By Representative Scanlon of North Attleborough, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 4117) of Adam J. Scanlon relative to arbitration for teachers. Labor and Workforce Development.
By Mr. O'Connor, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 420) of Patrick M. O'Connor for legislation relative to supporting student participation in 4-H programs. Education.
This bill prohibits educational technology operators from using student or educator data for targeted advertising, building profiles for non-educational purposes, or selling personal information. It directly affects companies providing online tools used in K-12 schools (like apps or websites), requiring them to stop collecting and misusing data such as location, biometrics, grades, or online behavior linked to specific students or teachers. Key provisions define "covered information" broadly - including names, addresses, health records, search history, and persistent tracking identifiers - and ban the sale of this data or its use for advertising based on students' online activity. The law applies to all K-12 school-related digital tools, ensuring data collected for educational purposes cannot be repurposed for commercial gain.
This bill prohibits Massachusetts public universities (including the University of Massachusetts and state universities) and all degree-granting institutions authorized by the Board of Higher Education from considering an applicant's family connection to alumni when making admission decisions. It also bans these institutions from including in application materials any information about relatives' colleges attended. The law directly affects prospective students applying to these institutions by removing legacy-based admissions considerations. The policy change takes effect for admissions leading to the 2026-2027 school year.
This bill requires all public Massachusetts colleges to accept Advanced Placement (AP) exam scores of 3, 4, or 5 for college credit toward degree requirements. It directly affects public colleges and students who take AP exams, ensuring they can earn credit without colleges arbitrarily demanding higher scores (like 4 or 5). Colleges must justify requiring scores above 3 with evidence, post clear credit policies online, and report practices annually to the state higher education department. The law aims to standardize credit acceptance and improve transparency for students transferring credits between institutions.
This bill requires all public colleges in Massachusetts to create policies by September 1, 2027, that fully accept college credits earned by high school students who passed their Advanced Placement (AP) courses and exams. It directly affects public colleges (like state universities and community colleges) and high school students taking AP courses. The key provision mandates that colleges must accept "all appropriate" AP credits for students who achieved the required "proficient" score on their AP exams. This eliminates barriers for students seeking to earn college credit through AP coursework while in high school.
HD 533 creates a new "workforce skills cabinet" within the governor's office to coordinate education, workforce development, and housing policies. The cabinet, composed of agency leaders and appointed business and workforce representatives, will align career pathways, conduct biennial program reviews for equity, and produce annual labor market reports. School districts receive funding awards ($1,000 per student for high-demand certifications, $800 for regional ones) to support career-focused programs, with 80% of funds directed to specific schools. The bill requires annual reporting on student participation, certification types earned, and program funding effectiveness, focusing on low-income, ELL, and SPED students. It directly affects Massachusetts public school districts and students seeking industry-recognized certifications.
By Mr. Lewis, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1874) of Jason M. Lewis for legislation to clarify out of state creditable service for education professionals. Public Service.
This bill allows teachers terminated due to a reduction in force (RIF) to count their previous teaching service toward retirement credit if they later return to teaching in another government school district. It requires these teachers to pay into the Annuity Savings Fund an amount equal to what would have been withheld had they remained employed, plus interest, before receiving credit. To qualify, teachers must have completed at least 10 years of total retirement membership service, and the maximum creditable service under this provision is limited to 4 years. The bill directly affects teachers who lost jobs through RIF and rejoin public school teaching, modifying how their prior service is recognized for retirement benefits.
HD 1270 amends Massachusetts school discipline laws to address racial disparities in student exclusions. It narrows the definition of conduct justifying suspension to specific, documentable threats of serious bodily injury (excluding marijuana, guns, or knives), requiring principals to provide written notice and a hearing before suspending a student. The bill mandates clear explanations for exclusions, ensures language access for families, and requires schools to document efforts to include parents in hearings. Additionally, it limits long-term suspensions to end of the school year and removes redundant references to "expulsion" in related sections.
