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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1278 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 437
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Pavel M. Payano
_________________
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 relative to dropout prevention and student recovery.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Pavel M. PayanoFirst Essex 1 of 4
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1278 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 437
By Mr. Payano, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 437) of Pavel M. Payano for
legislation relative to dropout prevention and student recovery. Education.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 341 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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An Act relative to dropout prevention and student recovery.
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 1. Section 1B of chapter 69 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022
2Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “attendance”, in line 120, the
3following words:- ; provided, however, that all children under the age of 18 shall be required to
4attend school if they have not graduated from high school.
5 SECTION 2. Chapter 741 of the acts of 1965 is hereby repealed.
6 SECTION 3. (a) Subject to appropriation, the department of elementary and secondary
7education shall develop and administer a 3-year pilot program for dropout prevention and
8recovery programs for school districts with annual dropout rates greater than the state average.
9The pilot program shall be a competitive grant process for school districts or local community
10agencies serving students who reside in the districts. 2 of 4
11 (b) The dropout prevention and recovery programs shall target high school students who
12have dropped out of school or are at risk of dropping out of school using at least 1 of the methods
13described in clauses (i) to (iv), inclusive.
14 (i) Alternative education, which shall mean diploma or general educational development
15granting programs that use evidence-based instruction and student support strategies designed to
16meet the needs of the target population and prepare them for postsecondary education or training.
17The evidence-based instruction and student support strategies may include, but shall not be
18limited to: smaller class size, competency-based learning, project-based learning, work-based
19learning, community service learning, graduation coaching, case management, family
20engagement, wraparound support, restorative justice and social service referrals;
21 (ii) Graduation coaches, who shall be professionals with youth development and
22academic support expertise and shall provide graduation plans to the target population. The
23graduation plans shall include, at a minimum, academic, career and postsecondary goals.
24Graduation coaches shall also provide follow-up support to complete the graduation plans,
25navigate academic requirements, engage families, overcome socio-emotional barriers and secure
26appropriate social services.
27 (iii) Dropout outreach and recovery programs, which shall mean targeted outreach and
28transition support for students who have dropped out of school. The programs shall, at a
29minimum: (1) reach out to students; (1) determine their academic status and personal
30circumstances; (3) assist students in enrolling in a high school or general educational
31development program; and (4) provide transitional support and track student academic progress. 3 of 4
32 (iv) Expectant and parenting student support, which may include, but shall not be limited
33to: (1) the development and implementation of school policies that set high academic
34expectations, establish procedures for maternity and paternity leave, and provide flexible
35scheduling; (2) expectant and parenting student liaisons who shall work with students to develop
36graduation plans that include, at a minimum, academic, career and postsecondary goals and who
37provide follow-up support to complete the graduation plans, navigate academic requirements,
38engage families, overcome socio-emotional barriers and secure appropriate social services; and
39(3) annual data collection that shall include, but shall not limited to, the number of parenting
40students in the district, any supports or interventions provided to the parenting students, and
41parenting student progress toward and completion of secondary school.
42 (c) The department shall develop guidelines for an annual review of the progress being
43made by each district and local community agency participating in the pilot program. Each
44district and agency in the pilot program shall participate in any evaluation or accountability
45process implemented by or authorized by the department. The department shall prepare and
46submit an annual report describing and analyzing the implementation of the pilot program in all
47participating districts. The report shall include, but shall not be limited to: (i) the number of
48participating school districts, schools and local community agencies; (ii) the number of students
49served and the type and duration of those services; (iii) the progress made by those students
50toward attaining a high school diploma or general educational development; and (iv) the number
51of students served who have attained a high school diploma or passed the general educational
52development test. The department shall file its annual report not later than September 1 of each
53year by filing the same with the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate who shall
54forward a copy of the report to the joint committee on education. The department shall file a final 4 of 4
55report within 6 months of the conclusion of the 3-year pilot period that shall include an analysis
56of all relevant data so as to determine the effectiveness of the program and specific legislative
57recommendations, including whether the program should be expanded, maintained or
58discontinued, by filing the same with the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate
59who shall forward a copy of the report to the joint committee on education.
60 SECTION 4. Section 1 shall take effect on September 1, 2025.