SENATE DOCKET, NO. 51        FILED ON: 1/13/2015

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 254

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Cynthia S. Creem

_________________

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 authorizing a study of starting times and schedules.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

 

Cynthia S. Creem

First Middlesex and Norfolk

 

William N. Brownsberger

Second Suffolk and Middlesex

 

Carolyn C. Dykema

8th Middlesex

 

James B. Eldridge

Middlesex and Worcester

 

Jason M. Lewis

Fifth Middlesex

 

Paul Brodeur

32nd Middlesex

 

Paul McMurtry

11th Norfolk

 

Ruth B. Balser

12th Middlesex

 

Michael S. Day

31st Middlesex

 

Sean Garballey

23rd Middlesex

 

Carmine L. Gentile

13th Middlesex

 

Tom Sannicandro

7th Middlesex

 

Timothy R. Madden

Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket

 

Kathleen O'Connor Ives

First Essex

3/24/2016


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 51        FILED ON: 1/13/2015

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 254

By Ms. Creem, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 254) of Cynthia S. Creem, William N. Brownsberger, Carolyn C. Dykema, James B. Eldridge and other members of the General Court for legislation to authorize a study of school day starting times and schedules.  Education.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 215 OF 2013-2014.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

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

_______________

 

An Act authorizing a study of starting times and schedules.

 

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. There shall be an educational task force to review the effect of school day start times for middle school and secondary school students.   The task force shall consist of 9 members: the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on education, or their designees, who shall serve as co-chairs of the task force; the secretary of education, or a designee; the commissioner of elementary and secondary education, or a designee; the executive director of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, or a designee, the executive director of the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents, or a designee; the executive director of the Massachusetts Association of Secondary School Principals, or a designee; the executive director of StartSchoolLater.net, or a designee; and a superintendent from a district which has implemented later school day starting times.

The task force shall: (i) conduct a comprehensive study, including a review of the scientific findings relative to sleep needs of adolescents, relative to the effect which middle school and secondary school start times have on the health and academic performance of students; (ii) determine the number of districts in the Commonwealth which have implemented later school day starting times for middle school and secondary schools and examine the academic performance of students, including performance on statewide tests; and (iii) identify resources and opportunities to assist districts in implementing later school day start times for middle school and secondary schools.

The task force shall file a report containing its findings and recommendations, including legislation necessary to carry out its recommendations, with the clerks of the house and senate by June 30, 2016.