H 481 Massachusetts House · 193rd Legislature (2023-2024)

An Act relative to educational freedom

This bill establishes a new state-funded program called "promise scholarship accounts" that allows parents to withdraw public education funds for their children's private schooling or other qualified educational expenses. To qualify, students must have attended a public school for at least six weeks in the previous year, and their parents must sign an agreement promising to provide instruction in core subjects like reading, math, and science while agreeing not to return to a public school. The funds can be used for private school tuition, tutoring, therapy services, curriculum purchases, and approved technology, but the program excludes students currently receiving special education in private schools or those enrolled in prison education programs.
Bill status passed 3 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2023
Committee Review
Feb 2023
Senate Passage
Feb 2023
Governor
Introduced Feb 16, 2023 Last action May 20, 2024
Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate. No roll call record of that vote is available.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
4
Key actions
1
Committee
1
Feb 16, 2023
Upper · Passed
Senate concurred
upper
Feb 16, 2023
Committee
Referred to the committee on Education
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Bill Galvin
Bill Galvin
DDemocratic
MA
6th Norfolk