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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1251 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 349
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Michael F. Rush
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act creating a grant program on alternative assessment models.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Michael F. RushNorfolk and SuffolkPaul McMurtry11th Norfolk2/8/2023 1 of 3
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1251 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 349
By Mr. Rush, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 349) of Michael F. Rush and Paul
McMurtry for legislation to create a grant program on alternative assessment models. Education.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 384 OF 2021-2022.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act creating a grant program on alternative assessment models.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Chapter 69 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2016 Official Edition,
2is hereby amended by inserting at the end the following new section:-
3 Section 37. (a)Notwithstanding subsection (i) of section one D of chapter 69, during the
4next three full school years following the effective date of this act, the requirement that a student
5must demonstrate mastery of a common core of skills, competencies and knowledge as measured
6by Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System or any other named statewide
7standardized assessment shall not be required as a condition for high school graduation.
8 (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of any general law, special law, regulation, or
9collective bargaining agreement to the contrary, during the next three full school years following
10the effective date of this act, the results from student learning measures that inform the educator 2 of 3
11plan or self-assessment shall not be used, in whole or in part, in an educator’s formative
12evaluation, formative assessment, or summative evaluation.
13 (c) During the next three full school years following the effective date of this act, the
14department shall not implement or use the mandated state standardized assessment to satisfy the
15accountability provisions of section 1J or section 1K of chapter 69.
16 (d) The department of elementary and secondary education shall create and implement a
17grant program within ninety days of the passage of this act to support the establishment of
18district task forces to develop and pilot alternative assessment models beginning at the start of
19the 2024-2025 school year. The purpose of the grant program is to enable educators, students,
20parents and local districts to establish a vision and goals for their public schools; to determine
21how best to evaluate whether or not their vision and goals are being met; and to identify what
22resources are needed to realize their vision and goals.
23 (i) A school district task force on assessment shall be formed at the local level in no more
24than twenty-five percent of public school districts.
25 (ii) Should more than twenty-five percent of school districts apply, the department shall
26establish a process by which grant applicants are selected in a manner that ensures the
27participation of economically disadvantaged school districts as defined in section 3A of chapter
2823A and school districts with a significant population of English language learners as defined in
29subsection (d) of Section 2 of Chapter 71A.
30 (iii) Each task force shall be co-chaired by the chair of the school committee, or the
31chair’s designee, and the president of the local education association, or the president’s designee.
32In addition to the co-chairs, the task force composition shall consist of no more than nine 3 of 3
33members of the community, parents, school staff including administrators and educators, and
34students as appropriate. The task forces may convene within thirty days of notification by the
35department that a grant has been awarded to the district.
36 (iv) Each task force shall annually report on its progress to the department.
37 (v) The department shall file an annual report on the status of the grant program, progress
38of applicants and assess the need for increased funding after the initial application cycle to the
39Committees on House Ways and Means, Senate Ways and Means, and the Joint Committee on
40Education annually on the progress of the pilot alternative assessment models.
41 SECTION 5. Chapter 11 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2016 official edition, is
42hereby amended by inserting after section 17 the following new section:-
43 Section 18. The state auditor shall audit the Department of Elementary and Secondary
44Education, established under Section 1A of Chapter 69 of the General Laws, at least once every
45three years beginning January 1, 2024. The audit shall include, but not limited to, contract bid
46practices, internal financial and practice reviews and controls, contract compliance, specifically
47review the current and former contracts between the department and Measured Progress as well
48as any subcontractors of said contract, including but not limited to Pearson, and review any other
49issues the state auditor deems appropriate to examine. The state auditor shall issue guidance for
50future contracts to be executed with a nonprofit based in Massachusetts with extensive
51knowledge of the educational system of the Commonwealth. Upon completion of the report, a
52copy shall be filed with the Clerk of the House of Representatives, the Clerk of the Senate, the
53Joint Committee on Education, the House Committee on Ways & Means and the Senate
54Committee on Ways & Means.