HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 704        FILED ON: 1/14/2013

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 348

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Antonio F. D. Cabral

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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 to establish a new high school diploma.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 704        FILED ON: 1/14/2013

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 348

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 140 OF 2011-2012.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Thirteen

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An act to establish a new high school diploma.

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

Part (i ) of section 1D of chapter 69 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2010 official edition, is hereby amended by adding after the second sentence the following sentence:-

Students who have demonstrated competency under this section by passing the state’ s assessment tests, i.e., the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS), shall be granted a Commonwealth Diploma issued by the state Department of Education.  Students who have demonstrated competency under this section by meeting the academic s tandards and curriculum frameworks enumerated in this section by satisfying the requirements of their local school committee shall be granted a Horace Mann Diploma issued by the local school committee.  Students may receive either one or both diplomas.  Issuance of either the Commonwealth or the Horace Mann Diploma to a student will certify that a student has met the competency determination described in this section and will entitle a student to all the rights and privileges of high school graduation.