Rep. Steve Ultrino

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all public high schools in Massachusetts to help every student create a personalized learning plan starting in ninth grade. These plans, developed with teacher support and an approved online tool, map out a student's academic path from high school through college or a career, allowing for adjustments as the student's goals change. School districts must also provide guidance to ensure these plans are followed and report annually on their progress to the state education department. The new requirements will take effect for the school year beginning after July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts education laws to clarify the rules for suspending and expelling students based on specific disciplinary actions. It updates the list of prohibited items to include certain devices and controlled substances like cocaine and heroin while explicitly excluding marijuana. The legislation also strengthens due process requirements by mandating that students receive written notice of charges and their right to a hearing before any suspension takes effect. Additionally, it ensures that all official notices regarding disciplinary actions are provided in both English and the student's primary home language. Finally, the bill expands the grounds for expulsion to include situations where a student poses a specific, documentable concern of inflicting serious bodily injury on others.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Massachusetts governor to issue an annual proclamation designating March 21 as Massachusetts Child Nutrition Day. It also mandates that food service companies serving public schools ensure at least 50% of their weekly lunch entrées are healthy options containing whole grains, vegetables, fruits, legumes, and fiber-rich proteins. Additionally, the law prohibits schools from serving more than 20% of their lunch entrées as ultra-processed foods or items with excessive cholesterol and saturated fat. To enforce these rules, providers must publicly share monthly nutrition data, and they will have a three-year phase-in period to meet the new requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts education law to ensure fair access to vocational-technical schools and programs by implementing a weighted lottery system for students who are over-enrolled. Under the new rules, if there are more qualified applicants than available spots, schools must hold a lottery that favors protected groups, including students of color, those from low-income families, students with disabilities, and English language learners. The legislation also requires schools to create waitlists for students who are not immediately admitted and mandates that the state education department collect and publish annual data on enrollment demographics to monitor progress.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new Workforce Skills Cabinet within the Governor's office to coordinate state efforts on education and job training. The cabinet will include leaders from key agencies like education, labor, and housing, along with appointed representatives from businesses, workers, and community groups. Its main duties involve aligning school programs with future job needs, studying how well current training paths serve all students, and creating better tools to track student progress. The group is required to meet monthly, publish an annual report on labor market needs, and submit yearly updates to the state legislature.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to provide financial awards to school districts when students earn industry-recognized certifications. Schools receive $1,000 for each student who obtains a credential in a high-demand occupation or one accepted by state colleges for academic credit, and $800 for certifications addressing local workforce needs. The law requires that at least 80% of these funds be used to support the specific program that led to the certification, such as paying instructor stipends or subsidizing fees for low-income students, rather than replacing existing operational budgets. Additionally, the department must offer separate development funds to help districts create training programs and hire instructors to prepare students for these credentials. The bill also mandates an annual report detailing how many students pursued and earned these certifications, including data on low-income and special education populations.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a grant program within the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to fund local food purchases and cooking equipment for schools and childcare centers. The program aims to improve student nutrition by enabling institutions to buy ingredients grown in the state and prepare scratch-cooked meals while teaching students about the food system. To receive funding, applicants must be public schools or licensed childcare programs that serve meals through specific federal feeding programs. An advisory committee, including representatives from agriculture and early education, will oversee the grants to ensure diverse stakeholder input.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes establishing a universal school meal program in Massachusetts to provide free breakfast and lunch to all public school students. It would require the state to allocate funding for these meals and mandate that every school district participate in the program. The legislation aims to ensure that every child attending a public school in the Commonwealth receives nutritious food at no cost to their families.