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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 946 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 582
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
William C. Galvin, (BY REQUEST)
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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 relative to school committee oversight.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Paul McAuliffe1/14/2025 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 946 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 582
By Representative Galvin of Canton (by request), a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
582) of Paul McAuliffe relative to school committee oversight of courses of study including
courses concerning sexually transmitted infections. Education.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 482 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act relative to school committee oversight.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 Chapter 71 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 97 the
2following section:-
3 Section 98. School Committees shall ensure that the courses of study prescribed by law
4and by the rules of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education are carried out.
5 (a) The school committee may establish supplemental courses that are not inconsistent
6with the prescribed courses and may adopt courses of study in lieu of state courses of study upon
7approval by the district's Superintendent. 2 of 2
8 (b) For each course of study offered by a school district, the district school board shall
9ensure that the following information is made available to the public on the school district’s
10website:
11 (i) The title of, or other descriptive information for, any textbooks and instructional
12 materials used for the course and, when available, a link for the textbook or instructional
13 materials;
14 (ii) A syllabus for, or written summary of, the course; and
15 (iii) When applicable, identification of the state academic content standards that are being
16satisfied by the course.
17 (c) The school committee shall ensure that any changes to the information described in
18subparagraph (b) of this paragraph are reflected on the school district’s website within 30 days of
19the change.
20 (d) Any school committee may establish a course of education concerning sexually
21transmitted infections including recognition of causes, sources and symptoms, and the
22availability of diagnostic and treatment centers. Any such course established may be taught to
23adults from the community served by the individual schools as well as to students enrolled in the
24school. The board shall cause the parents or guardians of minor students to be notified in
25advance that the course is to be taught. Any such parent or guardian may direct in writing that
26the minor child in the care of the parent or guardian be excused from any class within the course.
27Any parent or guardian may inspect the instructional materials to be used before or during the
28time the course is taught.