Education

passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SD 698: An Act to ensure that all students are prepared for future success

By Mr. Oliveira, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 426) of Jacob R. Oliveira, Vanna Howard, Joanne M. Comerford, Michael D. Brady and other members of the General Court for legislation to ensure that all students are prepared for future success. Education.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill title and summary explicitly focus on preparing students for future success, aligning with educational support goals without restrictive language or funding cuts.95% confidence

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SD 1699: An Act relative to safer schools

SD 1699 (An Act relative to safer schools) restricts school resource officers (SROs) from handling routine discipline or replacing counselors, limiting their involvement to serious criminal incidents like violence or property damage. It requires school districts to annually report detailed data on student interactions with SROs (including arrests, referrals, and searches) and publicly share this information with school committees. The bill also creates grants for schools to adopt non-law enforcement safety practices, such as restorative justice and relationship-building programs, instead of relying on SROs. These changes apply directly to public school districts, charter schools, and regional school systems across Massachusetts.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestricts SROs to serious incidents, mandates data reporting on interactions, and funds non-law enforcement approaches to reduce school criminalization, aligning with criminal justice reform goals.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationRestricts SROs from routine discipline, mandates transparency in student interactions, and creates grants for non-law enforcement safety programs, enhancing school safety and student well-being within educational settings.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Student Health

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SD 1660: An Act to promote equity in school attendance requirements

By Mr. Lewis, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 399) of Jason M. Lewis for legislation to promote equity in school attendance requirements. Education.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill explicitly aims to promote equity in school attendance requirements, enhancing educational access and fairness for students, aligning with support indicators.95% confidence

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SD 1019: An Act relative to educator pay

By Mr. Gomez, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 370) of Adam Gomez, Vanna Howard, Michael D. Brady, James K. Hawkins and others for legislation to require that all public school educators are paid not less than a living wage as defined by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Living Wage Calculator. Education.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates living wage for public school educators, directly supporting teacher compensation and retention in education policy.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates living wage for public school educators using MIT calculator, directly advancing wage standards for workers in education sector.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers Minimum Wage

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SD 1578: An Act to ban discriminatory admissions practices at higher education institutions

By Mr. Montigny, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 943) of Mark C. Montigny for legislation to ban discriminatory admissions practices at higher education institutions. Higher Education.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBans discriminatory admissions practices in higher education, promoting equitable access and aligning with educational access protections in the topic description.95% confidence

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SD 1904: An Act investing in public higher education

By Mr. Kennedy, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 937) of Edward J. Kennedy for legislation to invest in public higher education. Higher Education.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill explicitly aims to invest in public higher education, directly funding this topic area per title and summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SD 123: An Act establishing a college tuition tax deduction

By Mr. Moore, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2045) of Michael O. Moore for legislation to establish a college tuition tax deduction. Revenue.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEstablishes a college tuition tax deduction, providing tax relief for families and aligning with fiscal responsibility indicators.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes college tuition tax deduction, reducing financial barriers for higher education access and expanding affordability for students.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 1425: An Act relative to the expansion of the valedictorian tuition waiver program

HD 1425 expands Massachusetts' valedictorian tuition waiver program to cover all public and private high school valedictorians who graduate from Massachusetts schools. The bill provides free tuition and mandatory fees for up to four years at qualifying public colleges, funded entirely by the state - not universities. If a valedictorian doesn’t use the waiver, it automatically goes to the salutatorian. This policy applies to graduates beginning in or after 2025. The change directly affects high-achieving Massachusetts high school graduates seeking public college education.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands free tuition access for valedictorians at public colleges, funded by state, enhancing higher education affordability and access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 1043: An Act establishing the Massachusetts farm to school program

HD 1043 establishes Massachusetts' Farm to School Program to connect schools with local food producers. It directly affects K-12 schools and licensed childcare programs participating in federal meal programs (National School Lunch Program or Child and Adult Care Feeding Program) across Massachusetts. The bill creates two key mechanisms: (1) a grant program funding kitchen equipment, staff training, and food literacy curriculum, and (2) a reimbursement incentive that pays schools $1 for every $2 spent on Massachusetts-grown food or $1 for every $3 on New England/New York regional food. The program also sets up an advisory committee and a dedicated fund to manage grants and ensure equitable access for schools and socially disadvantaged producers.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds food literacy curriculum and staff training for K-12 schools via grants, directly enhancing student nutrition education programs within school meal frameworks.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Early Childhood Student Health

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 1793: An Act regarding school transportation funding

This bill establishes two new transportation funding mechanisms for Massachusetts schools. First, it creates a Rural School Transportation Reimbursement Account to cover extraordinary home-to-school transportation costs for rural districts (excluding regional districts already receiving Section 16C funds). Second, it creates a Non-Resident Pupil Transportation Fund to reimburse schools for transporting students who live outside the municipality where their school is located, using state appropriations, grants, and interest. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education manages these funds, reports annually on distribution, and must assess funding adequacy every five years. The bill directly affects rural school districts and districts serving non-resident pupils, with reimbursements not counting toward local funding requirements.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates new state funds (Rural School Transportation Reimbursement Account and Non-Resident Pupil Transportation Fund) to cover school transportation costs, directly supporting K-12 operational needs and access.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill creates state funds to reimburse school transportation costs, directly advancing transportation services for rural and non-resident students.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Funding School Transportation Transportation Funding

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