By Representative Peake of Provincetown, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3404) of Sarah K. Peake, James J. O'Day and Jason M. Lewis for legislation to establish driver privacy protections. Transportation.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new fund within the Board of Higher Education in Massachusetts to support educational opportunities for caregivers of adults with disabilities. The fund will be financed through state appropriations, interest on those funds, and public or private donations, with all money held in trust for the program's use. Money from the fund can be spent without needing additional legislative approval each year and will cover both educational activities and the necessary costs to run the program.
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits Massachusetts colleges and universities from using standardized test scores to admit undergraduate and graduate students starting in October 2026. It explicitly exempts exams required for professional licensure or national accreditation. The legislation also directs the state higher education commissioner to create a working group that develops and promotes alternative admission methods designed to improve equity for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Additionally, the commissioner must submit an annual report on the progress of these efforts to state officials by December 31 each year.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a permanent commission dedicated to improving educational outcomes for American Indian and Alaska Native students in Massachusetts. The commission will consist of 17 members appointed by various state departments and the Massachusetts Commission on Indian Affairs, with a requirement to include diverse backgrounds and consult with tribal governments. Its primary duties include investigating how state agencies can better support these students, promoting heritage language instruction, and developing programs for suicide prevention and violence intervention. The commission operates as an independent agency, and its unpaid members serve two-year terms while receiving reimbursement for necessary expenses.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new state fund called the Caregivers to Adults with Disabilities Fund to support the education of family members caring for adults with disabilities. The Massachusetts Board of Higher Education will manage the fund, which will be financed through state appropriations, interest, and donations, and will automatically carry over any unused money to future years. The primary goal is to help these caregivers by paying for their tuition and fees at eligible community colleges. The bill also requires the board to report annually on how the money is used and directs the state comptroller to transfer an initial $4.125 million from the General Fund to start the program.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new grant program to help Master of Social Work students in Massachusetts cover the costs of their field placements. The Department of Education would administer these funds, which are intended to recruit and retain students from historically marginalized and low-income communities. To qualify, students must commit to working in the state for at least two years after graduation, and the program prioritizes first-generation college students while requiring at least half of the recipients to identify as Black, Indigenous, or people of color. The financial assistance ranges from $1,000 to $2,000 per month depending on the student's year of study, with applications accepted annually between January and March.
April 1, 2024 -- The committee on Higher Education to whom was referred the petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 160) of Sal N. DiDomenico, Manny Cruz, Susannah M. Whipps, Jack Patrick Lewis and other members of the General Court for legislation relative to Social Work Uplifting Practices and Exam Removal (“The SUPER Act”), report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2673).
Maddy summaryThis bill aims to increase diversity among Massachusetts educators by requiring the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to create new hiring guidelines and alternative certification options. The law mandates that public schools and districts develop specific plans to eliminate discriminatory barriers, actively recruit underrepresented groups, and set measurable goals for hiring diversity that must be updated every three years. Additionally, it establishes a review process to ensure these plans meet state criteria and requires regular reporting on their implementation. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will also explore alternative ways to grant teacher certification, such as accepting portfolios or degrees from other states, instead of relying solely on standard testing.
April 1, 2024 -- The committee on Education, to whom was referred the petitions (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 239) of Michael D. Brady, James K. Hawkins, Patrick M. O'Connor and Patricia D. Jehlen for legislation to establish a special commission on creating a more diversified teaching workforce in the Commonwealth; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 252) of Brendan P. Crighton for legislation to promote racially integrated schools; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 254) of Brendan P. Crighton for legislation to promote racially and culturally inclusive K-12 curriculum; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 259) of Julian Cyr, Jack Patrick Lewis, Vanna Howard and Rebecca L. Rausch for legislation relative to LGBTQ+ inclusive curriculum; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 286) of Adam Gomez and Vanna Howard for legislation to ensure diversity in public education; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 288) of Adam Gomez, Tram T. Nguyen, Steven Ultrino, Jack Patrick Lewis and others for legislation to promote racially inclusive curriculum in schools; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 299) of Robyn K. Kennedy, Steven Owens and Rebecca L. Rausch for legislation to address racial and cultural bias training in educator professional development; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 311) of Jason M. Lewis, Manny Cruz, Joanne M. Comerford, Jack Patrick Lewis and other members of the General Court for legislation relative to educator diversity; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 318) of Liz Miranda, Joanne M. Comerford, Lydia Edwards, Jack Patrick Lewis and other members of the General Court for legislation to establish a permanent commission on American Indian and Alaska Native education; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 340) of Pavel M. Payano for legislation to enable all students to thrive: protecting a high quality, diverse educator workforce; and (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 344) of Rebecca L. Rausch, Jack Patrick Lewis, Joanne M. Comerford, Vanna Howard and other members of the General Court for legislation relative to celebrate and teach Native American culture and history, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2709).
Maddy summaryThis bill modifies how Massachusetts calculates the spending cap for school districts that move out of the state's lowest 10 percent in per-pupil spending. It establishes that districts leaving this bottom tier will generally face a new 9 percent cap on spending growth, unless their spending was already higher than that level before the change. The legislation also restricts the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education from approving new charter school seats for these districts if their spending cap exceeds 9 percent. Additionally, the bill requires the state to pay tuition costs for charter students from these districts without deducting the amount from the district's state funding. Finally, the law includes a provision ensuring that students already enrolled in charter schools by August 1, 2022, are not forced to leave.
