HB1856--EXTENDEDLEARNINGOPPORTUNITIESACT(Baker) COMMITTEEOFORIGIN:StandingCommitteeonGeneralLaws Thisbillestablishesthe"ExtendedLearningOpportunitiesAct". Thebilldefines"extendedlearningopportunity"asanout-of- classroomlearningexperienceasapprovedbytheStateBoardof Education(SBE),schoolboard,oracharterschoolandthat providesastudentwith: (1)Enrichmentopportunities; (2)Careerreadinessoremployabilityskillsopportunities including,butnotlimitedto,internships;preapprenticeships; or apprenticeships; or (3)Anyotherapprovededucationalopportunities. Thebillrequiresthatbythe2023-24schoolyeartheSBEandlocal schoolboardsmustinformstudentsoftheopportunityto participateandearncreditforextendedlearningopportunities. TheSBEmustadoptapolicyandlocalschooldistrictsshall distributeandimplementextendedlearningpoliciesthatincludean applicationprocess,alistofeligibleentitiesofferingextended learningopportunities, theprocessforreceivingcredit,and criteriaforapprovalandcompletion. Thebillprovidesinstructiononhowstudentsmayreceivecredit forextendedlearningopportunitiesforcourseworkandtoward graduationrequirements.