Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts Senate Bill S398 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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1	1	1 of 1
2	2	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1473 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
3	3	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 398
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Jason M. Lewis
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 student college and career success and civic engagement.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Jason M. LewisFifth MiddlesexJoanne M. ComerfordHampshire, Franklin and Worcester1/23/2025Rebecca L. RauschNorfolk, Worcester and Middlesex1/24/2025James B. EldridgeMiddlesex and Worcester2/11/2025 1 of 6
16	16	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1473 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
17	17	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 398
18	18	By Mr. Lewis, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 398) of Jason M. Lewis, Joanne M.
19	19	Comerford, Rebecca L. Rausch and James B. Eldridge for legislation relative to programs of
20	20	study for high school students and graduation requirements. 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 student college and career success and civic engagement.
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 1D of chapter 69 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022
30	30	2Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out subsection (i) and inserting in place thereof
31	31	3the following section:-
32	32	4 (i) The “competency determination” shall be based on the academic standards and
33	33	5curriculum frameworks for high school education in the areas of English, mathematics, science
34	34	6and technology, history and social science, foreign languages, and arts, and shall represent a
35	35	7determination that a particular student has demonstrated mastery of a common core of skills,
36	36	8competencies and knowledge in these areas, as measured by the requirements set out in section
37	37	938. Satisfaction of the requirements of the competency determination shall be a condition for
38	38	10high school graduation.
39	39	11 SECTION 2. Chapter 69 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
40	40	12section 37 the following section:- 2 of 6
41	41	13 Section 38. High School Education Program of Study
42	42	14 (a) The department, with approval from the board and with advice and guidance from the
43	43	15advisory council established pursuant to subsection (d), shall adopt a program of study intended
44	44	16to align high school coursework with college and career expectations and promote civic
45	45	17engagement.
46	46	18 (b) The department shall determine, with advice and guidance from the advisory council
47	47	19established pursuant to subsection (d), the requirements and implementation of the program of
48	48	20study in all schools and districts in the Commonwealth. In making requirements and
49	49	21implementation determinations, the department shall include, but not be limited to, the following
50	50	22considerations: (i) establishing a timeline for districts to be in compliance with the program of
51	51	23study and for the program to be implemented as a condition of the competency determination,
52	52	24including gathering data and feedback from schools and districts to determine what resources
53	53	25are needed to become compliant; (ii) ensuring that the content of the program of study and the
54	54	26resulting student skills, knowledge and competencies are comparable in their application and
55	55	27rigor in all schools and districts in the Commonwealth, which may include the use of syllabus
56	56	28review, performance-based assessments or other approaches; (iii) creating a process for schools
57	57	29and districts to request a time limited waiver for compliance with this section based on hardship;
58	58	30(iv) determining any modifications or exceptions for particular sub-groups of students for
59	59	31required coursework in the program of study, including, but not limited to, students with severe
60	60	32cognitive disabilities, newly arrived immigrant students, newly arrived students from other
61	61	33states, English Language Learners, and vocational and technical education students; (v)
62	62	34determining if there should be an appeals process or educational assistance plan for students who
63	63	35have difficulty completing the program of study and a requirement to provide the student’s 3 of 6
64	64	36parent or guardian the opportunity to review this plan; (vi) reporting requirements that districts
65	65	37must complete to illustrate compliance with this section, provided that such reporting
66	66	38requirements are consistent with and not duplicative of existing reporting requirements; and (vii)
67	67	39any other requirements that the department deems necessary to ensure that the program of study
68	68	40is equitably and successfully implemented in all schools and districts.
69	69	41 (c) The department, with advice and guidance from the advisory council established
70	70	42pursuant to subsection (d), may consider, as a further condition of the competency determination,
71	71	43that students must also complete one or more additional learning experiences or enrichment
72	72	44opportunities, in addition to the program of study. These additional learning experiences or
73	73	45enrichment opportunities may include, but not be limited to, a service-learning project, a
74	74	46capstone project, completing one or more advanced placement courses, meeting certain scores on
75	75	47an SAT or ACT or other exam, taking one or more dual credit or early college courses,
76	76	48participating in one or more internships or other work-based learning, participating in one or
77	77	49more extracurricular activities, completing an innovation pathway, obtaining an industry
78	78	50recognized credential, participating in My Career and Academic Plan or meeting standards on
79	79	51the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery. If the department requires one or more
80	80	52additional learning experiences or enrichment opportunities, (i) the department must offer a
81	81	53range of options for students to choose from to meet this requirement; and (ii) schools and
82	82	54districts must offer their students multiple options, but are not required to offer all department
83	83	55approved options.
84	84	56 (d) The department shall establish a competency determination advisory council to advise
85	85	57and assist the department on all aspects of the requirements and implementation of the
86	86	58competency determination as defined in section 1D. The advisory council shall include 1 4 of 6
87	87	59member from each of the following organizations, or a designee: the Massachusetts Association
88	88	60of School Superintendents; the Massachusetts Association of Regional Schools; the
89	89	61Massachusetts Teachers Association; the American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts; the
90	90	62Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators Inc.; the Massachusetts Public Charter
91	91	63School Association; the Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education; the Massachusetts
92	92	64Association for School Committees; the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation; and
93	93	65Massachusetts School Administrators’ Association; and 5 additional members to be appointed by
94	94	66the commissioner representing a range of stakeholders with diversity in geography, backgrounds
95	95	67and experience.
96	96	68 (e) The department shall hold not less than 5 public hearings in geographically diverse
97	97	69regions across the commonwealth to solicit public input on requirements and implementation of
98	98	70the program of study.
99	99	71 (f) The department shall, subject to appropriation, provide technical assistance and
100	100	72establish a grant program for schools and districts to support implementation of the program of
101	101	73study required by this section.
102	102	74 (g) The department shall review and update the program of study and requirements no
103	103	75less frequently than every 10 years.
104	104	76 (h) The department shall promulgate regulations for the implementation, administration
105	105	77and enforcement of this section.
106	106	78 SECTION 3. (a) There shall be a special commission on the school and district
107	107	79assessment and accountability system. 5 of 6
108	108	80 (b) The commission shall review the Commonwealth’s current assessment and
109	109	81accountability system, including provisions in sections 1I, 1J and 1K of chapter 69 of the
110	110	82General Laws that affect the performance, efficacy and impact of the school and district
111	111	83assessment and accountability system. The commission shall develop recommendations,
112	112	84including proposed amendments to sections 1I, 1J and 1K of chapter 69 of the General Laws, on
113	113	85ways to improve the Commonwealth’s school and district assessment and accountability system.
114	114	86 The special commission shall consider (i) changes to the accountability system that
115	115	87include a broader range of measures that align with public values and are less tied to student
116	116	88demography; (ii) the strengths and weaknesses of the current school and district assessment and
117	117	89accountability system; (iii) how this system is contributing to better opportunities and outcomes
118	118	90for all students, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds; (iv) the extent that students,
119	119	91educators, families and other stakeholders are being well served or not by this system; (v) what
120	120	92we can learn from new assessment and accountability approaches and models in Massachusetts
121	121	93and other states; (vi) how much flexibility Massachusetts has to make changes given federal laws
122	122	94and regulations; and (vii) any other considerations that the commission deems necessary.
123	123	95 (c) Commission members shall include the following: the house and senate chairs of the
124	124	96joint committee on education, who shall serve as co-chairs; 1 member appointed by the speaker
125	125	97of the house of representatives; 1 member appointed by the president of the senate; 1 member
126	126	98appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives; 1 member appointed by the
127	127	99minority leader of the senate; the commissioner of elementary and secondary education or
128	128	100designee; the secretary of education or designee; and 1 member to be appointed by each of the
129	129	101following organizations: Massachusetts Association of School Committees, Inc.; Massachusetts
130	130	102Association of School Superintendents, Inc.; Massachusetts Teachers Association; American 6 of 6
131	131	103Federation of Teachers Massachusetts; Massachusetts Charter Public School Association;
132	132	104Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators; Massachusetts Association of Regional
133	133	105Schools; the Education Commonwealth Project; Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation;
134	134	106Massachusetts School Administrators’ Association; and Massachusetts Business Alliance for
135	135	107Education; and 4 additional members to be appointed by the Governor representing a range of
136	136	108stakeholders with diversity in geography, backgrounds and experience.
137	137	109 (d) The department shall hold not less than 5 public hearings in geographically diverse
138	138	110regions across the commonwealth to solicit public input on the school and district assessment
139	139	111and accountability system.
140	140	112 (e) The commission shall report its findings and recommendations, including drafts of
141	141	113any proposed legislation, to the clerks of the senate and house of representatives and joint
142	142	114committee on education no later than June 30, 2027.
143	143	115 (f) While the special commission performs the review as required by this section,
144	144	116subsections (r), (s), (v)(1) and(w)(2)-(3) of section 1J of chapter 69 of the general laws and the
145	145	117second paragraph of subsection (a) and subsection (e) of section 1K of said chapter 69 shall not
146	146	118be in effect.