Education

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 634: An Act ensuring safe drinking water in schools

This bill requires all schools (including public, charter, and non-public) and child care centers serving pre-K through 12th grade to annually test every drinking water outlet for lead. If lead levels exceed one part per billion, schools must immediately shut off affected outlets, install certified point-of-use filters within 18 months, replace water fountains with filtered stations (one per 75 students), and maintain ongoing testing. Schools must also publicly report test results, remediation plans, and notify parents and staff of any elevated lead findings. The law directly affects all K-12 schools and child care centers in the state, mandating concrete actions to ensure safe drinking water.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires safe drinking water infrastructure in schools, directly protecting student health and safety within educational settings per support indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood

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introduced · Massachusetts · Senate

SD 238: An Act promoting educational awareness and opportunity

This bill requires public colleges and universities to provide prospective and current students with specific financial and career data when applying for or changing a major. Institutions must share four key pieces of information: the estimated total cost of completing the major, average student debt for recent graduates, job placement outcomes (including unemployment rates and further education enrollment), and average 3-year graduate salaries. The data must be provided at the point of major selection or change, directly affecting students making educational decisions. This aims to improve transparency about the financial and career outcomes tied to different academic programs.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires colleges to disclose financial/career data for informed student decisions, enhancing transparency and educational opportunity in higher education.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 1593: An Act requiring opioid use disorder education

This bill requires Massachusetts public and private schools to incorporate opioid use disorder education into existing health curricula. Schools must teach students about opioids, overdose identification, naloxone use and access, reducing stigma around naloxone, and medical amnesty for laypeople who assist during overdoses. The mandate applies to all school districts, charter schools, and approved private or residential schools. The law directs schools to build this content into current health education programs without creating new standalone courses.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates opioid education in health curricula, enhancing student health literacy and safety programs within educational framework95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates opioid education in schools covering overdose identification, naloxone access, and stigma reduction - directly advancing public health initiatives and improving access to life-saving information.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 1483: An Act relative to the promotion of mental health education

This bill requires all public schools to teach mental health education as a required subject for every grade, emphasizing the connection between physical and mental health. It directly affects public school students, school committees, and private schools seeking approval. Key provisions mandate that private schools must include mental health education in their curriculum to receive approval, matching the requirements for public schools. The law updates existing education statutes (Ch. 71 Sec. 3 and Ch. 76 Sec. 1) without altering religious teaching or transportation policies.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates mental health education as required curriculum for all public/private schools, expanding student support and educational content per bill's core requirement.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates mental health education in all public/private schools to promote awareness and physical-mental health connection, directly advancing mental health services as a healthcare component.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Student Health Mental Health

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 1370: An Act to require mandatory training on microaggressions and implicit bias for staff members teaching extracurricular activities

HD 1370 requires all staff members in Massachusetts public and private schools who teach or supervise extracurricular activities - such as sports, clubs, music, and student leadership programs - to complete annual training on microaggressions and implicit bias. The state education department (DESE) must develop this training, covering how biases affect students and practical strategies for fostering inclusive environments. Schools must maintain training records for three years, and failure to comply could result in withheld state funding.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates annual staff training on bias to foster inclusive extracurricular environments, directly enhancing educational quality and student access as per topic description.95% confidence

Track

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 1491: An Act relative to fair educational practices

HD 1491 expands anti-discrimination protections in Massachusetts education by adding "special medical status" to existing laws. This term covers conditions related to disabilities under the ADA or medical treatments (preventative, curative, or palliative). The bill requires schools to consider this status in admission and continued enrollment decisions, alongside existing protections for race, gender, and national origin. It modifies multiple sections of education law to include "special medical status" and broaden coverage from initial admission to ongoing enrollment. This directly affects students with medical conditions and educational institutions across Massachusetts.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill expands anti-discrimination protections in education by adding 'special medical status' to admission/enrollment decisions, strengthening student protections for disabilities and medical conditions.95% confidence

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 3103: An Act to protect children from adults in positions of authority or trust

This bill requires all Massachusetts schools (public and private) serving minors to adopt and implement a formal abuse prevention policy defining inappropriate conduct between staff and students. It mandates biennial training for school staff on recognizing, preventing, and reporting sexual misconduct - including behaviors like romantic invitations or suggestive comments - and provides age-appropriate education for students on healthy boundaries, recognizing risks, and reporting concerns. The policy must be created by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in consultation with child advocacy agencies and reviewed every five years. Schools must maintain training records and make the policy publicly available online. The law directly affects all schools, staff members, and students in Massachusetts.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires schools to implement abuse prevention policies, mandate staff training, and provide student education on boundaries - strengthening school safety and student protection within educational settings.95% confidence

Track

passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SD 2174: An Act relative to healthy school lunches

This bill requires Massachusetts public schools to ensure at least 50% of lunch entrées (meat/meat alternate items) served as part of federal reimbursable meals are fiber-rich foods like whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and legumes. It also limits ultra-processed foods (industrial foods with additives like high-fructose corn syrup) to no more than 20% of weekly entrée offerings. School food providers must publicly share monthly nutrition data to verify compliance, with a three-year phase-in period for new contracts or by the 2033-2034 school year. The law directly affects school food management companies and public schools across Massachusetts.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires fiber-rich school lunches and limits ultra-processed foods in MA public schools, directly enhancing student nutrition and well-being within K-12 education framework.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates healthier school meals to improve student nutrition, aligning with public health initiatives under healthcare policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SD 2417: An Act developing a Portrait of a Graduate

By Mr. Oliveira, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 431) of Jacob R. Oliveira for legislation to develop a statewide program which identifies seven competencies that schools will support students to develop upon graduation from high school. Education.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes statewide competency framework for high school graduation, advancing educational standards and student outcomes without funding restrictions.85% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SD 1253: An Act incentivizing the awarding of industry-recognized credentials

By Mr. Crighton, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 321) of Brendan P. Crighton relative to industry-recognized certification awards paid by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Education.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill incentivizes industry-recognized credentials through Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, directly enhancing student career pathways and workforce readiness. Funds specific educational program to advance student outcomes.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education

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