Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H734 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. 2046 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
3	3	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 734
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Andres X. Vargas and Manny Cruz
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 fulfilling the promise of education reform.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Andres X. Vargas3rd Essex1/15/2025Manny Cruz7th Essex1/15/2025Paul McMurtry11th Norfolk3/3/2025 1 of 2
16	16	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2046 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
17	17	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 734
18	18	By Representatives Vargas of Haverhill and Cruz of Salem, a petition (accompanied by bill,
19	19	House, No. 734) of Andres X. Vargas, Manny Cruz and Paul McMurtry for legislation to
20	20	establish a special commission (including members of the General Court) to be known as the
21	21	promise commission to conduct an ongoing study of all matters concerning education in the 21st
22	22	century. Education.
23	23	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
24	24	_______________
25	25	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
26	26	(2025-2026)
27	27	_______________
28	28	An Act fulfilling the promise of education reform.
29	29	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
30	30	of the same, as follows:
31	31	1 Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the Legislature shall establish
32	32	2a commission, hereafter referred to as “the Promise Commission”, the purpose of which is to
33	33	3study the current status, structures, future vision and needs of public education. Said commission
34	34	4shall develop a plan to align the Commonwealth’s expectations for public education in the next
35	35	5decade with demonstrable evidence that students have developed the necessary competencies to
36	36	6succeed in an ever-evolving world.
37	37	7 SECTION 1. The Promise Commission shall consist of eleven (11) members appointed
38	38	8as follows: House Speaker or a designee, the Senate President or a designee, the Commissioner
39	39	9of Elementary and Secondary Education, the Commissioner of Early Education and Care, the
40	40	10Commissioner of Higher Education, a member appointed by the Massachusetts Association of
41	41	11School Superintendents, a member appointed by the Massachusetts Association of School 2 of 2
42	42	12Committees, a member appointed by the Massachusetts affiliate of the American Federation of
43	43	13Teachers, a member appointed by the Massachusetts Teachers Association, a member appointed
44	44	14by the Massachusetts Education Equity Partnership, and a Massachusetts based member
45	45	15appointed by Latinos for Education.
46	46	16 SECTION 2. The Commission shall conduct an ongoing study of all matters concerning
47	47	17education in the 21st Century, including but not limited to: educator pipeline (including
48	48	18recruitment, career development, and retention); educator diversity; improved reputation and
49	49	19perception of the profession; curriculum and course of studies that meet the needs of students in
50	50	20a global society regarding technology; flexible learning models beyond traditional “seat time;”
51	51	21multilingualism as an asset and an aspiration; multiple modes of assessing learning beyond
52	52	22MCAS; identifying valid and credible high school competency determination paths and methods;
53	53	23broader methods used for accountability that are ambitious, attainable, and compassionate;
54	54	24reexamination of charter schools as part of the accountability system; and structures that take
55	55	25students from pre-K through college and provide the wrap-around social/emotional and
56	56	26education coaching at each age. With these and other goals, the Commission will dive deep into
57	57	27best practices found in other states and other countries.
58	58	28 SECTION 3.The Promise Commission shall develop a comprehensive report that
59	59	29reenvisions the power and potential of the Massachusetts education system for all students who
60	60	30are in our schools and who will be in our schools for years to come.
61	61	31 SECTION 4. Said commission shall report its findings to the secretary of education, the
62	62	32clerks of the house and senate,and the committees on ways and means and education arts and
63	63	33humanities by no later than March 1, 2026