An Act enabling all students to thrive: protecting a high quality, diverse educator workforce

This bill modifies Massachusetts teacher layoff procedures to prioritize retaining high-quality and diverse educators rather than relying solely on seniority. It establishes that teachers with professional status cannot be laid off if a less qualified teacher without that status holds the same position, and it requires districts to keep teachers who speak languages spoken by at least five percent of local students. Additionally, the law exempts specific groups from layoffs based on seniority, including members of underrepresented populations, graduates of local teacher preparation programs, staff in hard-to-staff schools, and those certified in high-need subjects like special education or STEM. While the bill allows layoffs due to declining enrollment or budget cuts, it mandates that performance evaluations and student best interests be primary factors in deciding which teachers remain employed.