HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2890        FILED ON: 2/18/2011

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3680

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Jason M. Lewis

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to specific curriculum for continuing education in schools.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2890        FILED ON: 2/18/2011

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3680

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Eleven

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An Act relative to specific curriculum for continuing education in schools.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Section 71of chapter 38G  of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2008 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following 3 paragraphs:- 

The board shall require all public schools to develop a continuing education course.  The department of elementary and secondary education shall be responsible for establishing the specific curriculum of the course.  The course material should be covered in 4 to 6 hours during professional development training.

All educators are required to take the course within 3 years of hire or show that the course material has been covered by their educational program within the last 10 years.  All teachers are required to take the continuing education course at least every 10 years.

The course shall contain:-

(A)Understanding of the schools’ and educators legal obligations:-

(i)    504 education plans

(ii)     Individualized education program

(iii)     Progress Reporting

(iv)     Writing measurable goals

(v)      Accommodations

(vi)      Parent/teacher communication

(vii)Confidentiality

(viii)Special requirements for Autism Spectrum

(ix)      Safety obligations particularly for those with physical disabilities; and

(x)      State reporting obligations

(B)Understanding the types of disabilities that exist including but not limited to the following:-

(i)Language based learning disorders, including dyslexia:

(1)Physical Disabilities, including: vision impairment; hearing impairment; speech impairments, including dyparaxia; and

(2)Health impairment, including tubular sclerosis and autoimmune disorders;

(3)Pervasive development disorder and autism spectrum disorder, including: classic and high functioning autism, asperger’s syndrome and non verbal learning disorders;

(ii)Emotional Disorders:-

(1)Depression;

(2)Bipolar disorder; and

(3)Anxiety disorders

(iii)Attention deficit disorder and  Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder:-

(1)Inattentive;

(2)Hyperactive; and

(3)Combined type

(iv)Downs Syndrome

(v)Cerebral Palsy

(vi)Spina Bifida

(vii)Mitochondrial disorders and

(viii)Other types of developmental delays

(C)Interventions and supports:-

(i)Accommodations in the classroom, including extra time to take exams, web and computer-based classroom note taking, seating placement, fidget objects, charts, activity and leg-stretching breaks;

(ii)Educational  methods for teaching academically challenging material;

(iii)Behavioral  assessment charting, plans and interventions;

(iv)Social and emotional supports; and

(v)Data acquisition

SECTION 2.  All educators currently in any public school system shall take the course established in section 1 within 3 years of passage of this act, unless the educators can demonstrate that they have covered the course material within the past 10 years.