Education

passed · Massachusetts · House Sep 2, 2025

H 550: An Act relative to securing parental consent for human sexuality education

By Representative DeCoste of Norwell, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 550) of David F. DeCoste relative to securing parental consent for human sexuality education. Education.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRequires parental consent for human sexuality education, restricting curriculum implementation without consent, aligning with 'restricts curriculum' indicator.95% confidence

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passed · Massachusetts · House Dec 31, 2025

H 540: An Act relative to charter school caps

By Representative Day of Stoneham, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 540) of Michael S. Day, Lindsay N. Sabadosa and James B. Eldridge relative to charter school caps. Education.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill proposes caps on charter school expansion, restricting their growth and access within K-12 education policy.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice

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passed · Massachusetts · House Jul 10, 2025

H 742: An Act to provide an option to opt out of free school lunch

By Representative Vaughn of Wrentham, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 742) of Marcus S. Vaughn for legislation to provide school districts with an option to opt out of the free school lunch. Education.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill enables school districts to opt out of free lunch programs, limiting access to a core student support service under educational access policies.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 70: An Act to provide an option to opt out of free school lunch

HD 70 allows school districts to opt out of the state's non-income-based free lunch program, enabling them to redirect those funds to other uses. If a district participates, parents or guardians can also opt their child out of the free lunch program, requiring the student to pay for meals at the district's set price. Schools would not count non-participating students toward funding calculations for the free lunch program, freeing up those funds for other district purposes. This bill directly affects public school districts and families with children in K-12 schools participating in the state's free lunch initiative.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill redirects funds from free school lunch program to other uses, defunding a student nutrition support program that impacts K-12 school access and funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 1888: An Act relative to securing parental consent for human sexuality education

HD 1888 requires schools to obtain written parental consent before students participate in human sexuality education. It mandates that schools notify parents at least 21 days in advance, identify specific topics like abortion and birth control in the notification, and provide referral information for reproductive health services. Schools must also list these topics on their websites under health curriculum programs. Failure to comply results in a $2,500 penalty per affected student per violation. The bill directly affects students, parents, and school districts in Massachusetts public schools.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationMandates parental consent for human sexuality education, restricting curriculum implementation and requiring detailed disclosures, limiting school autonomy in teaching this subject.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 1943: An Act parental rights legislation

HD 1943 grants local school committees the authority to reject all or part of guidance from the state education department (DESE) without facing penalties like loss of teaching licenses, criminal referrals, or withheld state funding. The bill directly affects school committees, administrators, teachers, and DESE by shifting control over school policies to locally elected officials and the parents who elect them. Its key mechanism eliminates consequences for local districts refusing state directives, ensuring school committees hold final decision-making power. This legislation centers on local governance in education, not parental rights as commonly understood.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill eliminates penalties for local districts rejecting state education guidance, weakening state oversight and educational standards by shifting control to local officials without requiring compliance with state mandates.85% confidence

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 1931: An Act Relative to Parental Rights in Education

HD 1931 requires Massachusetts school districts to notify parents about changes to their child's mental, emotional, or physical health services and to encourage parental involvement in decisions affecting student well-being. It prohibits schools from discouraging parental notification or creating barriers to parents accessing education/health records, while banning instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity in kindergarten through third grade. Schools must obtain parental permission for health screenings in early grades and provide clear procedures for resolving parental concerns within 7 days, with appeals to the Commissioner of Education or courts if unresolved. The bill directly affects parents, students, and school districts by establishing specific notification, consent, and dispute resolution requirements.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBans instruction on sexual orientation/gender identity in K-3, restricting curriculum content per education topic indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SD 1236: An Act relative to the net school spending cap

SD 1236 adjusts Massachusetts school district spending caps for districts that move out of the lowest 10% spending category. It sets a 9% spending cap for these districts unless they were already above 9% when they left the lowest 10%, in which case they retain their previous cap. The bill restricts new charter school seats from districts that exited the lowest 10% with spending above 9% and requires the education department to calculate tuition owed for charter students from such districts, without deducting this amount from the district’s state aid. This affects school districts, charter schools, and the state education department in managing funding and enrollment. The bill also ensures current charter school students won’t be unenrolled by August 1, 2024.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesImposes spending cap on school districts, restricting government spending growth in education budget management.90% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill imposes 9% spending cap on districts exiting lowest 10% spending category, restricting funding increases for schools.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Government Spending School Choice

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Dec 4, 2025

S 396: An Act for the end of Common Core, and establishing certain other curriculum standards

By Mr. Lewis (by request), a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 396) of Vincent Dixon, for legislation for the end of Common Core, and establishing certain other curriculum standards. Education.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill explicitly ends Common Core curriculum standards, directly restricting a national curriculum framework under education policy.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Nov 17, 2025

S 393: An Act relative to the net school spending cap

This bill adjusts the net school spending cap for Massachusetts public school districts. It sets a 9% spending cap for districts that move out of the lowest 10% spending category, unless they previously spent above 9%, in which case the cap remains at their prior spending level. The bill also prevents the state from approving new charter school seats from districts that exited the lowest 10% category with spending above 9%, and requires the state to cover tuition costs for students enrolled in charter schools from those districts without deducting from the district's state aid. These changes specifically affect school districts and charter schools, particularly those transitioning out of the lowest spending category.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesSets 9% school spending cap to promote fiscal responsibility, directly managing state budget allocation for public schools.90% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill imposes 9% spending cap on districts exiting lowest spending category, restricting funding flexibility and preventing new charter seats for certain districts.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Government Spending School Choice

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