Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts Senate Bill S437 Compare Versions

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

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1278 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
3	3	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 437
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Pavel M. Payano
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 relative to dropout prevention and student recovery.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Pavel M. PayanoFirst Essex 1 of 4
16	16	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1278 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
17	17	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 437
18	18	By Mr. Payano, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 437) of Pavel M. Payano for
19	19	legislation relative to dropout prevention and student recovery. Education.
20	20	[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
21	21	SEE SENATE, NO. 341 OF 2023-2024.]
22	22	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
23	23	_______________
24	24	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
25	25	(2025-2026)
26	26	_______________
27	27	An Act relative to dropout prevention and student recovery.
28	28	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
29	29	of the same, as follows:
30	30	1 SECTION 1. Section 1B of chapter 69 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022
31	31	2Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “attendance”, in line 120, the
32	32	3following words:- ; provided, however, that all children under the age of 18 shall be required to
33	33	4attend school if they have not graduated from high school.
34	34	5 SECTION 2. Chapter 741 of the acts of 1965 is hereby repealed.
35	35	6 SECTION 3. (a) Subject to appropriation, the department of elementary and secondary
36	36	7education shall develop and administer a 3-year pilot program for dropout prevention and
37	37	8recovery programs for school districts with annual dropout rates greater than the state average.
38	38	9The pilot program shall be a competitive grant process for school districts or local community
39	39	10agencies serving students who reside in the districts. 2 of 4
40	40	11 (b) The dropout prevention and recovery programs shall target high school students who
41	41	12have dropped out of school or are at risk of dropping out of school using at least 1 of the methods
42	42	13described in clauses (i) to (iv), inclusive.
43	43	14 (i) Alternative education, which shall mean diploma or general educational development
44	44	15granting programs that use evidence-based instruction and student support strategies designed to
45	45	16meet the needs of the target population and prepare them for postsecondary education or training.
46	46	17The evidence-based instruction and student support strategies may include, but shall not be
47	47	18limited to: smaller class size, competency-based learning, project-based learning, work-based
48	48	19learning, community service learning, graduation coaching, case management, family
49	49	20engagement, wraparound support, restorative justice and social service referrals;
50	50	21 (ii) Graduation coaches, who shall be professionals with youth development and
51	51	22academic support expertise and shall provide graduation plans to the target population. The
52	52	23graduation plans shall include, at a minimum, academic, career and postsecondary goals.
53	53	24Graduation coaches shall also provide follow-up support to complete the graduation plans,
54	54	25navigate academic requirements, engage families, overcome socio-emotional barriers and secure
55	55	26appropriate social services.
56	56	27 (iii) Dropout outreach and recovery programs, which shall mean targeted outreach and
57	57	28transition support for students who have dropped out of school. The programs shall, at a
58	58	29minimum: (1) reach out to students; (1) determine their academic status and personal
59	59	30circumstances; (3) assist students in enrolling in a high school or general educational
60	60	31development program; and (4) provide transitional support and track student academic progress. 3 of 4
61	61	32 (iv) Expectant and parenting student support, which may include, but shall not be limited
62	62	33to: (1) the development and implementation of school policies that set high academic
63	63	34expectations, establish procedures for maternity and paternity leave, and provide flexible
64	64	35scheduling; (2) expectant and parenting student liaisons who shall work with students to develop
65	65	36graduation plans that include, at a minimum, academic, career and postsecondary goals and who
66	66	37provide follow-up support to complete the graduation plans, navigate academic requirements,
67	67	38engage families, overcome socio-emotional barriers and secure appropriate social services; and
68	68	39(3) annual data collection that shall include, but shall not limited to, the number of parenting
69	69	40students in the district, any supports or interventions provided to the parenting students, and
70	70	41parenting student progress toward and completion of secondary school.
71	71	42 (c) The department shall develop guidelines for an annual review of the progress being
72	72	43made by each district and local community agency participating in the pilot program. Each
73	73	44district and agency in the pilot program shall participate in any evaluation or accountability
74	74	45process implemented by or authorized by the department. The department shall prepare and
75	75	46submit an annual report describing and analyzing the implementation of the pilot program in all
76	76	47participating districts. The report shall include, but shall not be limited to: (i) the number of
77	77	48participating school districts, schools and local community agencies; (ii) the number of students
78	78	49served and the type and duration of those services; (iii) the progress made by those students
79	79	50toward attaining a high school diploma or general educational development; and (iv) the number
80	80	51of students served who have attained a high school diploma or passed the general educational
81	81	52development test. The department shall file its annual report not later than September 1 of each
82	82	53year by filing the same with the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate who shall
83	83	54forward a copy of the report to the joint committee on education. The department shall file a final 4 of 4
84	84	55report within 6 months of the conclusion of the 3-year pilot period that shall include an analysis
85	85	56of all relevant data so as to determine the effectiveness of the program and specific legislative
86	86	57recommendations, including whether the program should be expanded, maintained or
87	87	58discontinued, by filing the same with the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate
88	88	59who shall forward a copy of the report to the joint committee on education.
89	89	60 SECTION 4. Section 1 shall take effect on September 1, 2025.