Sen. Becca Rausch

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 amends Massachusetts education law to require that school standards include instruction on Native American history, culture, and current issues. It specifically mandates coverage of local tribes such as the Wampanoag and Massachuset, as well as broader topics like tribal sovereignty, treaty rights, and genocide. The legislation also requires that the state education board consult with Native American nations when developing these new curriculum standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new state fund called the Racially Inclusive Curriculum Trust Fund to support schools in developing educational materials that reflect diverse racial perspectives. The money in this fund can be used without needing further approval from the legislature to pay for curriculum development, teacher training, and grants for public schools and districts. The program specifically prioritizes funding for underserved communities, areas affected by bias incidents, and schools that are new to this type of curriculum. Additionally, the bill establishes a grant system where schools must submit plans detailing their proposed curriculum, expected impact, and how they will share their results with other districts.

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 Education, to whom was referred the petitions (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 327) of Patrick M. O'Connor and Deborah B. Goldberg, Treasurer and Receiver General for legislation to require financial education in schools; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 328) of Patrick M. O'Connor and Ryan C. Fattman for legislation relative to student financial literacy; (accompanied by bill, House, No. 473) of Peter J. Durant and others relative to establishing a personal financial literacy curriculum in schools; and (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Ryan M. Hamilton, Carmine Lawrence Gentile and Sally P. Kerans relative to personal financial literacy in schools, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2665).

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).

April 1, 2024 -- The committee on Higher Education, to whom was referred the petitions (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 847) of Rebecca L. Rausch, Russell E. Holmes, David F. DeCoste, Michael O. Moore and other members of the General Court for legislation to support college students in recovery; and (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 849) of John C. Velis for legislation relative to opioid overdose prevention in college housing, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2680).

Senate, March 25, 2024 -- The committee on Senate Ways and Means, to whom was referred the Senate Bill relative to fairness in debt collection (Senate, No. 2638),- reports, recommending that the same ought to pass with an amendment substituting a new draft with the same title (Senate, No. 2713).

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).