior teacher holding the position.
Requires that collectively bargained qualifications include, as primary factors, indicators of job performance including overall ratings resulting from comprehensive evaluations. Provides that no distinction shall be made between the overall performance ratings established by the board of elementary and secondary education finding that the teacher has met or exceeded acceptable performance standards and that are defined by the board as proficient and exemplary.
Provides that the school committee and the collective bargaining representative may negotiate for seniority or length of service only as a tie-breaker in personnel actions under this paragraph among teachers whose qualifications are no different.
Directs the superintendent of a school district to appoint principals for each public school within the district at levels of compensation determined in accordance with policies established by the school committee. Lays out duties for school principals, including personnel hiring, termination, voluntary transfer, involuntary transfer, reduction in force and recall decisions.
Directs the department of elementary and secondary education to pay $3,500,000 of the cost of providing training for evaluators and school teams, consistent with the approved Race to the Top grant, and districts to pay the additional costs for school team training and the costs associated with providing training for evaluators.
Directs all districts required to adopt and implement evaluation systems for the 2013-2014 school year to provide an evaluation training program developed by the department of elementary and secondary education for all evaluators and for all teachers, principals and administrators required to be evaluated. Require all such districts to develop and submit, in coordination with each district's annual Title II-A needs assessment, a plan for funding the training required to implement the educator evaluation system, using available local, state, and federal funds. Provides that any district that has not already commenced an evaluation training program shall not require teachers to be evaluated until the district has published an evaluation training schedule for teachers, principals, and administrators who are required to be evaluated.
Requires districts implementing the new evaluation system in fiscal year 2013 or 2014 to allocate some or all of its fiscal year 2013 or 2014 chapter 70 professional development allotment to implement an evaluation training program for all teachers and administrators.
Establishes a board of elementary and secondary education educator evaluation data advisory committee to provide recommendations to the board of elementary and secondary education concerning what information shall be collected for the purpose of assessing the effectiveness of district evaluation systems in assuring effective teaching and administrative leadership in public schools and how such information shall be made available to the public. Requires the committee to file a report including recommendations to the board no later than December 31, 2012 with the clerks of the senate and house of representatives who shall forward it to the joint committee on education.
http://www.malegislature.gov/Bills/187/Senate/S02315
Title: S.B. 2315
Source: http://www.malegislature.gov/ |
Attendance |
Signed into law 05/2012 |
P-12 |
Provides definitions of military terms and provides that this legislation applies to active duty members of the uniformed services, members or veterans of the uniformed services who are severely injured and medically discharged or retired for a period of 1 year after medical discharge or retirement, and members of the uniformed services who die on active duty or as a result of injuries sustained on active duty for a period of 1 year after death.
Requires schools to provide to parents official (or unofficial) records to students for transfer purposes. Requires receiving schools to request official student records from a student's previous school, which should be furnished within 10 days.
Provides that students have 30 days to to obtain any immunizations required by the receiving state.
Provides that students be allowed to continue enrollment at the grade level in the receiving state that is equal with the grade level from the local education agency in the sending state at the time of transition, regardless of age. When a student transfers before or during the school year, the receiving state school shall initially honor placement of the student in educational courses based on the student's enrollment in the sending state school or educational assessments conducted at the school in the sending state if the courses are offered and space is available. This does not preclude the school in the receiving state from performing subsequent evaluations to ensure appropriate placement and continued enrollment of the student in the courses.
Requires the receiving state to initially provide comparable services to a student with disabilities based on: (i) the student's current individualized education program; (ii) the requirements of section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, 29 U.S.C.A. section 794; and (iii) title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C.A. sections 12131-12165. The receiving state is required to make reasonable accommodations and modifications to address the needs of incoming students with disabilities, subject to an existing 504 or title II plan, to provide the student with equal access to education.
Provides that local education agency administrative officials shall have flexibility in waiving course or program prerequisites or other preconditions for placement in courses or programs offered under the jurisdiction of the local education agency.
Provides that a student whose parent or legal guardian is an active duty member of the uniformed services and has been called to duty for, is on leave from or immediately returned from deployment to a combat zone or combat support posting, may be granted additional excused absences at the discretion of the local education agency superintendent to visit with that parent or legal guardian on leave or preparing for or returning from deployment.
http://www.malegislature.gov/Bills/187/Senate/S02254
Title: S.B. 2254
Source: http://www.malegislature.gov/ |
Postsecondary Students--Military |
Signed into law 05/2012 |
Postsec. |
Requires public institution of higher education to develop a set of policies and procedures governing the evaluation of a student's military occupation, military training, coursework and experience, to determine whether academic credit shall be awarded by the institution for the evaluated occupation, experience, training and coursework. The Council may require that the occupation or occupations, training, experience or courses meet the standards of the American Council on Education or equivalent standards for awarding academic credit. The Council may also require public institutions of higher education to develop a set of policies and procedures to standardize credit-by-exam equivalencies for exams funded through the department of defense. Requires public institutions of higher education to designate a single point of contact for a student who is enrolled in such an institution and who is also a veteran. http://www.malegislature.gov/Bills/187/Senate/S02254
Title: S.B. 2254
Source: http://www.malegislature.gov/Bills/ |
School/District Structure/Operations--Shared Services |
Signed into law 03/2012 |
P-12 |
Defines an education collaborative as a written agreement to provide shared programs and services, including instructional, administrative, facility, community or any other services entered into by two or more school committees of cities, towns and regional school districts or boards of trustees of charter schools; provided that a primary purpose of such programs and services shall be to complement the educational programs of member school committees and charter schools in a cost-effective manner. Outlines the requirements of such written agreement.
Requires that education collaboratives be managed by a board of directors comprised of 1 person appointed annually by each member school committee or member charter school board. All appointed persons must be either a school committee member, the superintendent of schools or a member of the charter school board.
Requires the board to establish and manage a fund, appoint a treasurer who will receive and disburse all money belonging to the collaborative and may make appropriate investments of the money of the collaborative consistent with section 55B of chapter 44.
Allows for the board of directors of an education collaborative to borrow money, enter into long-term or short-term loan agreements or mortgages and apply for state, federal or corporate grants or contracts to obtain funds necessary to carry out the purpose for which such collaborative is established; provided, however, that the board of directors has determined that any borrowing, loan or mortgage is cost-effective and in the best interest of the collaborative and its member municipalities and charter schools.
Requires that an education collaborative adopt and maintain a financial accounting system, annually prepare financial statements, annually cause an independent audit and make information from the audits publicly available.
Requires the executive director of each education collaborative to annually present an annual report and its budget to each member school committee in a school committee meeting or charter school board of trustees, and accept questions.
States that the board of directors of the education collaborative shall be considered to be a public employer and may employ personnel, including teachers, to carry out the purposes and functions of the education collaborative.
Provides guidance on other regulations and privileges pertaining to education collaboratives.
http://www.malegislature.gov/Bills/187/Senate/S02105
Title: S.B. 2105
Source: http://www.malegislature.gov/ |
Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure--Special Education |
Signed into law 03/2012 |
P-12 |
Requires the board of elementary and secondary education to provide a specialist teacher endorsement in transition services including coursework and field experience for special education teachers and rehabilitation counselors to develop the competence necessary to serve as transition coordinators. Transition coordinators will facilitate provision of a coordinated set of activities to prepare students with disabilities to achieve successful transition to post-school activities including further education, competitive employment, and independent living.
Requires the board to allow individuals who have previously been employed serving as transition coordinators and coordinating school-based transition services to be eligible to receive a transition specialist endorsement one year after the board has promulgated regulations, provided that they demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and competencies necessary to receive such endorsement.
http://www.malegislature.gov/Bills/187/House/H03720
Title: H.B. 3720
Source: http://www.malegislature.gov/Bills/ |
Curriculum--Drivers Education |
Signed into law 08/2010 |
P-12 |
An Act relative to assuring that motorcyclists between the ages of 16 and 18 are provided with adequate education relative to the proper safety and operation of a motorcycle.
http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/senate/186/st02pdf/st02344.pdf
Title: S.B. 2344
Source: http://www.mass.gov/ |
School Safety--Bullying Prevention/Conflict Resolution |
Signed into law 05/2010 |
P-12 |
Prohibits bullying on school grounds or at a school- sponsored or related activity, a school bus, or through the use of a electronic device whether the device is school-owned or not that infringes on the rights of the victim or disrupts the education process or orderly operation of a school. Requires the development of a anti-bullying plan. Authorizes anti-discrimination or harassment policies. Requires related professional development. Declares the fourth Wednesday in January as No Name Calling Day.
http://www.malegislature.gov/Bills/BillText/8578
Title: S.B. 2404
Source: http://www.mass.gov/legis |
Accountability |
Signed into law 01/2010 |
P-12 |
Repeals and replaces existing policies relating to Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education to designate a school as underperforming or chronically underperforming. Defines Commissioner's and State Board's authority and duties.
http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/senate/186/st02/st02247.htm
Title: S.B. 2247; (NEW BILL)
Source: http://www.mass.gov |
Choice of Schools--Charter Schools |
Signed into law 01/2010 |
P-12 |
Directs the department of education to study the possibility of allowing students living outside of the commonwealth who are eligible to attend public schools operating in the same geographic area as a charter school or a regional charter school to be eligible to attend the charter or regional charter school. (Section 14)
http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/senate/186/st02/st02247.htm
Title: S.B. 2247; (NEW BILL)
Source: http://www.mass.gov |
Choice of Schools--Charter Schools |
Signed into law 01/2010 |
P-12 |
Directs the department education to draft a model policy for school districts regarding the grade placement and eligibility for high school graduation of students leaving a charter school and seeking to enroll in a district school. In drafting the model policy, the department shall confer with school districts and commonwealth charter schools. The model policy shall be made available not later than December 31, 2010. (Section 11)
http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/senate/186/st02/st02247.htm
Title: S.B. 2247; (NEW BILL)
Source: http://www.mass.gov |
Choice of Schools--Charter Schools |
Signed into law 01/2010 |
P-12 |
Requires charter schools whose charter was granted before January 1, 2010 to have a recruitment and retention plan in effect for the 2011-2012 school year or at the time of its next charter renewal, whichever occurs first. (Section 12)
http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/senate/186/st02/st02247.htm
Title: S.B. 2247; (NEW BILL)
Source: http://www.mass.gov |
Choice of Schools--Charter Schools |
Signed into law 01/2010 |
P-12 |
Repeals and replaces existing policies relating to charter schools.
http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/senate/186/st02/st02247.htm
Title: S.B. 2247; (NEW BILL)
Source: http://www.mass.gov |
Governance |
Signed into law 01/2010 |
P-12 |
An Innovation School shall be a public school, operating within a public school district, that is established for the purpose of improving school performance and student achievement through increased autonomy and flexibility. An Innovation School may be established as a new public school or as a conversion of an existing public school. A student who is enrolled in a school at the time it is established as an Innovation School shall retain the ability to remain enrolled in the school if the student chooses to do so. An Innovation School shall have increased autonomy and flexibility in 1 or more of the following areas:
(i) curriculum;
(ii) budget;
(iii) school schedule and calendar;
(iv) staffing policies and procedures, including waivers from or modifications to, contracts or collective bargaining agreements;
(v) school district policies and procedures; and
(vi) professional development.
(Section 8)
http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/senate/186/st02/st02247.htm
Title: S.B. 2247; (NEW BILL)
Source: http://www.mass.gov |
Postsecondary |
Signed into law 01/2010 |
Postsec. |
Creates a state university system for nine current state colleges. Six state colleges will be renamed as Bridgewater State University, Fitchburg State University, Framingham State University, Salem State University, Westfield State University and Worcester State University. Three specialized state colleges—Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and Massachusetts Maritime Academy, will retain their existing names but as part of a state university system.
http://www.malegislature.gov/Bills/BillText/8999
Title: H.B. 4864
Source: http://www.mass.gov |
School/District Structure/Operations |
Signed into law 01/2010 |
P-12 |
Authorizes two or more school committees of cities, towns and regional school districts and boards of trustees of charter schools to enter into written agreements to conduct education programs and services to complement and strengthen the school programs of member school committees and charter schools and increase educational opportunities for children. The school committees and boards of trustees of charter schools shall collaborate to offer the programs and services; provided, however, the association of school committees and board of trustees of charter schools which is formed to deliver the programs and services shall be known as an education collaborative.
http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/senate/186/st02/st02247.htm
Title: S.B. 2247; (NEW BILL)
Source: http://www.mass.gov |
Student Achievement--Closing the Achievement Gap |
Signed into law 01/2010 |
P-12 |
Relates to education reform to turnaround underperforming schools, collective purchasing, public purchases, competitive bidding and vendor payments; relates to charter schools, school programs of member school committees, educational collaboratives, investment authority, required teacher certification, student performance data, English language proficiency, special education, workforce development services, health and mental health screenings and law enforcement services in the school community.
http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/senate/186/st02/st02247.htm
Title: S.B. 2247; (NEW BILL)
Source: http://www.mass.gov |
Economic/Workforce Development |
Signed into law 06/2009 |
Postsec. |
Section 42: Permits the personnel administrator of the commonwealth to establish a co-operative engineer program and to enter into agreements with colleges of recognized standing in the commonwealth, including colleges with summer programs, that have a curriculum leading to a bachelor of science in engineering on a co-operative basis, contemplating regularly rotating work activity in the field of engineering and an equal period of classroom training. Permits the administrator to employ candidates for a bachelor of science in engineering in any such college to serve in the department in the position of student engineer; provided, however, that the position of student engineer must be in a grade lower than that of junior civil engineer in the department. Prohibits the number of persons employed in the department as student engineers from exceeding 8. Upon completion of not less than 2 years of employment as student engineer, a person must be eligible to apply for the examination for highway engineer intern. No person may be employed as a student engineer for more than 6 years.
Title: S.B. 2087
Source: |
Middle School |
Signed into law 12/2008 |
P-12 |
Revives and continues the special commission on middle education in the Commonwealth.
http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/185/ht04pdf/ht04800.pdf
Title: H.B. 4800
Source: http://www.mass.gov/ |
Parent/Family |
Signed into law 12/2008 |
P-12 |
Provides the procedures by which a parent, legal guardian, or legal custodian of a minor, by a caregiver authorization affidavit, may authorize a designated caregiver to exercise certain concurrent parental rights and responsibilities related to the designated minor's education and health care.
http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/185/ht04pdf/ht04718.pdf
Title: H.B. 4718
Source: http://www.mass.gov/ |
School Safety |
Signed into law 12/2008 |
P-12 |
Improves school campus air quality; restricts idling of school buses and personal motor vehicles on school grounds.
http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/senate/185/st02/st02628.htm
Title: S.B. 2628
Source: http://www.mass.go |
School Safety |
Signed into law 12/2008 |
P-12 |
Relates to the licensing of school bus drivers; requires such drivers to be trained in a basic course in first aid including the administration of an epinephrine auto injector; adds the term sex offender to sections governing in licensure of such drivers.
http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/185/ht04pdf/ht04396.pdf
Title: H.B. 4396
Source: http://www.mass.gov/ |
Parent/Family |
Signed into law 10/2008 |
P-12 |
Provides access to pupil information for parents and evaluators; provides that a school committee shall, upon request by parents, provide timely access to parents, independent evaluators and educational consultants for observation of a child's current and proposed program, including academic and non- academic aspects of any such program; relates to evaluation of a child's performance in a program.
http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/185/ht00pdf/ht00391.pdf
Title: H.B. 391
Source: http://www.mass.gov |
Parent/Family |
Signed into law 09/2008 |
P-12 |
Relates to classroom placement of twins; provides that the parents of twins or higher order multiples may request that the children be placed in the same classroom or in separate classrooms when the children are in the same grade level at the same school; provides that the school may recommend placement and provide professional education advice; requires the placement request to be made by a specified time; provides that higher order of multiples shall mean triplets, quadruplets, quintuplets or more.
http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/185/ht00pdf/ht00469.pdf
Title: H.B. 469
Source: |
Accountability |
Signed into law 08/2008 |
P-12 |
Relates to school district accountability; provides the the makeup of the membership of the advisory council on school and district accountability to develop and administer a post-audit survey to audited districts and an annual survey to any schools and districts receiving technical assistance; creates an Office of School and District Accountability to review and report on the efforts of schools, charter schools, and districts to improve academic achievement by their students.
http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/185/ht04pdf/ht04967.pdf
Title: H.B. 4967
Source: http://www.mass.gov/legis/ |
Economic/Workforce Development |
Signed into law 08/2008 |
Postsec.,
Community College |
Provides for the creation of the Clean Energy Technology Center and related Alternative and Clean Energy Investment Trust Fund; provides the types of clean energy investments of the fund to include clean energy related projects that stimulate workforce development and post-secondary financing.
http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/185/ht05pdf/ht05018.pdf
Title: H.B. 5018
Source: http://www.mass.gov |
High School |
Signed into law 08/2008 |
P-12 |
Improves dropout prevention and reporting of graduation rates; requires providing public school districts with a standardized format for the accurate reporting of graduation and dropout data to facilitate the implementation of a longitudinal data collection system over specified periods; creates a graduation and dropout prevention and recovery commission to survey dropout prevention and recovery best practices and programs nationwide and to evaluate programs currently in use.
http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/senate/185/st02/st02766.htm
Title: S.B. 2766
Source: http://www.mass.gov/ |
Leadership |
Signed into law 08/2008 |
P-12 |
Relates to defining school principal's contracts; provides for school principals entering into individual employment contracts with their employing districts; provides that subsequent contracts shall be treated as a school principal entering into his second contract period and shall be subject to all further applicable terms and conditions; requires notification of nonrenewal.
http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/senate/185/st00/st00273.htm
Title: S.B. 273
Source: http://www.mass.gov/ |
Health--Child Abuse |
Signed into law 07/2008 |
P-12 |
Provides for protection of children in the care of the Commonwealth to include a commission on grandparents raising grandchildren, child abuse prevention boards, municipal police training, a child welfare task force, tuition waivers for adopted children, child welfare programs for children and families, area-based child welfare services, children and families area boards, physicians evaluating foster children, needs of high risk children, the Child Advocate, child fatality review teams, and abuse reporting.
http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/185/ht04pdf/ht04905.pdf
Title: H.B. 4905
Source: http://www.mass.gov/ |
P-3 |
Signed into law 07/2008 |
P-12 |
Clarifies provisions relating to early education and care.
http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/185/ht04pdf/ht04706.pdf
Title: H.B. 4706
Source: http://www.mass.gov/ |
Postsecondary |
Signed into law 07/2008 |
P-12,
Postsec.,
Community College |
Provides for maintaining transition age requirements and measurable postsecondary goals for school age students with disabilities.
http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/senate/185/st00/st00286.htm
Title: S.B. 286
Source: http://www.mass.gov/l |
Governance |
Adopted 01/2008 |
P-12,
Postsec.,
Community College |
Submits from the governor to the legislature a reorganization plan number 1 of 2008. Relates to reorganizing certain education agencies. Creates an executive office of education, headed by a cabinet secretary. Provides for the executive office to contain three departments: (1) the existing department of early education and care; (2) the existing department of education (renamed the department of elementary and secondary education); and (3) a new department of higher education, which will house personnel now serving as staff to the board of higher education.
Submitted by the Governor, pending legislative approval.
http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/185/ht04pdf/ht04488.pdf
http://mass.gov/?pageID=gov3terminal&L=3&L0=Home&L1=Legislation+%26+Executive+Orders&L2=Legislation&sid=Agov3&b=terminalcontent&f=legislation_legis_education_reorg&csid=Agov3
Title: Executive Order /H.B. 4488
Source: http://www.mass.gov |
Health |
Signed into law 12/2007 |
P-12 |
Establishes a task force within the department of education to examine specified hygienic procedures pertaining to band instruments to prevent the spread of contagious diseases such as tuberculosis.
http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/185/ht00pdf/ht00413.pdf
Title: H.B. 413
Source: http://www.mass.gov |
Health |
Signed into law 12/2007 |
P-12 |
Establishes a task force within the department of education to examine hygienic procedures pertaining to school band instruments to prevent the spread of contagious diseases such as tuberculosis.
http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/185/ht00pdf/ht00413.pdf
Title: H.B. 413
Source: http://www.mass.gov |
Health--Child Abuse |
Issued 12/2007 |
P-12 |
Establishes the Office of the Child Advocate within the Executive Office and sets means of appointment, duties, etc.. The Office of the Child Advocate shall:
(a) seek to ensure that children involved with agencies within the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (Executive Office) and, in particular, children served by the child welfare or juvenile justice systems receive timely, safe, and effective services;
(b) examine, on a system-wide basis, the care and services that agencies of the Executive Office provide to and for children; and
(c) advise those at the highest levels of state government, as well as the public, how the Commonwealth can improve its services to and for children.
http://www.mass.gov/Agov3/docs/Executive%20Orders/executive_order_494.pdf
Title: Executive Order 494
Source: http://www.mass.gov |
Civic Education |
To governor 11/2007 |
P-12 |
Establishes the Commonwealth Corps; provides for volunteer community service; creates a pilot program for the Commonwealth Student Corps.
http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/senate/185/st02/st02301.htm
Title: S.B. 2301
Source: http://www.mass.gov/ |
Accountability |
Issued 08/2007 |
P-12,
Postsec.,
Community College |
Establishes the Readiness Project to develop a plan to implement fundamental and systemic reforms to public education in the Commonwealth over the next ten years. The project will have three chairs appointed by the Governor.
The plan will include recommendations to:
(1) Deliver universal and high quality early education for three- and four-year-olds as well as Full-Day kindergarten;
(2) Expand time for teaching and learning in primary and secondary schools;
(3) Extend education an additional two years beyond secondary school to better prepare students for higher education, work and citizenship;
(4) Align curricula from pre-Kindergarten through high school, higher education and work force development, including with an emphasis on science, technology, engineering and math as well as other subjects and methods that enhance creativity and problem-solving skills;
(5) Structure and support a reasonable degree of school choice, including charter and pilot schools, so that all serve as complementary components of a comprehensive system; (6) Recruit, retain and develop strong educators and administrators at all levels;
(7) Streamline and strengthen teacher certification and licensing;
(8) Improve the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System and introduce additional appropriate standards and assessments to measure other aspects of students' academic development;
(9) Fund the education system adequately, equitably and reliably, including for students with special educational needs;
(10) Facilitate collaboration between and among the Commonwealth's public and private institutions of higher education;
(11) Strengthen the structure and clarify the mission of the institutions that comprise the University of Massachusetts system and all public higher education institutions in the Commonwealth;
(12) Implement an effective and efficient accountability system for students, instructors and administrators from pre-Kindergarten through higher education that enables authorities both to review performance and to target assistance where it is most needed; and
(13) Leverage information technology throughout the system to improve instruction, student acquisition of skills, administrative processes, and the quality of and access to data. implements fundamental and systemic reforms to public education in the Commonwealth over the next 10 years.
http://www.mass.gov/Agov3/docs/Executive%20Orders/executive_order_489.pdf
Title: Executive Order No. 489
Source: http://www.mass.gov |
Finance |
Signed into law 08/2007 |
P-12 |
Relates to streamlining the regional school budget process, capital outlay expenses and a city or town's apportioned share for expenditures.
Title: H.B. 586
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
School Safety |
Signed into law 07/2007 |
P-12 |
Regulates housing for convicted sex offenders. Provides restrictions for offenders residing within a certain distance of school zones in the commonwealth.
Title: H.B. 1441
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
High School--Graduation Requirements |
Adopted 03/2007 |
P-12 |
Enhances the Competency Determination standard for high school graduation and revises the Certificate of Mastery to increase the proportion of public high school graduates prepared for college, careers and citizenship. Changes the criteria for Certificates of Mastery to indicate that the recipientis prepared for college or employment opportunities that require many of the same skills and knowledge as beginning college students. Establishes a new honor, the Certificate of Mastery with Distinction. MASSACHUSETTS 8809
http://www.doe.mass.edu/lawsregs/stateregs.html
Title: 603 CMR 30.00, -31.00
Source: Mass. Code of Regulations |
High School |
Signed into law 07/2006 |
P-12 |
Allows students with disabilities to participate in graduation ceremonies. A school age child with a disability who is completing the twelfth grade year but who has not yet earned the competency determination will be allowed to participate fully in high school graduation ceremonies and activities conducted or sponsored by the school or school committee even though the student will not receive a diploma during the ceremony.
http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/ht04pdf/ht04710.pdf
Title: H.B. 4710
Source: Massachusetts Legislature |
Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure |
Adopted 07/2006 |
P-12,
Postsec. |
Removes the current requirement that English Language Learners (ELL)license candidates pass a second subject-matter test. Relieves already-licensedteachers who seek to add ELL at the grade levels they teach from the requirementto complete a 150-hour practicum. Changes the name of the applicable licensefrom "English Language Learners" to "English Language Development" (ELD) to moreaccurately reflect the scope and purpose of the license. MASSACHUSETTS 8766
Title: 603 CMR 7.00
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
Health |
Adopted 06/2006 |
Postsec.,
Community College |
Implements the statutory requirement that students enrolled inMassachusetts institutions of higher education participate in a qualifyingstudent health insurance program. Sets forth the minimum benefit levels andrequired services for student health insurance plans and the criteria by which aschool may waive a student's participation upon demonstration of comparableinsurance coverage. Updates the required benefits section by removing outdatedbenefit schedules and replacing them with basic requirements for student healthplans. Clarifies that student health insurance carriers must comply withrelevant Insurance Department statutes and regulations. MASSACHUSETTS 8726
http://www.doe.mass.edu/lawsregs/stateregs.html
Title: 114.6 CMR 3.00
Source: Massachusetts Regulations |
Accountability--Reporting Results |
Signed into law 04/2006 |
P-12 |
Describes the requirements for providing student records to parents and the information that must be included academic and other indicators.
http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/senate/st02/st02206.htm
Title: S.B. 2206
Source: Massachusetts Legislature |
Health--Mental Health |
Signed into law 03/2006 |
P-12 |
Relates to the special education needs of children with autism spectrum disorder.
http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/ht01pdf/ht01123.pdf
Title: H.B. 1123
Source: Massachusetts Legislture |
Students--Records/Rights |
Emergency Rule Adoption 08/2005 |
P-12 |
Amends rules regarding student records. Complies with federal law concerning access to student records by non-custodial parents. MASSACHUSETTS REG 8599 (SN)
Title: 603 CMR 23.00
Source: StateNet |
High School--Exit Exams |
Rule Adoption 07/2005 |
P-12 |
Amends the Comprehensive Assessment System and Standards for Competency Determination rules. Adds one discipline in science and technology and engineering to the subjects to be included in the competency determination required for high school graduation starting with the class of 2010.
Title: 603 CMR 30.00
Source: StateNet |
Special Education--Finance |
Re-enacted by the Senate 07/2005 |
P-12 |
The secretary of health and human services shall, within three months of the effective date of this Act, apply to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for a home and community-based services waiver under section 1915(c) of the federal Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C.A. §301 et seq., to allow eligible children with autism spectrum disorder to receive waiver services to support said children in their homes and communities.
Title: H.B. 4177
Source: StateNet |
Curriculum--Sex Education |
In HOUSE. Placed on the Orders of the Day. 03/2005 |
P-12 |
Relates to the use of abstinence education project funds.
Title: H.B. 44
Source: StateNet |
Choice of Schools--Charter Schools |
Emergency Rule Adoption 12/2004 |
P-12 |
Establishes a new charter school formula. Implements the new provisions of state law so that the next quarterly tuition payments may be made on schedule. MASSACHUSETTS REG 8469 (SN)
Title: 603 CMR 1.00
Source: StateNet |
Students |
Signed into law 12/2004 |
P-12 |
Authorizes self-monitoring and treatment of students with diabetes. Notwithstanding any general or special law or regulation to the contrary, no school district shall prohibit students with diabetes from possessing and administering glucose monitoring tests and insulin delivery systems, in accordance with department of public health regulations concerning students' self-administration of prescription medications.
http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/st02231.htm
Title: S.B. 2231
Source: StateNet |
School/District Structure/Operations--Transportation |
Signed into law 11/2004 |
P-12 |
Contains the text of a Governor amendment of Section 30 of the House bill numbered 5076 which relates to state reimbursement for school transportation for certain persons admitted to a day school in another municipality. Does not provide transportation of a person who has completed the twelfth grade or the equivalent. Provides for persons placed by the Department of Social Services or the trustees of training schools.
http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/ht05083.htm
Title: H.B. 5083
Source: StateNet |
Special Education |
Rule Adoption 11/2004 |
P-12 |
Amends rules to implement changes in the process used to calculated special education reimbursements under the so called 'circuit breaker' program. States that under the new procedures, district reimbursements will be calculated based on the eligible costs incurred in the prior fiscal year, rather than the costs for the current fiscal year. MASSACHUSETTS REG 8414 (SN)
Title: 603 CMR 10.00
Source: StateNet |
Postsecondary |
Signed into law 10/2004 |
Postsec. |
Relates to providing creditable service for retirement purposes for certain research faculty employed at the University of Massachusetts. Provides that any member employed by the University and subsequently directed to accept employment with an institute or foundation supporting research facility, was so employed in furtherance of a contract for services between the University and any such institute or foundation, shall be allowed as creditable services; relates to retirement makeup payments.
Title: H.B. 2873
Source: StateNet |
Teaching Quality--Compensation and Diversified Pay |
*****Returned to HOUSE with GOVERNOR'S recommendation of amendments. For message see H 5111. 10/2004 |
P-12 |
Relates to creditable service for service rendered as a school nurse; provides that specified years of membership service as a school nurse shall be deemed to be years of teaching for the purpose of this section.
Title: H.B. 4677
Source: StateNet |
Health |
Signed into law 09/2004 |
P-12 |
Allows students with cystic fibrosis to self- administer prescription enzyme supplements; provides that no school district shall prohibit students with cystic fibrosis from processing and administering prescription enzyme supplements in accordance with Department of Public Health regulations concerning students' self-administration of prescription medications.
http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/ht04409.htm
Title: H.B. 4409
Source: StateNet |
At-Risk (incl. Dropout Prevention)--Alternative Education |
Became law without GOVERNOR'S signature. 07/2004 |
P-12 |
Relates to establishing an alternative education grant program; contains text of section 126 of H 4850; requires that parents or legal guardians attend specified conferences with teachers; provides for assistance to address needs of children who have been exposed to violence and abuse; provides for at- risk students.
http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/ht04914.htm
Title: H.B. 4914
Source: StateNet |
Curriculum--Science |
Vetoed 07/2004 |
P-12 |
Provides that the Board of Education be directed to establish guidelines for dissections in science classes in the public schools of the Commonwealth; allows students who choose not to participate in dissection to be allowed to demonstrate competency through an alternative method which does not include being required to watch another student performing a dissection; provides that a teacher shall not discriminate for a student for not participating.
Title: H.B. 1252
Source: StateNet |
Desegregation |
Signed into law 07/2004 |
P-12,
Postsec. |
Relates to the School Building Assistance Program; provides for grants, investments, trusts and bonds; creates the School Building Authority; provides for children with disabilities; prohibits racial desegregation; provides for public-private partnerships, charter schools, construction that will facilitate early education and care programs; financial incentives to cities that adopt zoning policies for increased affordable housing production; provides for hearings.
Title: H.B. 4978
Source: StateNet |
Finance--Facilities |
Signed into law 07/2004 |
P-12 |
Relates to the School Building Assistance Program; provides for the dedicated sales tax revenue amount; creates the School Modernization and Reconstruction Trust Fund; provides for bonds, notes and trusts.
Title: H.B. 4977
Source: StateNet |
Governance--State Boards/Chiefs/Agencies |
Became law without GOVERNOR'S signature. 07/2004 |
P-12 |
Relates to the membership makeup of the State Board of Education.
http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/ht04903.htm
Title: H.B. 4903
Source: StateNet |
Health |
Signed into law 07/2004 |
P-12 |
Relates to the requirement of vision screening for kindergarten students; provides that parents and guardians shall present certification that the child has passed an approved vision screening test; requires proof of a comprehensive eye exam and recommendations for treatment for children who fail the eye exam or who are diagnosed with neurodevelopmental delay.
http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/st00687.htm
Title: S.B. 687
Source: StateNet |
Health |
Signed into law 07/2004 |
Postsec.,
Community College |
Requires student immunization against meningococcal disease; includes public and private colleges, universities and public and private secondary schools that provide certain housing; requires certificate of immunization prior to matriculation; provides an exemption; relates to a student's initial enrollment and shall not be construed to require any institution to provide the vaccine or the expenses for the vaccine.
Title: S.B. 2159
Source: StateNet |
Health |
Signed into law 07/2004 |
P-12 |
Relates to meningitis immunization awareness; requires all public and private secondary school, public and private universities, day care centers and youth camps to distribute to the parent or guardian of any child in their care information regarding the risk of meningococcal disease and the availability, effectiveness and risks of the vaccine.
http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/st02155.htm
Title: S.B. 2155
Source: StateNet |
P-3 |
Signed into law 07/2004 |
P-12 |
Relates to early childhood education and care; contains text of section 35 of H 4850; relates to recognition of advancements in educational attainment among early education and care professionals; establishes a department of early education and care; includes center, family child care, infant, toddler, preschool and school-age providers; provides for an implementation plan for a workforce development system and professional development.
Title: H.B. 4904
Source: StateNet |
Teaching Quality--Preparation |
Rule Adoption 07/2004 |
P-12 |
Amends rules relating to the educator licensure and preparation program, the vocational education regulations, and the licensure of adult basic education teachers and preparation program approval. Strengthens the provisions for licensure revocation, suspension, limitation and denial. Authorizes the Commissioner to modify licensure requirements in cases of hardship caused by recent regulatory changes. MASSACHUSETTS REG 8339 (SN)
Title: 603 CMR 4.13, 7.00, 7.14, 47.11
Source: StateNet |
Assessment |
Rule Adoption 03/2004 |
P-12 |
Amends rules relating to the Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) performance appeals process, and incorporates provisions regarding student with disabilities. MASSACHUSETTS REG 8280 (SN)
Title: 603 CMR 30.00
Source: StateNet |
Assessment |
Emergency Rule Adoption 02/2004 |
P-12 |
Establishes emergency rules relating to students with disabilities. Revises rules that relates to performance appeals. MASSACHUSETTS REG 8283 (SN)
Title: 603 CMR 30.00
Source: StateNet |
Finance |
Rule Adoption 01/2004 |
P-12 |
Amends rules relating to school finance regulations. Implements changes in the formula used to calculate special education reimbursements in the so-called circuit breaker program. Clarifies that payments and reimbursements for approved private school summer program placements will be made through the sending school district. MASSACHUSETTS REG 8229 (SN)
Title: 603 CMR 10.00
Source: StateNet |
Career/Technical Education |
Rule Adoption 08/2003 |
P-12 |
Relates to Guidelines for Vocational Technical Education Programs and Educator Licensure, and the Guidelines for Admission Policies of Vocational Technical Secondary Schools and Comprehensive Secondary Schools. Establishes program standards for vocational technical education programs. Defines standards for vocational technical educator licensure. http://www.doe.mass.edu/lawsregs/603cmr4/4.11_12.html
Title: 603 CMR 4.00
Source: Massachusetts Department of Education |
Assessment--High Stakes/Competency |
Rule Adoption 07/2003 |
P-12 |
Students in the graduating class of 2003 shall meet or exceed the Needs Improvement threshold scaled score of 220 on both the English Language Arts and the Mathematics MCAS grade 10 tests in order to satisfy the requirements of the Competency Determination. The Board intends to raise the threshold scaled score required for the Competency Determination in future years.
Title: 603 CMR 30.03
Source: Westlaw |
Bilingual/ESL |
Rule Adoption 05/2003 |
P-12 |
Amends rules relating to the provision of education to students who are limited English proficient. Requires school districts to provide English language education to limited English proficient students. Relates to the district's annual obligation to identify and classify limited English proficient students. Requires district superintendents to provide annually to the department a written assurance that teachers of English language learner classrooms are literate and fluent in English.
Title: 603 CMR 14.00
Source: StateNet |
Career/Technical Education |
Signed into law 01/2003 |
P-12 |
Relates to providing Workers Compensation insurance coverage for certain students participating in a school-to-work program. Provides that such students who receive personal injuries arising out of such participation shall be deemed employees of such employers.
Title: H.B. 2852
Source: StateNet |
Leadership |
Pocket Veto by GOVERNOR. 01/2003 |
P-12 |
Relates to defining principal's contracts.
Title: S.B. 2079
Source: StateNet |
School/District Structure/Operations--Transportation |
Signed into law 01/2003 |
P-12 |
Increases the penalty for passing a school bus. http://www.state.ma.us/legis/laws/seslaw02/sl020443.htm
Title: H.B. 4405
Source: StateNet |
Teaching Quality--Paraprofessionals |
Signed into law 01/2003 |
P-12,
Postsec. |
Establishes a paraprofessional incentive program to provide grants to residents who are working as paraprofessionals in public schools while pursuing a bachelor's degree at a public college or university in order to become a teacher in bilingual education, special education, math, science, or foreign languages and who commit to teach for a period [to be determined by the board of higher education] in public schools in the state upon graduation and certification. http://www.state.ma.us/legis/laws/seslaw02/sl020440.htm
Title: H.B. 4702
Source: StateNet |
Governance--School Boards |
Signed into law 12/2002 |
P-12 |
Requires school committee members [local school board members] to complete at least 8 hours of orientation concerning their responsibilities, and within no more than a year of their initial election or appointment. Specifies subject areas in which members must undergo training. http://www.state.ma.us/legis/laws/seslaw02/sl020416.htm
Title: H.B. 783
Source: StateNet |
Background Checks |
Signed into law 11/2002 |
P-12 |
Defines enticement. Requires any organization offering activities or programs to children age 18 or younger and that uses volunteers to obtain all available criminal offender record information from the criminal history systems board before accepting the individual as a volunteer. Any company providing student transportation services must give the appropriate school board or superintendent names of any employees who may have direct, unmonitored contact with children, so that the board or superintendent may obtain background check information. Also requires local board and superintendent as well as principal of public or accredited private school to have access to and obtain all available criminal offender record information from the criminal history systems board for any current or prospective employee or volunteer in the district who may have direct, unmonitored contact with children, including transportation personnel. The local board, superintendent or principal must obtain all available information on all existing employees or volunteers at least every three years. The local board, superintendent or principal must also have access to all criminal offender record information for any subcontractor or laborer working on school grounds and who may have direct, unmonitored contact with children. http://www.state.ma.us/legis/laws/seslaw02/sl020385.htm
Title: S.B. 2436
Source: www.magnet.state.ma.us/legis |
Bilingual/ESL |
Approved by voters 11/2002 |
P-12 |
Proposes by initiative petition; requires public schools to educate English learners through a sheltered English immersion program; provides that parents or guardians of certain children could apply each year to have the requirements waived; provides that a parent or guardian could sue for damages to enforce the proposed law; relates to any school employee, administrator, or elected official who refused to implement the proposed law.
Title: Question 2
Source: Massachusetts Elections Division |
School Safety |
Signed into law 10/2002 |
P-12 |
Requires every local board to establish a policy concerning student travel that is planned to occur between the hours of midnight and 6 A.M., or that will include an overnight stay away from home. The policy must address such issues as safety of transportation and accommodations, cost (including expectations for fundraising by students), time away from school, appropriateness of the trip for the grade level, and trip approval process. In adopting its policy, the local board must consider the model policy drafted by the state board, which must take the same issues into consideration as well as recommedations by specified national organizations.
Title: H.B. 4937
Source: www.state.ma.us |
School Safety |
Signed into law 09/2002 |
P-12 |
Establishes the crime of communicating terrorists threats; prohibits threats that cause evacuation of a school, school related event or school transportation, or that cause serious public inconvenience or alarm; provides for a hearing after conviction to ascertain the costs, damages, and financial loss suffered by local, county or state public safety agencies; provides for restitution.
Title: S.B. 2122
Source: www.state.ma.us |
Bilingual/ESL |
Signed into law 08/2002 |
P-12 |
Creates within department the office of language acquisition to aid the commissioner in overseeing creation of district English language learners programs, and to gather and disseminate to districts best practices in terms of programs and techniques for bringing limited English proficient students to English proficiency. Replaces references to "programs of transitional bilingual education" with those to "English language learners programs. Requires every district to annually file specified data with the state, such as the type(s) of English language learners program provided and the the number of students formerly enrolled as English language learners who enroll in postsecondary institutions. Requires state commissioner to annually publish both statewide and district-level data on English language learner programs and limited English proficient students. Requires candidates for provisional or standard teacher certification or recertification to have completed state board-required courses in second language acquisition. Districts are required to provide teachers with development in second language acquisition techniques, and professional development plans are to be filed annually with the state commissioner. Also requires state commissioner's annual plan for providing assistance to indicate both statewide and by district the types of development provided educators who work with limited English proficient students. Requires student performance plans to describe opportunities given by the school to ensure limited English proficient students' progress in meeting reading, writing, speaking and listening skills in English as well as opportunities given these students to meet academic standards and curriculum frameworks. Requires every district to determine annually by March 1 the number of limited English proficient K-12 students served by the district. Establishes requirements to be met by programs for English language learners as well as annual assessment of these students' proficiency in English oral comprehension, speaking, reading and writing. Requires that limited English proficient students be taught to the same academic standards and curriculum frameworks as all students and allows assessment of attainment of these standards and frameworks in a language other than English as long as the student is enrolled in an English language learners program.
Permits students to remain in English language learners program for maximum of three years. Requires district development, with cooperation of student's parents, of English learning success plan for any limited English proficient student who does not make sufficient progress in attaining English proficiency after second year of enrollment in English language learners program. Requires that parents of limited English proficient student be notified in writing, both in English and the parents' primary language, of the English language learners program(s) in the district and of the existence of the district parent advisory council, with a recommendation of a specific program for the student and notification of their right to remove student from program, visit program, etc. Establishes in each district serving at least 50 students in English language learners program a parent advisory council comprised of parents of children enrolled in English language learners program in district. Each council must include at least one representative of every language group in which a program is conducted in the district. Establishes rights and duties of parent advisory councils, including right to meet at least once annually with the local school council. Permits nonresident students to attend a district's English language learners program(s.) Requires "limited English proficient students [to] participate fully with their English-speaking peers in those regular education classrooms, subjects, or activities in which verbalization in English is not essential to understanding" (i.e., physical education, art, music, etc.), and requires districts to ensure that limited English proficient students have the opportunity to participate fully in district's extracurricular offerings. Establishes requirements relating to certificates for teachers of bilingual education or English as a Second Language. Permits districts to establish full-time or part-time preschool, after-school or summer school programs English language learners programs, although these programs may not substitute for English language learners programs provided during the regular school year. Requires department to carry out an on-site visit at least once every three years to every school district with approved district English language learner plans, both to evaluate programs and to offer assistance in improving programs. Requires that any limited English proficient student who was unable to attain English proficiency prior to leaving high school be given access to English language and literacy skill instruction courses offered through the state adult basic education program. "[W]ithin five years of the effective date of this act, any foreign language classes required by the department [...] or by a school district shall be required for students in elementary schools and optional for students in high schools." http://www.state.ma.us/legis/bills/house/ht05010.htm
Title: H.B. 5010
Source: www.state.ma.us |
Curriculum |
Signed into law 08/2002 |
P-12 |
"[W]ithin five years of the effective date of this act, any foreign language classes required by the department [...] or by a school district shall be required for students in elementary schools and optional for students in high schools." http://www.state.ma.us/legis/bills/house/ht05010.htm
Title: H.B. 5010
Source: http://www.state.ma.us/legis/bills/house/ht05010.htm |
Governance--Site-Based Management |
Signed into law 08/2002 |
P-12 |
Establishes in each district serving at least 50 students in English language learners program a parent advisory council comprised of parents of children enrolled in English language learners program in district. Each council must include at least one representative of every language group in which a program is conducted in the district. Establishes rights and duties of parent advisory councils, including right to meet at least once annually with the local school council. http://www.state.ma.us/legis/bills/house/ht05010.htm
Title: H.B. 5010
Source: http://www.state.ma.us/legis/bills/house/ht05010.htm |
Health |
Signed into law 08/2002 |
P-12 |
Forbids school districts from prohibiting students with asthma or other respiratory diseases from possessing and administering prescription inhalers in accordance with department of public health regulations. http://www.state.ma.us/legis/bills/house/ht04411.htm
Title: H.B. 4411
Source: www.state.ma.us |
P-3 |
Signed into law 08/2002 |
P-12 |
Permits districts to establish full-time or part-time preschool, after-school or summer school programs English language learners programs, although these programs may not substitute for English language learners programs provided during the regular school year. http://www.state.ma.us/legis/bills/house/ht05010.htm
Title: H.B. 5010
Source: http://www.state.ma.us/legis/bills/house/ht05010.htm |
Postsecondary Faculty--Tenure |
Signed into law 08/2002 |
Postsec. |
Act sets the teacher career path at Quincy College. Teachers with 0-3 years of experience are non-tenured, after three years teachers achieve "instructor" status. After six years, a teacher is considered a "professor" and gains all rights and privileges accorded by the general laws of Massachusetts. Prior to six years, teachers are subject to yearly contract renewals.
Title: HB 4695
Source: State website |
Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure |
Signed into law 08/2002 |
P-12 |
Requires candidates for provisional or standard teacher certification or recertification to have completed state board-required courses in second language acquisition. http://www.state.ma.us/legis/bills/house/ht05010.htm
Title: H.B. 5010
Source: http://www.state.ma.us/legis/bills/house/ht05010.htm |
Teaching Quality--Professional Development |
Signed into law 08/2002 |
P-12 |
Districts are required to provide teachers with development in second language acquisition techniques, and professional development plans are to be filed annually with the state commissioner. http://www.state.ma.us/legis/bills/house/ht05010.htm
Title: H.B. 5010
Source: http://www.state.ma.us |
No Child Left Behind |
Active 06/2002 |
P-12 |
2002 Consolidated Plan (dated 6/12/02): http://www.doe.mass.edu/nclb/news/csapp.pdf
Source: Massachusetts Department of Education Web site |
Finance--State Budgets/Expenditures |
Signed into law 05/2002 |
P-12 |
Provides for local government workforce reduction through an early retirement incentive program for qualified employees, including school employees. http://www.state.ma.us/legis/bills/house/ht05007.htm
Title: H.B. 5007
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
Governance--School Boards |
Signed into law 01/2002 |
P-12 |
Relates to the finances of regional school committees. Modifies language regarding the compensation of school board members. Regional school districts must be audited annually by an independent CPA, the results of which audit must be made public.
Title: H.B. 3071
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
Technology--Funding Issues |
Signed into law 12/2001 |
P-12 |
Creates the Capital Needs Investment Trust Fund, which sets aside money for education technology; provides for statewide systems and competitive grants for districts that use technology to increase student achievement; funds the virtual education space, an online set of implementation strategies to increase student achievement on the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System, and for a music education program including multi-discipline curricula.
Title: H.B. 4797A
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure |
Signed into law 09/2000 |
P-12 |
Chapter No. 264 of 2000., Relates to teacher certification; defines "provisional educator with advanced standing"; states that a provisional educator certificate with advanced standing shall be valid for 5 years of employment as an educator in schools of the Commonwealth; provides for a 5 year renewal under certain circumstances.
Title: S.B. 207
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure |
Signed into law 09/2000 |
P-12 |
Chapter No. 284 of 2000., Relates to the temporary certification of teachers with out of state certification for 1 year contingent upon their obtaining a current in-state certification.
Title: S.B. 2136
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
Choice of Schools--Charter Schools |
Signed into law 08/2000 |
P-12 |
Chapter No. 227 of 2000., Relates to charter schools; provides that the Board of Education shall make the final determination on granting charter school status and may condition charters on the applicant's taking certain actions or maintaining certain conditions; provides for transportation reimbursment to municipalities of students of charter schools.
Title: S.B. 2027
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
Teaching Quality--Compensation and Diversified Pay |
Veto overridden: legislature has overridden governor's veto 06/2000 |
P-12 |
Improves teacher recruitment, retention and retirement. Creates an early retirement system, which the Governor has opposed.
Title: H.B. 5116
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |