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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 277 FILED ON: 1/10/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 309
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Michael D. Brady
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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
resolve:
Resolve An Act establishing a special commission on creating a more diversified teaching
workforce in the commonwealth.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Michael D. BradySecond Plymouth and Norfolk 1 of 3
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 277 FILED ON: 1/10/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 309
By Mr. Brady, a petition (accompanied by resolve, Senate, No. 309) of Michael D. Brady that
provisions be made for an investigation and study by a special commission (including members
of the General Court) creating a more diversified teaching workforce in the commonwealth.
Education.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 239 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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Resolve An Act establishing a special commission on creating a more diversified teaching
workforce in the commonwealth.
1 Resolved, (a) Whereas it has been determined that minority students face numerous
2obstacles particularly in gateway cities; and whereas there is increasing evidence that minority
3students benefit from having teachers from their same ethnic background and community; and
4whereas teachers of color make up only about ten percent of the Massachusetts’ teaching
5workforce while its K-12 student body is over forty percent students of color; and whereas
6certain educational, financial, and societal barriers disproportionately impact minority teaching
7candidates; and whereas the state legislature should understand the barriers to students of color
8entering the teaching profession and provide legislative support to create a cadre of teachers
9representing the diversity of the student body; and whereas a special Commission on teacher
10diversification in Massachusetts should be established to identify opportunities and make 2 of 3
11recommendations to increase access and offer more pathways for students of color to enter the
12teaching profession; therefore, said Commission shall be established and entitled the Special
13Commission on Teacher Diversification in Massachusetts.
14 (b) The Special Commission on Teacher Diversification in Massachusetts shall study and
15make recommendations regarding the diversification of the teaching workforce in the
16Commonwealth.
17 (c) The Commission shall: (1) evaluate existing teacher recruitment programs in local
18school districts, the department of elementary and secondary education, and other states aimed at
19diversifying the teaching workforce; (2) compile the best practices associated with these local
20school district and state programs (3) make recommendations for sustainable teacher
21diversification programs; (4) review the current pathways that exist between community colleges
22and public universities for entering the teaching profession; and (5) create a long-term
23comprehensive plan for developing and supporting a cadre of minority teachers. The study shall
24include a close examination of gateway cities, and the recommendations shall include specific
25information related to implementation strategies that benefit gateway cities in particular.
26Recommendations shall include, but not be limited to, strengthening opportunities to access
27teacher education programs in gateway cities, enrolling minority candidates in teacher
28preparation programs, and implementing targeted recruitment programs for minority teaching
29candidates.
30 (d) The Commission shall consist of 21 members as follows: the Secretary of Education
31who shall serve as the Chairperson, the House Chair of the Joint Committee on Education, the
32Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Education, the House Chair of the Joint Committee on 3 of 3
33Higher Education, the Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Higher Education, the
34Commissioner of Early Education and Care, the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary
35Education, the Commissioner of Higher Education, and the Chief Academic Officer of the
36Department of Higher Education, or their designee(s); and representatives from the following:
37 one of whom shall be from the University of Massachusetts, one of whom shall be from
38the Council of Presidents of the Massachusetts State Universities, one of whom shall be from the
39Massachusetts Association of Community Colleges, one of whom shall be from the Association
40of Independent Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts; one of whom shall be from the
41Massachusetts Teachers Association; one of whom shall be from the American Federation of
42Teachers Massachusetts; one of whom shall be from the Massachusetts Association of School
43Superintendents; one of whom shall be from the Massachusetts Association of School
44Committees; one of whom shall be from the Massachusetts Association of School Personnel
45Administrators; one of whom shall be from the Massachusetts School Administrators
46Association; one of whom shall be from the Massachusetts Elementary School Principals
47Association; and one of whom shall be from the Massachusetts Secondary School Administrators
48Association.
49 (e) Members of the Commission shall be named by the Secretary of Education and the
50Commission shall commence its work within 60 days of the effective date of this act. The
51Commission shall report to the general court and governor the results of its study, together with
52any draft legislation, regulations, or administrative procedure necessary to implement its
53recommendations by filing the same with the clerks of the house of representatives and the
54senate and the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on education and the joint
55committee on higher education, not more than 1 year after the establishment of said Commission.