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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2337 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 457
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Bruce E. Tarr
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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 bill:
An Act to establish the Middle School Innovation Fund.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Bruce E. TarrFirst Essex and Middlesex 1 of 3
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2337 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 457
By Mr. Tarr, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 457) of Bruce E. Tarr for legislation to
provide grants and other support to programs administered by local school districts that engage
project-centered group learning methods in grades 5-8. Education.
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 to establish the Middle School Innovation Fund.
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 - There is hereby established and set up on the books of the commonwealth, the
2Commonwealth Middle School Innovation Fund, the purpose of which shall be to provide grants
3and other support to programs administered by local school districts that engage project-centered
4group learning methods in grades 5-8 that integrate multiple areas of subject matter including but
5not limited to science and mathematics, promote learning among students at various skill levels,
6and seek to comport with the requirements of time on learning as contained in statute and
7regulations promulgated by the department of elementary and secondary education, including but
8not limited to 603 CMR 27.00.
9 Such grants may be used for purposes including but not limited to personnel costs,
10curriculum development and design, and materials.
11 Section 2 - Amounts shall be credited to the fund from legislative appropriation, gifts,
12grants, and other sources, provided that the department of elementary and secondary education 2 of 3
13shall work to identify and secure such grants to the maximum feasible extent. Amounts
14contained in the fund shall not revert to the general fund, but shall remain available for
15expenditure by the department, which shall promulgate regulations to distribute such grants in a
16fair and equitable manner. In doing so the department shall consider factors including but not
17limited to geographic distribution, distribution across the range of sizes of local school districts
18across the commonwealth, and maximizing the impact of such grants in developing programs
19and curriculum that are replicable and sustainable for such districts.
20 Section 3 - The fund shall be administered by the department, which shall develop and
21maintain the Commonwealth Middle School Innovation Council for the purposes of advising the
22department for the purposes of maximizing the effectiveness, sustainability, and practicality of
23programs funded in whole or in part by such grants. Said council shall be chaired by the
24commissioner of the department, and shall also include the secretary of education and the
25secretary of energy and economic development, and 9 additional members to be appointed by the
26governor, 1 of whom shall represent the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, 1 of
27whom shall represent the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents, 3 of whom shall
28represent middle school educators from diverse geographic regions in the commonwealth, 1 of
29whom shall represent local charitable education foundations, 2 of whom shall represent parents
30of middle school students in the commonwealth, 1 of whom shall represent an an organized labor
31organization representing educators in the commonwealth, and 1 of whom shall represent an
32institution of higher learning in the commonwealth with expertise in education and science,
33mathematics, and engineering. The council shall meet not less than twice per calendar year,
34provided that its meetings shall be public and shall provide for remote observation by the public
35through electronic means. 3 of 3
36 Section 4 - The department shall produce an annual report detailing the amounts and
37recipients of grants pursuant to this section, any innovative programs developed or supported by
38such grants, opportunities for replication of such programs, and any legislative or regulatory
39recommendations to improve or support the work of the fund. Said report shall be filed with the
40clerks of the House and Senate, whom shall post them electronically for public inspection, not
41later than December 31 of each calendar year.