Education

passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SD 1271: An Act promoting racially and culturally inclusive K-12 curriculum

By Mr. Lewis (by request), a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 395) of Vincent Dixon, for legislation to promote racially and culturally inclusive K-12 curriculum. Education.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill explicitly promotes racially/culturally inclusive K-12 curriculum, advancing educational content standards per its title and summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SD 2285: An Act regulating screen time and technology privacy in early and K-12 education

By Mr. Velis (by request), a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 463) of Kirstin Beatty, for legislation to regulate screen time and technology privacy in early and K-12 education. Education.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRegulates screen time and technology privacy in schools to protect student safety and data, aligning with protective educational policies.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRegulates screen time and technology privacy in K-12 education, directly protecting student data privacy as per topic indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 2271: An Act to promote comprehensive and inclusive curriculum in schools

HD 2271 establishes a dedicated "Comprehensive and Inclusive Curriculum Trust Fund" managed by the education commissioner to support inclusive curriculum development in all public schools. The fund finances curriculum updates, teacher training, and grants for schools, prioritizing underserved communities and districts affected by bias incidents. It requires schools to teach accurate histories and contributions of underrepresented groups across subjects, including topics like slavery, immigration, and systemic discrimination. All funded initiatives must align with the curriculum standards, and the commissioner must report annually on fund usage to state legislators.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEstablishes a dedicated trust fund financing curriculum development, teacher training, and grants for public schools, increasing state budget allocation for education programs.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes dedicated Trust Fund for inclusive curriculum development, teacher training, and grants prioritizing underserved communities, requiring accurate teaching of underrepresented histories.95% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationBill explicitly requires teaching 'accurate histories and contributions of underrepresented groups... including topics like immigration' to promote inclusive education and integration.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Teachers

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SD 729: An Act establishing an empowerment scholarship tax credit to expand educational opportunities

By Mr. Fattman, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1984) of Ryan C. Fattman and Bruce E. Tarr for legislation to establish an empowerment scholarship tax credit to expand educational opportunities and fair access to quality education for low-and-moderate-income students. Revenue.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesTax credit provides direct tax relief for low/mid-income students, aligning with fiscal support for educational access through targeted tax policy.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill explicitly establishes scholarship tax credit to 'expand educational opportunities' and 'fair access to quality education' for low-income students, directly advancing access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice Student Financial Aid

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 931: An Act requiring financial education in schools

HD 931 creates a dedicated Financial Literacy Trust Fund to support financial education in Massachusetts public schools. The fund, administered by the education commissioner, will finance curriculum development, teacher training, and resources for teaching budgeting, credit, investing, online commerce, and basic cryptocurrency concepts. Schools serving disadvantaged communities receive priority funding, and private donations must pass transparency reviews to avoid influencing curriculum. The law requires all schools to implement these lessons starting one academic year after enactment, with annual public reports on fund usage and program impact.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates dedicated fund for financial literacy curriculum, teacher training, and resources in schools, prioritizing disadvantaged communities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Teachers

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 625: An Act regarding free expression

This bill strengthens protections for library materials and student expression in Massachusetts schools. It requires school libraries to select materials based on educational value and age-appropriateness (not personal views), and mandates that challenged materials remain available until a school committee reviews them after a public hearing. School committees must follow specific procedures to remove materials, requiring "clear and convincing evidence" they lack educational value. The bill directly affects school librarians, school committees, and students by safeguarding library access and providing legal protections for librarians who follow approved selection policies.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill protects educational materials access by requiring evidence-based removal standards and preventing premature removal of challenged items in school libraries, directly strengthening curriculum access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Libraries

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 2054: An Act to reduce out-of-school suspensions

HD 2054, titled "An Act to reduce out-of-school suspensions," requires Massachusetts public schools to offer in-school suspensions as an alternative to out-of-school suspensions for students. The bill defines in-school suspension as removal from classrooms but not school premises for up to 10 days total per year, and mandates schools to provide academic support during this time. Schools must monitor in-school suspensions with at least one staff member experienced in science/math and one experienced in humanities/social sciences. The state department must also provide funding or staff to schools lacking resources for this program. This policy directly affects Massachusetts public schools and students facing disciplinary actions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeReduces school suspensions, addressing school-to-prison pipeline - a key criminal justice reform concern by keeping students in school and avoiding early justice system involvement.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates in-school suspensions with academic support to maintain student access to education, reducing learning disruptions during disciplinary actions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Student Health

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passed · Massachusetts · House Feb 27, 2025

HD 4060: An Act developing a Portrait of a Graduate

By Representative Cahill of Lynn, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 527) of Daniel Cahill and Jacob R. Oliveira for legislation to authorize the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to identify competencies that schools will support students to develop upon graduation from high school. Education.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAuthorizes identifying graduation competencies to guide student development, strengthening educational standards and outcomes per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

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passed · Massachusetts · House Feb 27, 2025

HD 2931: An Act to support community-based schools

By Representative Moran of Lawrence, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 653) of Frank A. Moran for legislation to support community-based schools. Education.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill title and summary explicitly state 'support community-based schools' under Education topic, aligning with funding/strengthening indicators.95% confidence

Track

passed · Massachusetts · House Feb 27, 2025

HD 3869: An Act providing curriculum transparency

By Representative Jones of North Reading, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 613) of Bradley H. Jones, Jr. and others relative to the curriculum frameworks. Education.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates curriculum transparency, enhancing accountability in educational frameworks without restricting content or funding.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum

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