Education

passed · Massachusetts · Senate Dec 24, 2025

S 418: An Act to improve augmentative and alternative communication opportunities for children with disabilities

By Mr. O'Connor, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 418) of Patrick M. O'Connor, John J. Marsi, Hannah Kane, Ryan C. Fattman and other members of the General Court for legislation to improve augmentative and alternative communication opportunities for children with disabilities. Education.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill explicitly improves communication access for disabled students in education, aligning with expanding educational access and supporting students with disabilities.95% confidence

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passed · Massachusetts · House Feb 11, 2026

H 586: An Act relative to type 1 diabetes informational materials for the parents and guardians of students

H 586 requires Massachusetts public schools to provide informational materials about type 1 diabetes to parents and guardians of students diagnosed with the condition. The materials must cover recognizing symptoms and managing insulin needs during school hours. This bill directly affects families of students with type 1 diabetes and school staff responsible for health protocols.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires schools to provide diabetes management materials, ensuring students with type 1 diabetes can safely attend and participate in education, directly supporting educational access.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires schools to provide diabetes management materials, improving student health access and safety per healthcare topic indicators.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 90: An Act relative to equity and inclusion in education

This bill (HD 90) requires Massachusetts public schools to implement computer-adaptive assessments for K-12 students in English, Math, Science, and Social Studies. It mandates that schools use these assessments annually to track each student's mastery of learning standards, identify their current learning level, and adjust instruction accordingly. The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education must establish regulations by July 2023 to personalize learning paths and develop formative assessments by July 2025, expanding the state data system to include individual student assessment results. The bill also updates assessment criteria to ensure they measure specific academic standards and adds a prohibition against age-based discrimination in public school access. These changes directly affect all K-12 public school students and educators across Massachusetts.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates computer-adaptive assessments to track student mastery and personalize instruction, advancing educational effectiveness in K-12 schools.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates computer-adaptive assessments for personalized learning, advancing educational technology use per bill's requirements90% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Testing & Assessment

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 93: An Act to prohibit age discrimination

HD 93 prohibits age discrimination against students in public schools by adding a new provision to existing law. It directly affects all students enrolled in public schools by ensuring they cannot be denied access to classes, activities, or school programs based on their age. The key mechanism requires public schools to provide equal opportunities regardless of age, explicitly banning age-based barriers in educational settings. This policy change applies uniformly to all public school students, covering their access to courses, privileges, and school resources.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProhibits age discrimination in public schools, ensuring equal access to classes and activities for all students, directly protecting educational access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 131: An Act decriminalizing non-violent and verbal student misconduct

This bill (HD 131) decriminalizes non-violent student conduct within school settings by removing criminal penalties for K-12 students. It amends two sections of state law: Section 40 (disturbing assemblies) and Section 53 (disorderly conduct), explicitly stating that students cannot be charged, adjudicated, or convicted for alleged violations related to conduct in school buildings, on school grounds, or during school events. The law maintains penalties for adults but exempts students from prosecution for minor disruptions like verbal arguments or non-violent interruptions. It does not change school disciplinary procedures but prevents the criminal justice system from handling such incidents involving students. This directly affects all K-12 students in public and private schools within the state.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeDecriminalizes non-violent student conduct in schools, reducing criminal justice system involvement for minor offenses and aligning with reform goals to limit over-criminalization.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationDecriminalizes non-violent student conduct in schools, preventing criminal charges that disrupt education and reduce school-to-prison pipeline, supporting educational access for K-12 students.85% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety

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introduced · Massachusetts · Senate

SD 163: An Act to promote alternative dispute resolution for students

SD 163 requires school boards to establish curriculum standards teaching students non-violent methods for resolving interpersonal conflicts across all grade levels. The bill directly affects public schools and students by mandating the inclusion of conflict resolution frameworks that discourage violence and abuse. Key provisions specify that these standards must be integrated into the curriculum to promote productive dispute resolution. The law aims to equip students with peaceful conflict management skills as part of their education.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates curriculum standards for non-violent conflict resolution across all grade levels, directly enhancing educational content and promoting student safety per topic description.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum School Safety

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introduced · Massachusetts · Senate

SD 173: An Act to ensure the health and safety of the commonwealth’s students and educators

This bill (SD 173) sets mandatory ventilation standards for all public and private K-12 school buildings in Massachusetts to protect students and staff. It requires schools to meet one of three specific ventilation measures (e.g., 4 air changes per hour of fresh air, 20 cubic feet per minute of outdoor air per person, or CO2 levels below 800 ppm) and maintain indoor humidity between 40-60% during pandemics. During declared pandemics, schools must reduce airborne disease transmission risk by 95% using fresh air, portable air cleaners, or advanced technologies like UVGI, while also providing required PPE and cleaning supplies. Local education authorities must assess all school ventilation systems within 18 months and publicly report results, with full compliance required within two years of the law's effective date.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates ventilation standards and humidity controls in K-12 schools to protect health during pandemics, directly enhancing school infrastructure safety for students and educators.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates school ventilation standards to reduce airborne disease transmission during pandemics, directly supporting public health initiatives.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill mandates ventilation standards to protect educators' workplace safety during pandemics, directly improving occupational health conditions for staff.90% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 533: An Act to create and expand student pathways to success

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $1,000/student for high-demand certifications and $800 for regional programs, directly funding workforce development through state budget appropriations.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill provides direct funding ($1,000/student for high-demand certs) to school districts for career-focused educational pathways, aligning with funding/support indicators for education.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentFunds career certifications ($1,000/student) and creates workforce cabinet to align education with labor market needs, advancing employment standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Professional Licensing Workforce Development

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 626: An Act teaching anti-racism in Massachusetts schools

HD 626 creates a permanent commission to develop a mandatory anti-racism curriculum for all Massachusetts public and charter schools. The commission, composed of appointed members from various advocacy groups, historians, and education representatives, must design a curriculum covering 18 specific topics including systemic racism, slavery, Native American genocide, white supremacy, and racial impacts on health and science. Schools are required to teach this curriculum, which includes designated textbook selections and instruction across subjects like history, English, science, and health. The bill mandates the commission to finalize the curriculum within one year and report annually to state officials.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates anti-racism curriculum covering systemic racism and racial impacts, enhancing educational content and promoting inclusive learning in K-12 schools.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum

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introduced · Massachusetts · Senate

SD 412: An Act to increase substance use prevention and awareness and reduce overdose abandonment

This bill requires public schools to update their substance use prevention policies to include specific education about opioid dangers and legal protections for reporting overdoses. Schools must teach students about addictive substances' risks, particularly opioids, and explain immunities under state law that encourage overdose reporting. It also mandates schools to assess their programs, share effective strategies with other districts, and collaborate with health departments to improve prevention efforts. The policy directly affects all public schools and their students in Massachusetts, aiming to strengthen education and reporting around substance use.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates schools to teach opioid risks and overdose reporting in curriculum, enhancing health education content per bill's requirements.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates school-based opioid education and health department collaboration to enhance public health prevention programs, directly advancing substance use prevention within healthcare policy.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Substance Abuse

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