Education (Special Education)

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 2647: An Act strengthening transitional planning and increasing accountability for persons with disabilities and their families

This bill amends Massachusetts law to improve transition planning for youth with disabilities as they leave high school or turn 22. It requires the Transitional Advisory Committee to submit annual county-level reports tracking youth needing habilitative services, residential placement, or agency support. A new commission, including youth/family members and agency representatives, must develop a comprehensive plan within one year addressing communication gaps, service awareness, residential placement delays, and geographic equity in services. The plan will focus on ensuring smoother transitions to adult services for over 22,000 Massachusetts youth annually who lose special education eligibility.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill strengthens transition planning for high school students with disabilities, improving educational access and support during critical post-graduation phase.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Special Education

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SD 1753: An Act relative to special education reserve funds

By Mr. Oliveira, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1469) of Jacob R. Oliveira relative to school district special education reserve funds. Municipalities and Regional Government.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates special education reserve funds for school districts, ensuring dedicated funding for student services per education support indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Special Education

Track

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 1217: An Act ensuring the appropriate and timely payment and residential service placement for children deemed to be a safety risk

This bill requires public school departments to create 24/7 residential treatment or out-of-school district placement plans in a child's Individualized Education Program (IEP) within 10 days after a mental health facility determines eligibility for such treatment. It directly affects children with mental health needs or developmental disabilities deemed a safety risk, ensuring their parents or guardians have final authority over placement selection. The bill mandates school, developmental services, children’s, and mental health departments to coordinate funding for placements within 30 days, without delaying care. It also establishes a 6-member commission to study payment delays and recommend improvements to the Mass Health reimbursement system for residential care.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates IEP placement plans for special needs students with safety risks, ensuring appropriate educational services and parental authority within school departments.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates timely residential mental health placement in IEPs for children with safety risks, improving access to mental health services per bill's core requirement.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Special Education

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 3494: An Act relative to the training of school committee members

This bill requires Massachusetts school committee members to complete an 8-hour free orientation within three months of taking office. The training covers school finance, state education laws, open meeting rules, special education, conflict of interest, and other key responsibilities. It must be developed by the state education department and provided annually through approved groups like the Massachusetts Association of School Committees. Members who fail to complete the training lose the right to participate in committee meetings or decisions. The law directly affects all locally elected or appointed school committee members across Massachusetts cities and towns.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates training for school committee members on education laws, finance, and special education to improve governance, strengthening educational management and compliance with state requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Special Education

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 2347: An Act relative to preventing the sexual abuse of children and youth

This bill, the Comprehensive Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Act, requires all Massachusetts public and private schools (including charter, virtual, and special education schools), school districts, and youth-serving organizations to implement annual training for staff and volunteers on recognizing, preventing, and reporting child sexual abuse. The training must cover identifying risky adult behaviors, supporting child safety, responding to disclosures, and building protective policies, with schools maintaining records of participation. Additionally, schools must provide age-appropriate education to students on healthy boundaries, recognizing boundary violations, and accessing support resources. These requirements apply to all staff, contractors, and volunteers working with children, including teachers, coaches, bus drivers, and mental health professionals.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates school staff training on child abuse prevention, strengthening school safety protocols within educational institutions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Special Education

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 3402: Resolve providing for the study and investigation relative to expanding the in-state higher education tuition and fee waiver program

HD 3402 establishes a special commission to study expanding eligibility for a state tuition and fee waiver program. The commission, composed of heads of relevant state agencies (including Health, Human Services, and Disability Services), will identify which clients of state programs (such as developmental services or mental health programs) should qualify for the waiver, estimate costs, and propose funding sources. They must submit findings and recommendations to the legislature by January 1, 2027. This resolution is a study mechanism only; it does not change current eligibility or funding.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates commission to study expanding tuition waiver eligibility, aiming to increase higher education access for state program clients.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Special Education

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 3723: An Act to ensure equitable representation of required parent advisory councils to school committees

This bill requires Massachusetts school districts to provide nonvoting, ex-officio seats on school committees for representatives from English Language Learner Parent Advisory Councils (ELLPAC) and Special Education Parent Advisory Councils (SEPAC). Each council must elect one representative annually, who must notify the school committee within 30 days. These representatives serve without compensation and cannot attend executive sessions unless the school committee specifically grants that right. The bill directly affects all Massachusetts school districts mandated to maintain ELLPACs and SEPACs under existing state law.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEnsures representation for ELL and special education parents on school committees, promoting inclusive decision-making in K-12 education90% confidence

Sub-Topics Special Education

Track

introduced · Massachusetts · Senate

SD 934: An Act to create a facilities loan program for private special education schools

SD 934 creates a no-interest or low-interest loan program for private special education schools in Massachusetts approved under Chapter 71B. The program will fund building construction and facility upgrades, administered by the Massachusetts School Building Authority using funds from the School Modernization and Reconstruction Trust Fund. This directly supports eligible schools in improving their physical infrastructure without requiring interest payments on the loans.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides no-interest loans for special education school infrastructure upgrades, directly funding facility improvements to support educational access and school modernization.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Special Education

Track

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 1211: An Act relative to independent child protection

HD 1211 requires the school committee of a child's former district to continue funding their approved special education placement (in a private day/residential school or pediatric nursing home) for the remainder of the fiscal year if the family moves to a new district. It covers all approved budgeted costs, including transportation, safety expenses, and required inspections. This applies specifically to children with disabilities already receiving such services under the previous district's arrangement. The bill ensures uninterrupted educational support during relocation, directly affecting moving families and former school districts.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill mandates continued funding for special education placements under existing budget, protecting approved costs without new taxes or defunding. Ensures fiscal continuity for essential services.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationEnsures continued special education funding during district transfers, protecting access and financial stability for students with disabilities under K-12 education.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Special Education

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 3123: An Act to support the transition to adult services for persons with disabilities

HD 3123 requires Massachusetts schools to coordinate transition planning for students with disabilities nearing graduation or age 22 by inviting representatives from the Bureau of Transition Planning or adult service agencies to Individualized Education Plan (IEP) meetings. The bill updates definitions to replace "disabled person" with "person with a disability" and clarifies that habilitative services include job training, independent living skills, and postsecondary education preparation. It also creates a limited pilot program (ages 20-24) for people with developmental disabilities who lack adult service agency connections, and mandates annual reports tracking service referrals and unmet needs. These changes aim to streamline the shift from school-based to adult services while maintaining existing educational obligations.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires schools to coordinate transition planning for students with disabilities, including postsecondary education in IEPs, enhancing educational access and support.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Special Education

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