An Act furthering enrollment preferences for high need students

This bill allows charter schools in Massachusetts to voluntarily offer enrollment preferences to specific high-need student groups, including students with special needs, English learners, foster youth, and other at-risk students. It permits schools to admit these students at any point during the school year, applying to both lottery admissions and waitlist placements. The state education board must create rules defining eligible student subgroups (explicitly including homeless students and those with Emergency Resettlement Status) and the process for implementing these preferences. The policy change directly affects charter schools' enrollment practices and aims to improve access for vulnerable student populations.