An Act to promote collaboration in Horace Mann and Innovation Schools

HD 967 modifies Massachusetts law to streamline operations for new Horace Mann charter schools and Innovation Schools. It removes the requirement for new Horace Mann schools to secure a pre-approval agreement with local teacher unions before board approval, but mandates they develop a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with unions and school committees after approval. For Innovation Schools converting from traditional schools, the bill requires negotiations between school applicants, unions, and superintendents to waive collective bargaining terms, followed by a two-thirds teacher vote for approval. If teachers reject the plan, it can be revised and resubmitted for another vote. The bill directly affects 14 new Horace Mann charter schools, Innovation Schools, school committees, local unions, and teachers.