1 | 1 | | HOUSE . . . . . . . . No. 4519 |
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2 | 2 | | The Commonwealth of Massachusetts |
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3 | 3 | | ________________________________________ |
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4 | 4 | | HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES , April 8, 2024. |
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5 | 5 | | The committee on Education, to whom were referred the petition |
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6 | 6 | | (accompanied by bill, House, No. 468) of Carol A. Doherty and others |
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7 | 7 | | relative to establishing a special commission (including members of the |
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8 | 8 | | General Court) on creating a more diversified teaching workforce, the |
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9 | 9 | | petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 498) of Natalie M. Higgins, |
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10 | 10 | | Jack Patrick Lewis and others relative to LGBTQ+ inclusive curriculum in |
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11 | 11 | | public schools, the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 500) of |
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12 | 12 | | Vanna Howard, Sean Garballey and others for legislation to include Asian |
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13 | 13 | | Pacific Islander Desi American history education in school curriculum, the |
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14 | 14 | | petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 528) of Michael P. Kushmerek |
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15 | 15 | | and others that the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education |
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16 | 16 | | develop an accelerated, tuition-free teacher occupational apprenticeship |
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17 | 17 | | program, the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 529) of Jack |
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18 | 18 | | Patrick Lewis and others relative to the teaching of Native American |
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19 | 19 | | culture and history, the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 536) of |
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20 | 20 | | Samantha Montaño and others relative to the creation of a permanent |
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21 | 21 | | commission relative to the education of American Indian and Alaska |
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22 | 22 | | Native residents, the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 542) of |
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23 | 23 | | Tram T. Nguyen, Steven Ultrino and others for legislation to promote |
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24 | 24 | | racially inclusive curriculum in schools, the petition (accompanied by bill, |
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25 | 25 | | House, No. 546) of Steven Owens, Manny Cruz and others relative to |
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26 | 26 | | addressing racial and cultural bias training in educator professional |
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27 | 27 | | development, the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 548) of Alice |
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28 | 28 | | Hanlon Peisch relative to teacher preparation and certification, the petition |
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29 | 29 | | (accompanied by bill, House, No. 549) of Alice Hanlon Peisch and others |
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30 | 30 | | relative to educator diversity, the petition (accompanied by bill, House, |
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31 | 31 | | No. 561) of David M. Rogers and Frank A. Moran for legislation to |
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32 | 32 | | establish an integrated cultural studies curriculum in schools, the petition |
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33 | 33 | | (accompanied by bill, House, No. 583) of Priscila S. Sousa and Rodney |
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34 | 34 | | M. Elliott relative to protecting certain teachers from layoffs, the petition |
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35 | 35 | | (accompanied by bill, House, No. 588) of Chynah Tyler, Dylan A. Fernandes and others for legislation to establish a permanent commission |
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36 | 36 | | on anti-racist education to develop anti-racist curriculum for the public |
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37 | 37 | | schools, and the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 591) of Chynah |
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38 | 38 | | Tyler, Christopher J. Worrell and Michelle M. DuBois relative to |
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39 | 39 | | including the events of Black History instruction at schools and |
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40 | 40 | | institutions of higher education, reports recommending that the |
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41 | 41 | | accompanying bill (House, No. 4519) ought to pass. |
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42 | 42 | | For the committee, |
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43 | 43 | | DENISE C. GARLICK. 1 of 15 |
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44 | 44 | | FILED ON: 3/15/2024 |
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45 | 45 | | HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 4519 |
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46 | 46 | | The Commonwealth of Massachusetts |
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47 | 47 | | _______________ |
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48 | 48 | | In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court |
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49 | 49 | | (2023-2024) |
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50 | 50 | | _______________ |
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51 | 51 | | An Act relative to educator diversity. |
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52 | 52 | | Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority |
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53 | 53 | | of the same, as follows: |
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54 | 54 | | 1 SECTION 1. Chapter 29 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, |
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55 | 55 | | 2is hereby amended by inserting after section 2DDDDDD the following new section:- |
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56 | 56 | | 3 Section 2EEEEEE. (a) There shall be established and set up on the books of the |
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57 | 57 | | 4commonwealth a separate fund to be known as the Educator Diversity Trust Fund. The |
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58 | 58 | | 5commissioner of elementary and secondary education shall administer the fund. The fund shall |
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59 | 59 | | 6be credited with: (i) revenue from appropriations or other money authorized by the general court |
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60 | 60 | | 7and specifically designated to be credited to the fund; (ii) interest earned on such revenues; and |
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61 | 61 | | 8(iii) funds from public and private sources such as gifts, grants and donations to further the |
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62 | 62 | | 9establishment of plans and programs to increase educator diversity and professional development |
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63 | 63 | | 10pertaining to evidence-based culturally responsive and linguistically sustaining pedagogy and |
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64 | 64 | | 11practices. Amounts credited to the fund shall not be subject to further appropriation and any |
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65 | 65 | | 12money remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not revert to the General Fund. 2 of 15 |
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66 | 66 | | 13 (b) The commissioner shall establish a grant program for public school districts, charter |
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67 | 67 | | 14schools, nonprofits or community-based organizations, and institutions of higher education. |
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68 | 68 | | 15Grants shall be provided for the following purposes: (i) to assist public school districts and |
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69 | 69 | | 16charter schools with the establishment of plans and programs to increase educator diversity, |
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70 | 70 | | 17including, but not limited to, the development of in-house teacher residency programs, pathways |
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71 | 71 | | 18focused on recruiting, developing, and supporting educators who are members of groups |
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72 | 72 | | 19underrepresented in the educator workforce, and other promising practices to increase the |
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73 | 73 | | 20recruitment and retention of diverse educators; (ii) for professional development and other |
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74 | 74 | | 21training for educators and other district and school staff pertaining to evidence-based culturally |
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75 | 75 | | 22responsive and linguistically sustaining pedagogy and practices; (iii) to assist public school |
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76 | 76 | | 23districts and charter schools with the establishment of programs to incentivize diverse and highly |
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77 | 77 | | 24effective educators to work or continue working in districts and charter schools with high |
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78 | 78 | | 25concentrations of economically disadvantaged students or English learners; and (iv) other |
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79 | 79 | | 26evidence-based strategies to increase educator diversity and culturally responsive and |
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80 | 80 | | 27linguistically sustaining practices in public school districts and charter schools. In establishing |
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81 | 81 | | 28and administering the grant program, the commissioner shall prioritize public school districts and |
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82 | 82 | | 29charter schools with high concentrations of economically disadvantaged students or English |
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83 | 83 | | 30learners, which may include a district or school implementing a turnaround plan. |
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84 | 84 | | 31 (c) Amounts received from private sources shall be approved by the commissioner of |
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85 | 85 | | 32elementary and secondary education and subject to review before being deposited in the fund to |
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86 | 86 | | 33ensure that pledged funds are not accompanied by conditions, explicit or implicit, that may be |
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87 | 87 | | 34detrimental to the implementation of plans and programs to increase educator diversity or |
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88 | 88 | | 35professional development pertaining to evidence-based culturally responsive and linguistically 3 of 15 |
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89 | 89 | | 36sustaining pedagogy and practices. The review shall be made publicly available on the |
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90 | 90 | | 37department's website. |
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91 | 91 | | 38 (d) In making grants, the commissioner shall utilize funding from the Educator Diversity |
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92 | 92 | | 39Trust Fund and may apply for federal, state or other funding. |
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93 | 93 | | 40 (e) Annually, not later than December 1, the commissioner shall report to the clerks of |
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94 | 94 | | 41the house of representatives and senate, the joint committee on education and the house and |
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95 | 95 | | 42senate committees on ways and means on activity of the Educator Diversity Trust Fund. The |
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96 | 96 | | 43report shall include, but not be limited to: (i) the source and amount of funds received; (ii) the |
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97 | 97 | | 44amounts distributed and the purpose of expenditures from the fund; (iii) grant recipients and the |
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98 | 98 | | 45amount received by each recipient; (iv) anticipated revenue and expenditure projections for the |
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99 | 99 | | 46next year; (v) the number of public school districts, charter schools, nonprofits or community- |
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100 | 100 | | 47based organizations, and institutions of higher education that applied for, but were not granted, |
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101 | 101 | | 48funding; and (vi) the impact of the grant program, including the expenditure of funds by grantees |
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102 | 102 | | 49and an analysis of the types of programs created by said funds. The report shall be publicly |
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103 | 103 | | 50available on the department's website. |
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104 | 104 | | 51 SECTION 2. Section 38G of chapter 71 of the General Laws is hereby amended by |
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105 | 105 | | 52inserting after paragraph ending with the words, “approved provisional educator preparation |
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106 | 106 | | 53program”, in lines 93-94, the following paragraph:- |
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107 | 107 | | 54 The department of elementary and secondary education shall, in consultation with |
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108 | 108 | | 55relevant stakeholders, develop additional pathways for granting educator certification based on |
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109 | 109 | | 56the alternative assessment pilot authorized under 603 CMR 7.04(2)(f) that may be used to satisfy |
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110 | 110 | | 57the testing requirements contained in this section. 4 of 15 |
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111 | 111 | | 58 SECTION 3. (a) The department of elementary and secondary education shall, in |
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112 | 112 | | 59consultation with relevant stakeholders and with the solicitation of public comment for a period |
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113 | 113 | | 60of not less than 90 days, implement a 5-year pilot program to develop additional pathways for |
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114 | 114 | | 61granting educator certification. |
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115 | 115 | | 62 (b) The additional pathways may allow for waiver of not more than 1 of the 2 testing |
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116 | 116 | | 63requirements pursuant to said section 38G of said chapter 71, per candidate, and shall include |
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117 | 117 | | 64consideration of factors including, but not limited to, whether a candidate has: (i) completed |
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118 | 118 | | 65field-based experience of at least 2 years in the role and at the level of the license sought; (ii) |
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119 | 119 | | 66obtained certification in another state or territory in the United States, the District of Columbia, |
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120 | 120 | | 67or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, as approved by the department; (iii) demonstrated at least |
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121 | 121 | | 682 years of educator proficiency according to traditional measures of effectiveness, as determined |
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122 | 122 | | 69by the department; (iv) completed a satisfactory portfolio of items that may include student |
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123 | 123 | | 70feedback or competency-based projects; (v) received a formal recommendation from the |
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124 | 124 | | 71principal, superintendent, or assistant superintendent of the current school or district where the |
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125 | 125 | | 72candidate has been employed as a teacher or paraprofessional for at least 3 full years; (vi) |
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126 | 126 | | 73obtained a master’s degree or doctorate from an accredited institution, provided that the |
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127 | 127 | | 74advanced degree relates to the content area for which the individual is seeking certification as |
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128 | 128 | | 75determined by the department; or (vii) completed a board-approved educator preparation |
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129 | 129 | | 76program for the role and at the level of the license sought, including but not limited to (A) a |
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130 | 130 | | 77college program, graduate or undergraduate, approved by the board for the preparation of |
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131 | 131 | | 78teachers; (B) a college preparation program included in the National Association of State |
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132 | 132 | | 79Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC); (C) an out of state teacher |
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133 | 133 | | 80education program approved by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education 5 of 15 |
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134 | 134 | | 81(NCATE); or (D) another program approved by the board. This process shall give consideration |
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135 | 135 | | 82to necessary accommodations for any person with a disability as defined in 42 U.S.C. §12102 |
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136 | 136 | | 83and comply with any other applicable state and federal laws. |
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137 | 137 | | 84 (c) The department shall ensure that any public school district or charter school which |
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138 | 138 | | 85employs educators licensed through this pilot program is able to provide the supports and |
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139 | 139 | | 86resources necessary for the educators to be effective, including but not limited to policies aligned |
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140 | 140 | | 87with the guidelines established in section 38G ¾ of chapter 71 of the General Laws. |
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141 | 141 | | 88 (d) The department shall conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the pilot program and |
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142 | 142 | | 89the use of the additional licensure pathways during the pilot period. The evaluation shall include: |
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143 | 143 | | 90(i) a measurement of student impacts according to factors determined by the department; (ii) an |
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144 | 144 | | 91assessment of progress made in diversifying the educator workforce, including data on the |
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145 | 145 | | 92demographics of participants, hiring rates and demographics of the districts and schools where |
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146 | 146 | | 93candidates were hired, aggregated evaluation ratings and retention rates; and (iii) an assessment |
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147 | 147 | | 94of the impacts on candidates of diverse backgrounds. |
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148 | 148 | | 95 (e) The department shall file a report including the evaluation of the pilot program with |
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149 | 149 | | 96the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate and the joint committee on education no |
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150 | 150 | | 97later than one year after the conclusion of the pilot program. |
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151 | 151 | | 98 SECTION 4. Section 38G of chapter 71 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby |
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152 | 152 | | 99amended by inserting after the words “attainment and renewal of such certificates”, in line 80, |
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153 | 153 | | 100the following sentence:- 6 of 15 |
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154 | 154 | | 101 The board shall ensure that the established requirements for such certificates provide |
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155 | 155 | | 102necessary accommodations for any person with a disability as defined in 42 U.S.C. §12102 and |
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156 | 156 | | 103comply with any other applicable state and federal laws. |
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157 | 157 | | 104 SECTION 5. (a) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the |
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158 | 158 | | 105department of elementary and secondary education shall study the feasibility of establishing a |
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159 | 159 | | 106program which allows certain educator candidates to complete the testing requirements pursuant |
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160 | 160 | | 107to section 38G of chapter 71 of the General Laws at no cost to the candidates. Such a program |
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161 | 161 | | 108shall apply to candidates who are determined by the department to qualify for financial |
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162 | 162 | | 109assistance, or have (i) attempted to complete the testing requirements pursuant to said section |
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163 | 163 | | 11038G of chapter 71 of the General Laws; (ii) failed to meet the minimum score requirements |
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164 | 164 | | 111established by the department; and (iii) earned a score or scores within one standard error of |
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165 | 165 | | 112measurement of passing, as determined by the department. The study may include analysis of |
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166 | 166 | | 113any prior or existing voucher systems designed to pay for licensure test fees. |
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167 | 167 | | 114 (b) No later than October 1, 2025, the department shall file a report, including any |
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168 | 168 | | 115analysis or recommendations on the feasibility of the program with the clerks of the house of |
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169 | 169 | | 116representatives and the senate and the joint committee on education. |
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170 | 170 | | 117 SECTION 6. (a) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the |
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171 | 171 | | 118department of elementary and secondary education shall study the bias and accessibility of |
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172 | 172 | | 119assessments used by educator candidates to complete the testing requirements pursuant to section |
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173 | 173 | | 12038G of chapter 71 of the General Laws. |
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174 | 174 | | 121 (b) No later than October 1, 2025, the department shall file a report with the clerks of the |
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175 | 175 | | 122house of representatives and the senate and the joint committee on education on reducing bias 7 of 15 |
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176 | 176 | | 123and increasing accessibility of assessments used by educator candidates to complete the testing |
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177 | 177 | | 124requirements pursuant to section 38G of chapter 71 of the General Laws, including any analysis |
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178 | 178 | | 125or recommendations. The report shall include, at minimum, (i) an analysis of potential racial, |
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179 | 179 | | 126cultural, or linguistic biases of assessments used by educator candidates; (ii) data on candidates |
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180 | 180 | | 127applying for accommodations and those receiving accommodations; (iii) data on the types of |
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181 | 181 | | 128accommodations requests received and those granted; (iv) data on candidates retaking the |
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182 | 182 | | 129assessment and any accommodations requested by those candidates; and (v) data on the passing |
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183 | 183 | | 130rates for candidates who received accommodations and all candidates passing the assessment. |
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184 | 184 | | 131 SECTION 7. (a) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the |
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185 | 185 | | 132department shall conduct a study and report on potential initiatives to incentivize diverse and |
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186 | 186 | | 133highly effective educators to work in high-needs schools and districts, including incentives to |
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187 | 187 | | 134recruit new and diverse teachers to high-needs schools and policies or practices to retain diverse |
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188 | 188 | | 135and effective teachers currently teaching in high-needs schools. “High-needs schools or |
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189 | 189 | | 136districts,” as used herein, shall be a school or district with a high percentage of low-income |
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190 | 190 | | 137students and/or English learners, which may include a school or district implementing a |
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191 | 191 | | 138turnaround plan. |
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192 | 192 | | 139 (b) Not later than October 1, 2025, the department shall file a report with the clerks of the |
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193 | 193 | | 140senate and house of representatives and the joint committee on education, including any analysis |
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194 | 194 | | 141or recommendations. The report shall include, but not be limited to: (1) a survey of educator |
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195 | 195 | | 142salaries and benefits across school districts and charter schools; (2) an assessment of potential |
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196 | 196 | | 143incentives to attract novice educators to high-needs school districts, including but not limited to |
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197 | 197 | | 144the establishment of loan forgiveness, scholarship, and housing support programs and the status |
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198 | 198 | | 145of such currently or previously existing state programs; (3) the feasibility of financial incentives 8 of 15 |
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199 | 199 | | 146for achieving National Board certification; (4) the feasibility of establishing a master educator |
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200 | 200 | | 147corps program, to be administered by the department, to incentivize educators that have achieved |
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201 | 201 | | 148a certain level of mastery to transfer to high-needs school districts; (5) an assessment of a salary |
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202 | 202 | | 149parity scale for any educators that have switched to high-needs school districts; (6) any other |
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203 | 203 | | 150program, as determined by the department, to help meet the educator requirements of high-needs |
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204 | 204 | | 151school districts; and (7) an assessment of any additional actions necessary to achieve these |
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205 | 205 | | 152objectives. |
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206 | 206 | | 153 SECTION 8. Section 38G of said chapter 71 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is |
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207 | 207 | | 154hereby amended by inserting after the paragraph ending with the words “practical experience in |
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208 | 208 | | 155the application of these strategies”, in line 267, the following paragraph:- |
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209 | 209 | | 156 In addition to any other requirements of this section, the board shall incentivize all |
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210 | 210 | | 157educators and administrators to be trained in strategies related to evidence-based culturally |
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211 | 211 | | 158responsive and linguistically sustaining pedagogy and practices. The board may consider |
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212 | 212 | | 159incentives including but not limited to certification fee waivers, resources curated and published |
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213 | 213 | | 160by the department, professional development opportunities, and optional training during the |
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214 | 214 | | 161certification and recertification process. |
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215 | 215 | | 162 SECTION 9. Chapter 69 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after |
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216 | 216 | | 163section 36 the following section:- |
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217 | 217 | | 164 Section 37. (a) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the |
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218 | 218 | | 165department shall set measurable educator diversity goals for the state and collect and report |
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219 | 219 | | 166publicly statewide educator diversity data. The data shall be reported in an online dashboard |
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220 | 220 | | 167created in consultation with the board of elementary and secondary education. The data shall 9 of 15 |
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221 | 221 | | 168include but not be limited to the hiring and retention of diverse educators, the racial, ethnic, and |
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222 | 222 | | 169linguistic demographics of educators who complete Massachusetts state educator preparation |
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223 | 223 | | 170programs, the racial, ethnic, and linguistic demographics of all persons applying for and |
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224 | 224 | | 171completing educator certification, and teacher qualification data from school and district report |
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225 | 225 | | 172cards. The department shall report annually to the board of elementary and secondary education |
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226 | 226 | | 173on state educator diversity data and goals. The department shall also submit a report on the state |
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227 | 227 | | 174of educator diversity to the clerks of the senate and house of representatives and the joint |
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228 | 228 | | 175committee on education no later than June 30 on an annual basis. |
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229 | 229 | | 176 (b) Each public school district and charter school shall collect and report to the |
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230 | 230 | | 177department educator diversity data in a manner prescribed by the department; provided that the |
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231 | 231 | | 178department shall utilize existing reporting mechanisms and schedules to collect educator |
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232 | 232 | | 179diversity data and outcomes. |
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233 | 233 | | 180 SECTION 10. Chapter 71 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after |
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234 | 234 | | 181section 38G ½ the following section:- |
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235 | 235 | | 182 Section 38G ¾. (a) To promote a diverse educator workforce, the department shall: |
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236 | 236 | | 183 (i) Establish guidelines for plans to increase racial, ethnic, and linguistic diversity among |
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237 | 237 | | 184teaching, administration, and staff positions in each public school district, as defined in section 2 |
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238 | 238 | | 185of chapter 70, and each charter school, as defined in section 89 of chapter 71. These guidelines |
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239 | 239 | | 186shall include, at a minimum, recommended policies designed to help districts and schools: (1) |
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240 | 240 | | 187identify and eliminate discriminatory barriers to hiring and learning in a district or school; (2) |
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241 | 241 | | 188remedy the effects of past discriminatory practices; (3) identify, recruit, and hire employees who |
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242 | 242 | | 189are members of groups underrepresented in the educator workforce; (4) develop, promote, and 10 of 15 |
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243 | 243 | | 190retain employees who are members of groups underrepresented in the educator workforce; and |
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244 | 244 | | 191(5) ensure equal opportunity in employment for educators. In developing these guidelines, the |
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245 | 245 | | 192department shall consult with experts and school leaders from public school districts and charter |
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246 | 246 | | 193schools that have experienced significant increases in hiring and retaining racially, ethnically, |
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247 | 247 | | 194and linguistically diverse educators. |
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248 | 248 | | 195 Each public school district and charter school shall set a corresponding policy that |
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249 | 249 | | 196conforms with the department's guidelines. Such plans shall comply with all applicable state and |
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250 | 250 | | 197federal laws, and shall be updated, at a minimum, every 3 years. |
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251 | 251 | | 198 (ii) Establish a process for reviewing plans based on clearly defined criteria. A public |
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252 | 252 | | 199school district or charter school shall amend any plan deemed not to conform with the |
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253 | 253 | | 200requirements of this section. A public school district or charter school shall be deemed to have |
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254 | 254 | | 201satisfied the requirements of this section if it has prioritized diversity in its 3-year plan required |
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255 | 255 | | 202by section 1S of chapter 69, as amended by chapter 132 of the acts of 2019, or in any other |
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256 | 256 | | 203strategic plan developed by the district. |
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257 | 257 | | 204 (iii) Establish periodic reporting requirements for public school districts and charter |
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258 | 258 | | 205schools concerning the implementation of their plans and all actions taken to ensure compliance |
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259 | 259 | | 206with this section and applicable state and federal laws. These reporting requirements shall be |
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260 | 260 | | 207incorporated into existing reporting mechanisms and schedules where feasible. |
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261 | 261 | | 208 (iv) Assist public school districts and charter schools in complying with their plans and |
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262 | 262 | | 209applicable federal and state laws. |
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263 | 263 | | 210 (v) Require approved educator preparation programs to implement plans to increase the |
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264 | 264 | | 211racial, ethnic, and linguistic diversity of program completers. These plans shall be required as 11 of 15 |
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265 | 265 | | 212part of the educator preparation program approval process and the department shall make each |
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266 | 266 | | 213program’s plan publicly available. The department shall establish guidelines for educator |
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267 | 267 | | 214preparation program diversity plans. |
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268 | 268 | | 215 (b) The board of elementary and secondary education shall review compliance with these |
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269 | 269 | | 216plans and policies on a regular basis and may provide further recommendations regarding |
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270 | 270 | | 217educator diversity. |
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271 | 271 | | 218 SECTION 11. Chapter 71 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after |
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272 | 272 | | 219section 99 the following section:- |
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273 | 273 | | 220 Section 100. (a) Each public school district and charter school shall appoint or hire a |
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274 | 274 | | 221diversity, equity, and inclusion officer(s) or establish a diversity team, referred to in this section |
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275 | 275 | | 222as a diversity officer or team. The role and responsibilities of a diversity officer or team may be |
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276 | 276 | | 223assigned to an existing school employee or existing school entity. A diversity officer or team |
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277 | 277 | | 224shall report directly to the superintendent. Diversity officers or teams shall coordinate their |
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278 | 278 | | 225school district’s compliance with the requirements of this section and applicable federal and state |
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279 | 279 | | 226laws. Should a district or charter school have a diversity officer or team already in place, that |
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280 | 280 | | 227shall satisfy the requirement of this section. |
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281 | 281 | | 228 (b) Each public school district and charter school shall establish a process for advising the |
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282 | 282 | | 229school committee or board of trustees on matters of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the school |
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283 | 283 | | 230district or charter school. This process may include establishing an educator diversity council |
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284 | 284 | | 231consisting of educators, administrators, parents or caregivers, and students, which shall meet |
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285 | 285 | | 232regularly with the superintendent or the diversity officer or teams and the school committee or |
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286 | 286 | | 233board of trustees. For such councils that are established, members shall, to the best ability of a 12 of 15 |
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287 | 287 | | 234school district or charter school, represent a diversity of identities, including but not limited to |
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288 | 288 | | 235race, ethnicity, culture, immigration status, sex, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, |
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289 | 289 | | 236and socioeconomic level. The school committee or board of trustees may appoint a member of |
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290 | 290 | | 237the committee to serve as an ex-officio member of the educator diversity council. |
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291 | 291 | | 238 (c) Pursuant to guidelines established by the department, all superintendents, school |
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292 | 292 | | 239committee members, boards of trustees members, district leaders, principals, and school district |
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293 | 293 | | 240employees shall attend diversity and implicit bias training every two years; provided that training |
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294 | 294 | | 241completed during certification or recertification pursuant to paragraph 36 of section 38G of |
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295 | 295 | | 242chapter 71 shall satisfy this requirement for the year in which the training was completed. |
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296 | 296 | | 243 SECTION 12. Section 18 of Chapter 74, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is |
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297 | 297 | | 244hereby amended by striking the first paragraph and inserting in place thereof the following |
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298 | 298 | | 245paragraph:- |
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299 | 299 | | 246 The state board shall establish basic competency-based vocational-technical teacher |
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300 | 300 | | 247training standards which shall serve as the fundamental, pedagogical requirements for beginning |
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301 | 301 | | 248vocational-technical instructors. The board shall further require that all persons seeking to meet |
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302 | 302 | | 249the board's requirements shall have successfully passed performance and written tests in areas as |
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303 | 303 | | 250determined by the board or shall have satisfied alternative measures of proficiency established by |
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304 | 304 | | 251the board and shall have successfully completed an approved seminar on teaching skills and |
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305 | 305 | | 252methods. |
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306 | 306 | | 253 SECTION 13. (a) Notwithstanding any general law or special law to the contrary, the |
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307 | 307 | | 254department of elementary and secondary education shall, subject to appropriation, develop and |
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308 | 308 | | 255administer a 2-year pilot program, in partnership with a college or university or school or district 13 of 15 |
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309 | 309 | | 256or other institution offering an approved preparation program pursuant to Section 38G of Chapter |
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310 | 310 | | 25771 of the General Laws, for teacher apprenticeships during which participants shall complete a |
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311 | 311 | | 258paid teaching apprenticeship for 2 full school years in a high-needs district in the classroom with |
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312 | 312 | | 259a highly proficient mentor teacher, as determined by the department using factors including but |
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313 | 313 | | 260not limited to traditional measures of effectiveness and demonstrated evidence-based practices, |
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314 | 314 | | 261as determined by the department. As used herein, “high-needs” shall be defined as: schools or |
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315 | 315 | | 262districts with a high percentage of low-income students and English learners, which may include |
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316 | 316 | | 263schools or districts implementing turnaround plans. The program shall provide sufficient funds to |
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317 | 317 | | 264candidates to support earning a competitive wage, including but not limited to support for |
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318 | 318 | | 265childcare, transportation, textbooks, and other core expenses, to ensure a diverse cohort are able |
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319 | 319 | | 266to fully participate. In designing the program, the department shall partner with the |
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320 | 320 | | 267Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development and consult the National |
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321 | 321 | | 268Guidelines for Apprenticeship Standards (NGS) for Registered Apprenticeships for K-12 |
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322 | 322 | | 269teachers. The department shall seek to maximize revenues through federal monies, matching |
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323 | 323 | | 270funds and grants to support this program. Subject to available state and federal funds, the |
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324 | 324 | | 271department shall consider the feasibility of a no-cost or tuition-free program for some or all |
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325 | 325 | | 272participants on the basis of a participant’s financial need. |
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326 | 326 | | 273 (b) In administering the pilot program, the department shall promulgate regulations |
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327 | 327 | | 274defining the apprenticeship and the target candidates to be admitted to the program. |
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328 | 328 | | 275 (c) The department shall file a report with the clerks of the house of representatives and |
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329 | 329 | | 276the senate and the joint committee on education no later than 1 year after the completion of the |
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330 | 330 | | 277pilot on the outcome of the pilot program. The report shall include data on the demographics of |
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331 | 331 | | 278participants, licensure pass rates, hiring rates, and an assessment of the feasibility of applying for 14 of 15 |
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332 | 332 | | 279status as a United States Registered Apprenticeship. The department shall file a report with the |
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333 | 333 | | 280clerks of the house of representatives and the senate and joint committee on education no later |
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334 | 334 | | 281than 3 years after the completion of the pilot that includes, at a minimum, an evaluation of the |
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335 | 335 | | 282impact of apprentices on student outcomes as compared to teachers not participating in the pilot |
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336 | 336 | | 283using traditional measures of effectiveness, as determined by the department, and an assessment |
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337 | 337 | | 284of the feasibility of expanding to a 2-year teacher apprenticeship for all teacher candidates or all |
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338 | 338 | | 285candidates in high-needs districts. |
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339 | 339 | | 286 SECTION 14. (a) Not later than October 1, 2025, the department of elementary and |
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340 | 340 | | 287secondary education, or any department or agency thereof designated by the executive office, |
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341 | 341 | | 288shall establish a public information campaign, which shall be no less than 1 year, to educate and |
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342 | 342 | | 289promote awareness to the public of available state scholarships and loan forgiveness programs |
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343 | 343 | | 290for prospective educators. The campaign shall include, but not be limited to, information about |
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344 | 344 | | 291the availability and eligibility for such scholarships and loan forgiveness programs. The |
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345 | 345 | | 292department of elementary and secondary education, or any department or agency thereof |
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346 | 346 | | 293designated by the executive office, shall seek to ensure that the information campaign reaches |
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347 | 347 | | 294individuals applying to public institutions of higher education, pursuant to section 5 of chapter |
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348 | 348 | | 29515A of the General Laws, and community colleges, pursuant to section 10 of chapter 15A of the |
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349 | 349 | | 296General Laws. |
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350 | 350 | | 297 (b) Not later than October 1, 2027, the department shall report to the joint committee on |
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351 | 351 | | 298education on the impact of the public information campaign, including data on the numbers of |
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352 | 352 | | 299applicants for available state scholarships and loan forgiveness programs and the awarding of |
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353 | 353 | | 300such scholarships and loan forgiveness program participants. 15 of 15 |
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354 | 354 | | 301 SECTION 15. The board of elementary and secondary education shall promulgate rules |
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355 | 355 | | 302and regulations to implement the requirements of this act. Such regulations shall include a |
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356 | 356 | | 303schedule for public school districts and charter schools to meet the planning and reporting |
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357 | 357 | | 304requirements of this act, provided that such schedule shall prioritize implementation for school |
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358 | 358 | | 305districts and charter schools that have significant disparities between educator and student |
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359 | 359 | | 306demographics, according to racial, ethnic, and linguistic diversity. |
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