Education

in committee · Massachusetts · Senate Jun 23, 2025

S 2534: An Act relative to equitable higher education admissions policies

Senate, June 23, 2025 -- The committee on Higher Education, to whom was referred the petitions (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 928) of Lydia Edwards for legislation to ban legacy preferences in higher education; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 943) of Mark C. Montigny for legislation to ban discriminatory admissions practices at higher education institutions; and (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 950) of Pavel M. Payano for legislation to require higher education institutions to issue an annual report to the attorney general and department of higher education on their prior year admissions preference, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2534).

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill bans legacy preferences and discriminatory admissions practices to promote equitable higher education access, directly advancing educational fairness in admissions.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 9, 2026

S 376: An Act addressing school exclusion policies to remedy disparities in students' educational achievement

By Ms. Jehlen, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 376) of Patricia D. Jehlen for legislation to promote the education success of court involved children. Education.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAddresses school exclusion policies to remedy achievement disparities for court-involved students, directly advancing educational equity and success.95% confidence

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passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 19, 2026

H 2706: An Act relative to postsecondary education in correctional facilities

This bill requires Massachusetts state agencies to conduct a comprehensive assessment of postsecondary education programs in correctional facilities. It mandates evaluating current program access (including Pell Grant use), unmet demand among incarcerated people, facility infrastructure needs, and policy barriers like classification rules or transfer practices. The assessment will gather input from incarcerated students, higher education providers, and relevant state agencies to identify improvements needed for expanding high-quality, workforce-aligned education. The findings must be reported to the legislature by January 1, 2026, to guide future program expansion and coordination.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill provides postsecondary education in correctional facilities to reduce recidivism and support rehabilitation, directly advancing criminal justice reform goals.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill provides postsecondary education access in correctional facilities, expanding educational opportunities for incarcerated individuals, supporting higher education access.95% confidence

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passed · Massachusetts · House Jun 25, 2025

H 712: An Act relative to dropout prevention and student recovery

This bill requires all children under 18 to attend school until high school graduation (amending attendance laws), repeals an outdated 1965 law, and creates a 3-year pilot program for school districts with high dropout rates. The pilot provides competitive grants to fund targeted dropout prevention strategies, including alternative education programs, graduation coaches, outreach to students who have dropped out, and support for pregnant or parenting students. Participating districts must track student progress toward diplomas or GEDs and submit annual reports to the education committee. The program will begin September 1, 2025, with a final evaluation recommending whether to expand, maintain, or end the initiative. It directly affects high school students at risk of dropping out, especially in districts above the state average for dropouts.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill focuses on preventing student dropouts and aiding recovery, directly supporting educational access and retention in K-12 systems through targeted student support programs.95% confidence

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passed · Massachusetts · House Jun 25, 2025

H 661: An Act relative to equitable accelerated learning opportunities for public school students

This bill requires Massachusetts public schools to create equitable academic acceleration programs for K-12 students who demonstrate readiness for advanced material. It mandates that schools use unbiased screening tools to evaluate *all* students - not just those recommended by teachers or parents - and document acceleration plans with academic and social-emotional support. Schools must provide teacher training on acceleration strategies like single-subject advancement, online courses, dual enrollment, and competency-based learning. The law directs school districts to implement these changes through written plans and ensures professional development aligns with state regulations.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill promotes equitable accelerated learning opportunities for public school students, directly expanding educational access and support for K-12 students.92% confidence

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passed · Massachusetts · House Jun 25, 2025

H 620: An Act to ensure educational rights are upheld for incarcerated youth

This bill ensures incarcerated youth under 22 in Massachusetts correctional facilities (including county houses of corrections and state facilities) have access to educational opportunities equivalent to those in public schools. It requires schools to credit coursework completed in custody toward graduation, mandates special education services for eligible students, and sets a minimum standard of 6 hours of classroom instruction daily, 12 months a year. The bill also guarantees access to vocational training, high school equivalency programs (like GED), and college-level courses while in custody. These provisions apply regardless of a youth’s disciplinary status or facility classification.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill ensures educational rights for incarcerated youth, promoting rehabilitation and reducing recidivism in corrections, a core criminal justice reform objective.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationEnsures educational access for incarcerated youth, directly advancing educational rights within K-12 system per bill title and summary.95% confidence

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Dec 15, 2025

S 382: An Act requiring opioid use disorder education

This bill requires all public school districts, charter schools, and approved private schools to integrate opioid use disorder education into existing health curricula. It mandates teaching specific topics, including opioid types, overdose identification, naloxone use and access, reducing stigma around naloxone, and medical amnesty protections for laypeople who assist during overdoses. The education standards must be incorporated into current health classes without creating new standalone courses. The bill does not impose new funding requirements but allows the department to seek external funding for implementation.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates opioid education curriculum in public schools, enhancing K-12 educational content and aligning with curriculum improvement indicators.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires opioid use disorder education in public schools, a preventive public health measure directly addressing substance abuse treatment and mental health services within healthcare policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Jul 24, 2025

S 364: An Act establishing privacy standards for student and educator data

By Mr. Finegold, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 364) of Barry R. Finegold for legislation relative to student and educator data privacy. Education.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes data privacy standards for student/educator data, protecting sensitive information in educational settings, aligning with educational protection goals.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyEstablishes privacy standards for student/educator data, directly protecting data privacy under technology policies95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers Consumer Data Protection Data Privacy

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in committee · Massachusetts · Senate Jul 24, 2025

S 2557: An Act relative to affirming and maintaining equal access to public education for all children

Senate, July 17, 2025 -- The committee on Education to whom was referred the petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 436) of Pavel M. Payano, Sal N. DiDomenico, Jason M. Lewis, Vanna Howard and others for legislation to affirm and maintain equal access to public education for English learners, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2557).

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill explicitly affirms equal access to public education for English learners, directly aligning with educational access protection under the topic description.95% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationBill ensures equal public education access for English learners, a group including many immigrant children, supporting immigrant integration and services.80% confidence

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in committee · Massachusetts · House Aug 7, 2025

H 4366: An Act to expand the use of career and academic plans

This bill requires all public high school districts to ensure students create personalized academic and career plans ("MyCAP") starting in 9th grade, with teacher support and an approved online platform. These plans must outline coursework, experiences, and pathways to post-secondary education or careers, and allow students to update them throughout high school. Districts must annually report progress to the education department, which will provide compliance guidance aligned with the MyCAP system. The requirement takes effect September 1, 2028, directly affecting high school students and school districts in Massachusetts.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates personalized academic/career plans for all high school students, enhancing student planning and post-secondary readiness through structured guidance and district reporting.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Teachers

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