HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4113        FILED ON: 8/20/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Alan Silvia

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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 non-public school student access to the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System exam.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4113        FILED ON: 8/20/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

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 non-public school student access to the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System exam.

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 1I of chapter 69 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2014 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the 12th paragraph the following paragraph:-

A student in a non-public school in the commonwealth may elect to take the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System exam in the school district wherein the student resides. The cost of administering the exam to such students shall be borne by the school district in which they take the exam.

SECTION 2. Said chapter 69 is hereby amended by inserting after said section 1I the following section:-

Section 1I ½. Any student of a non-public school in the commonwealth who elects to take the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System exam, hereinafter referred to as MCAS, pursuant to section 1I, shall be eligible to receive a John & Abigail Adams Scholarship provided the student meets the following requirements:

(i) (a) by the end of the student’s eleventh grade school year for any student who graduated from or under the auspices of a non-public high school in the commonwealth after June 30, 2005 and on or before June 30, 2015 , was in the highest 15 percent in the district in which the student took the exam on the English Language Arts and Mathematics MCAS grade 10 tests, and scored in the advanced category on both tests; or (b) by the end of the student’s eleventh grade school year for any student who, as of July 1, 2015 , did not graduate from or under the auspices of a non-public high school in the commonwealth, is in the highest 15 percent in the district in which the student took the exam on the English Language Arts, Mathematics and Science and Technology/Engineering MCAS grade 10 tests, and scored at least proficient on the Science and Technology/Engineering test and advanced on the other 2 tests;

              (ii) is a permanent legal resident of Massachusetts for at least 1 year prior to the start of the academic year and who is a United States citizen or a non-citizen eligible under guidelines provided or promulgated pursuant to Title IV of the federal Higher Education Act of 1965, Public Law 89-329;

              (iii) is enrolled full-time in a public institution of higher education that accepts the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship, and has not earned a prior bachelor’s degree;

              (iv) maintains a cumulative 3.5 grade point average on all academic coursework at the institution awarding the degree; or if transferring, the student maintained a cumulative 3.5 grade point average at the institution from which from the student is transferring ;

              (v) completes the Free Application for Federal Student Aid prior to the start of the academic year;

              (vi) maintains satisfactory academic progress in accordance with institutional standards;

              (vii) is in compliance with applicable law regarding Selective Service Registration; and

              (viii) is not in default on any federal or state student education loans for attendance at any institution or owes a refund for any previous financial aid received.