Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H585 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 239 FILED ON: 1/7/2025
3	3	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 585
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Carmine Lawrence Gentile
8	8	_________________
9	9	To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
10	10	Court assembled:
11	11	The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying
12	12	resolve:
13	13	Resolve authorizing a study of starting times and schedules.
14	14	_______________
15	15	PETITION OF:
16	16	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Carmine Lawrence Gentile13th Middlesex1/7/2025James B. EldridgeMiddlesex and Worcester2/10/2025 1 of 2
17	17	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 239 FILED ON: 1/7/2025
18	18	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 585
19	19	By Representative Gentile of Sudbury, a petition (accompanied by resolve, House, No. 585) of
20	20	Carmine Lawrence Gentile and James B. Eldridge for an investigation by a task force relative to
21	21	the effect of school day start times for middle and secondary school students. Education.
22	22	[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
23	23	SEE HOUSE, NO. 486 OF 2023-2024.]
24	24	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
25	25	_______________
26	26	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
27	27	(2025-2026)
28	28	_______________
29	29	Resolve authorizing a study of starting times and schedules.
30	30	1 Resolved, That the department of elementary and secondary education shall convene an
31	31	2educational task force to review the effect of school day start times for middle school and
32	32	3secondary school students. The task force shall consist of: the commissioner of elementary and
33	33	4secondary education or a designee who shall serve as chair; the secretary of education or a
34	34	5designee; the executive director of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, Inc. or
35	35	6a designee; the executive director of the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents,
36	36	7Inc. or a designee; the executive director of the Massachusetts Secondary Schools
37	37	8Administration Association, Inc. or a designee; the executive director of Start School Later, Inc.
38	38	9or a designee; the executive director of the Massachusetts Association of School Business
39	39	10Officials, Inc. or a designee; a representative from the National Sleep Foundation; a parent of a
40	40	11high school student who is a member of a school council, as defined in section 59C of chapter 71 2 of 2
41	41	12of the General Laws; and a superintendent from a district which has implemented later school
42	42	13day start times.
43	43	14 The task force shall: (i) conduct a comprehensive study, including a review of the
44	44	15scientific findings relative to sleep needs of adolescents and the effect that middle school and
45	45	16secondary school day start times have on the health and academic performance of students; (ii)
46	46	17determine the number of districts in the commonwealth that have implemented later school day
47	47	18start times for middle schools and secondary schools and examine the academic performance of
48	48	19students, including performance on statewide tests; and (iii) identify resources and opportunities
49	49	20to assist districts in implementing later school day start times for middle schools and secondary
50	50	21schools, should the task force’s findings under clauses (i) and (ii) suggest that a later school day
51	51	22start time is beneficial to student learning.
52	52	23 The task force shall file a report containing its findings and recommendations, including
53	53	24legislation necessary to carry out its recommendations, with the clerks of the senate and house of
54	54	25representatives by July 1, 2026.