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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2054 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 718
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Joshua Tarsky
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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 to reduce out-of-school suspensions.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Joshua Tarsky13th Norfolk1/15/2025 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2054 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 718
By Representative Tarsky of Needham, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 718) of
Joshua Tarsky for legislation to reduce out-of-school suspensions. 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 to reduce out-of-school suspensions.
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 37H¾ of chapter 71 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official
2Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following subsection:-
3 (g)(1) For the purposes of this subsection, the term “in-school suspension” shall mean the
4removal of a student from regular classroom activities, but not from the school premises, for no
5more than 10 consecutive school days, or no more than 10 school days cumulatively for multiple
6infractions during the school year.
7 (2) Schools shall offer, where appropriate, an option for in-school suspension. A student
8serving an in-school suspension shall have the opportunity to earn credits, as applicable, and
9make up assignments, tests, papers and other school work as needed to make academic progress
10during the period of their removal from the classroom or school. In-school suspensions shall be
11monitored by: (i) at least 1 person who holds a standard educator certificate or a provisional
12educator certificate, pursuant to section 38G, and has experience teaching subject matter 2 of 2
13involving science or mathematics; and (ii) at least 1 person who holds a standard educator
14certificate or a provisional educator certificate, pursuant to said section 38G, and has experience
15teaching subject matter involving the humanities or social sciences; provided, that 1 person may
16satisfy the requirements of clauses (i) and (ii).
17 (3) The department shall provide funding or staff to any school that demonstrates an
18insufficient funding or staffing level for the maintenance of an in-school suspension program, as
19determined by the department.