SENATE DOCKET, NO. 127        FILED ON: 1/11/2013

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 261

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Michael J. Rodrigues

_________________

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 establishing college and career preparation programs and opportunities for postsecondary education.

_______________

PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 127        FILED ON: 1/11/2013

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 261

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 226 OF 2011-2012.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

In the Year Two Thousand Thirteen

_______________

An Act establishing college and career preparation programs and opportunities for postsecondary education.

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 1B of said chapter 69 of the General Laws is hereby further amended by adding the following sentence at the end thereof :-

The board of education shall establish a college and career preparation program for students with a range of educational and academic experiences in and outside the classroom, including but not limited to, an emphasis on experiences that will motivate disadvantaged and minority students to attend college.

Section 2.  Chapter 69 of the General Laws is hereby further amended after Section 10A by adding the following new section:-

Section 10B. College and career preparation programs and opportunities for postsecondary education

The Board shall establish rules and regulations governing the implementation and administration of a college and career preparation program, which shall provide for the early identification and enrollment of students in a college preparation program with a range of educational and academic experiences in and outside the classroom, including an emphasis on experiences that will motivate disadvantaged and minority students to attend college.

The Board shall establish guidelines by which the school committee of a city, town, or regional school district participating under the provisions of this act, may prepare and submit to the board for its approval, a plan for college and career programs to integrate college and career readiness into both the curriculum and academic mission of the school to keep pace with 21st century skill and knowledge needs.

For the purposes of this act, any academic and career progam shall begin development of a plan for each seventh-grade student with completion by the fall of the student’s eighth-grade year. 

Each student enrolled in the college and career preparation program shall be counseled on opportunities for beginning post-secondary education and opportunities for obtaining industry certifications, occupational competency credentials, or professional licenses in a career and technical education field prior to high school graduation.  Such opportunities shall include access to at least three Advanced Placement courses or three college-level courses for degree credit pursuant to section 39 of said chapter 15A.  Students enrolled in such courses shall not be denied participation in school activities for which they are otherwise eligible. 

Each student enrolled in an individual college and career preparation program afforded opportunities to take courses simultaneously for high school graduation and postsecondary credit shall be deemed eligible under the following conditions:             

(a)Written approval of the high school principal prior to participation in dual enrollment must be obtained;

(b)The college must accept the student for admission to the course or courses; and

(c)The course or courses must be given by the college for degree credits

All schools shall begin development of an individual college and career preparation program for each seventh-grade student with completion by the fall of the student’s eighth-grade year.  Students who transfer from other than a Massachusetts public school into the eighth grade or beyond, shall have an individual college and career preparation program developed upon immediate enrollment. 

The components of an individual college and career preparation program shall include, but not be limited to, the student’s program of study for high school graduation and a postsecondary career pathway based on the student’s academic and career interests.  The individual college and career preparation program shall be developed in accordance with the guidelines established by the Board and signed by the student, student’s parent or guardian, and school official(s) designated by the principal.

The individual college and career preparation program shall be included in the student’s transcript and shall be reviewed and updated, if necessary, before the student enrolls into the ninth and eleventh grades.  A city, town, or regional school shall be deemed to have met its obligation for parental involvement under the condition of good faith to notify the parent or guardian of the responsibility for the development and approval of the individual college and career preparation program. 

Section 3.  This act shall take effect immediately upon passage.