Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts Senate Bill S457 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. 2337 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
3	3	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 457
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Bruce E. Tarr
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 establish the Middle School Innovation Fund.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Bruce E. TarrFirst Essex and Middlesex 1 of 3
16	16	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2337 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
17	17	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 457
18	18	By Mr. Tarr, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 457) of Bruce E. Tarr for legislation to
19	19	provide grants and other support to programs administered by local school districts that engage
20	20	project-centered group learning methods in grades 5-8. 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 establish the Middle School Innovation Fund.
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 - There is hereby established and set up on the books of the commonwealth, the
30	30	2Commonwealth Middle School Innovation Fund, the purpose of which shall be to provide grants
31	31	3and other support to programs administered by local school districts that engage project-centered
32	32	4group learning methods in grades 5-8 that integrate multiple areas of subject matter including but
33	33	5not limited to science and mathematics, promote learning among students at various skill levels,
34	34	6and seek to comport with the requirements of time on learning as contained in statute and
35	35	7regulations promulgated by the department of elementary and secondary education, including but
36	36	8not limited to 603 CMR 27.00.
37	37	9 Such grants may be used for purposes including but not limited to personnel costs,
38	38	10curriculum development and design, and materials.
39	39	11 Section 2 - Amounts shall be credited to the fund from legislative appropriation, gifts,
40	40	12grants, and other sources, provided that the department of elementary and secondary education 2 of 3
41	41	13shall work to identify and secure such grants to the maximum feasible extent. Amounts
42	42	14contained in the fund shall not revert to the general fund, but shall remain available for
43	43	15expenditure by the department, which shall promulgate regulations to distribute such grants in a
44	44	16fair and equitable manner. In doing so the department shall consider factors including but not
45	45	17limited to geographic distribution, distribution across the range of sizes of local school districts
46	46	18across the commonwealth, and maximizing the impact of such grants in developing programs
47	47	19and curriculum that are replicable and sustainable for such districts.
48	48	20 Section 3 - The fund shall be administered by the department, which shall develop and
49	49	21maintain the Commonwealth Middle School Innovation Council for the purposes of advising the
50	50	22department for the purposes of maximizing the effectiveness, sustainability, and practicality of
51	51	23programs funded in whole or in part by such grants. Said council shall be chaired by the
52	52	24commissioner of the department, and shall also include the secretary of education and the
53	53	25secretary of energy and economic development, and 9 additional members to be appointed by the
54	54	26governor, 1 of whom shall represent the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, 1 of
55	55	27whom shall represent the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents, 3 of whom shall
56	56	28represent middle school educators from diverse geographic regions in the commonwealth, 1 of
57	57	29whom shall represent local charitable education foundations, 2 of whom shall represent parents
58	58	30of middle school students in the commonwealth, 1 of whom shall represent an an organized labor
59	59	31organization representing educators in the commonwealth, and 1 of whom shall represent an
60	60	32institution of higher learning in the commonwealth with expertise in education and science,
61	61	33mathematics, and engineering. The council shall meet not less than twice per calendar year,
62	62	34provided that its meetings shall be public and shall provide for remote observation by the public
63	63	35through electronic means. 3 of 3
64	64	36 Section 4 - The department shall produce an annual report detailing the amounts and
65	65	37recipients of grants pursuant to this section, any innovative programs developed or supported by
66	66	38such grants, opportunities for replication of such programs, and any legislative or regulatory
67	67	39recommendations to improve or support the work of the fund. Said report shall be filed with the
68	68	40clerks of the House and Senate, whom shall post them electronically for public inspection, not
69	69	41later than December 31 of each calendar year.