Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H657 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. 967 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
3	3	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 657
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	James J. O'Day
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 bill:
12	12	An Act to promote collaboration in Horace Mann and Innovation Schools.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:James J. O'Day14th Worcester1/14/2025 1 of 2
16	16	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 967 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
17	17	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 657
18	18	By Representative O'Day of West Boylston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 657) of
19	19	James J. O'Day for legislation to promote collaboration in Horace Mann and innovation schools.
20	20	Education.
21	21	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
22	22	_______________
23	23	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
24	24	(2025-2026)
25	25	_______________
26	26	An Act to promote collaboration in Horace Mann and Innovation Schools.
27	27	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
28	28	of the same, as follows:
29	29	1 SECTION 1. Section 89 of chapter 71 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022
30	30	2Official Edition, is hereby amended in subsection (i), clause (3) by striking the words “provided,
31	31	3however, notwithstanding subsection (c) the 14 new Horace Mann charter schools shall not be
32	32	4subject to the requirement of an agreement with the local collective bargaining unit prior to
33	33	5board approval; provided, further, that after the charter for these 14 new Horace Mann charter
34	34	6schools have been granted by the board, the schools shall develop a memorandum of
35	35	7understanding with the school committee and the local union regarding any waivers to applicable
36	36	8collective bargaining agreements; provided, further, that if an agreement is not reached on the
37	37	9memorandum of understanding at least 30 days before the scheduled opening of the school, the
38	38	10charter school shall operate under the terms of its charter until an agreement is reached” 2 of 2
39	39	11 SECTION 2. Section 92 of Chapter 71 of the General Laws, is hereby amended by
40	40	12striking out subsection (l), as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, and inserting in place
41	41	13thereof the following subsection:-
42	42	14 (l) Upon the completion of the innovation plan in subsection (j), the applicant, a local
43	43	15union and the superintendent shall negotiate waivers or modifications to the applicable collective
44	44	16bargaining agreement necessary for the school to implement the innovation plan.
45	45	17 In the case of a school conversion, upon the conclusion of the negotiations, the
46	46	18innovation plan shall be submitted immediately to the teachers in the school that is proposed for
47	47	19conversion for approval by secret ballot within 30 days. A two-thirds vote of the teachers shall
48	48	20be required to approve the plan. If a two-thirds vote is not achieved, the local union and
49	49	21superintendent may revise the innovation plan as necessary and submit the revised plan to the
50	50	22teachers for a subsequent vote.
51	51	23 Upon the conclusion of the negotiations, the innovation plan shall be submitted
52	52	24immediately to the school committee.