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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3571 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 647
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Paul McMurtry
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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 start times for middle and high school students.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Paul McMurtry11th Norfolk1/17/2025 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3571 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 647
By Representative McMurtry of Dedham, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 647) of
Paul McMurtry relative to school start times for middle and high school students. Education.
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 start times for middle and high school students.
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 2020 Official Edition,
2is hereby amended by striking out section 1G and inserting in place thereof the following:-
3 Section 1G. (a) The board shall establish the minimum length for a school day and
4the minimum number of days in the school year.
5 (b) (i) The school day for all high schools, including high schools operated as
6charter schools, shall begin no earlier than 8:30 a.m.
7 (ii) The school day for all middle schools, including middle schools operated as
8charter schools, shall begin no earlier than 8:00 a.m.
9 (iii) For purposes of this section, “school day” has the same meaning as defined by
10the school district or charter school for purposes of calculating average daily attendance in order
11to compute any apportionments of state funding. 2 of 2
12 (iv) The board shall promulgate such rules and regulations as necessary to
13implement this section in a manner that is fair and equitable.
14 (v) If the board determines that this section contains costs mandated by the state,
15reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to
16chapters 70 and 71.
17 (vi) This section shall not apply to rural school districts.
18 SECTION 2. Section 1 shall be implemented by all public schools no later than
19July 1, 2028, or the date on which a school district’s or charter school’s respective collective
20bargaining agreement that is operative on January 1, 2026, expires, whichever is later. Section 1
21shall apply to all academic years after July 1, 2028.