HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2763        FILED ON: 1/16/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 437

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Paul W. Mark, (BY REQUEST)

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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 student learning time at Mohawk Trail Regional School District.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2763        FILED ON: 1/16/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 437

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth General Court
(2015-2016)

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An Act relative to student learning time at Mohawk Trail Regional School District.

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. For purposes of this act, the following terms shall have the following meanings:-

“Core subjects”, the core academic subjects specified in section 1D of chapter 69 of the General Laws and the subjects covered in courses which are part of an approved vocational-technical education program pursuant to chapter 74 of the General Laws.

“Optional school programs”, school activities that are not part of a course of study in either core subjects or other subjects, which are offered by a school district to enrich the educational experience of its students and meet educational goals set by the school committee, including but not limited to: activity clubs; driver education; extracurricular student performance groups; non-academic assemblies; non-academic field trips; pep-rallies; sports and athletics; standardized testing other than statewide assessments conducted pursuant to sections 1D and 1I of chapter 69 of the General Laws; and student government.

“Other subjects”, subjects other than core academic subjects that are required to be taught pursuant to section s 1 and 3 of chapter 71 and other subjects approved by the school committee as part of a school district's program of studies.

“School services”, services which a school district provides to some or all students, either as a matter of state or federal law or regulation or local school district policy, to protect or improve student health and personal well-being, or enhance students' readiness and ability to learn, including but not limited to: special education diagnosis and evaluation; special education related services such as speech, physical and occupational therapy; and health screening and prevention services.

“Structured learning time”, time during which students are engaged in regularly scheduled instruction, learning activities or learning assessments within the curriculum for study of the core subjects and other subjects. In addition to classroom time where both teachers and students are present, structured learning time may include directed study, independent study, technology-assisted learning, presentations by persons other than teachers, school to work programs and statewide student performance assessments. Time devoted to or allotted for school breakfast and lunch, passing between classes, homeroom, recess,  non-directed study periods, school services and optional school programs shall not be considered structured learning time.

SECTION 2. Notwithstanding section 1G of chapter 69 of the General Laws or any other general or special law to the contrary, the school committee for the Mohawk Trail Regional School District may operate the schools within its district for less than the minimum number of school days in a school year established by the board of elementary and secondary education pursuant to said section 1G of said chapter 69 and may implement a 4 day school week in its schools; provided, however, the school district shall ensure that every student in grades 7 to 12, inclusive, is scheduled to receive a minimum of 990 hours per school year of structured learning time; provided further the school district shall ensure that every student in grades 1 to 6, inclusive, is scheduled to receive a minimum of 900 hours of structured learning time.

SECTION 3. Notwithstanding any provision of this act to the contrary, the school committee for the Mohawk Trail Regional School District may establish a separate school year and school day schedule for kindergarten programs that it maintains pursuant to regulations promulgated by the board of elementary and secondary education.