SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1762        FILED ON: 1/16/2015

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 268

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Sal N. DiDomenico

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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 for universal early education and full-day kindergarten.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1762        FILED ON: 1/16/2015

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 268

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 for universal early education and full-day kindergarten.

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 13 of Chapter 15D of the general laws, as appearing in the 2012 Official edition, is hereby amended by striking subsections (a) and (b) and inserting in place thereof the following: -

Section 13. (a) The board shall, subject to appropriation, establish the Massachusetts universal pre-kindergarten program to assist in providing voluntary, universally accessible, high-quality early education and care programs and services for preschool-aged children in the commonwealth. Provided, however, that the board shall establish a universal program for all three and four year olds in the Commonwealth which shall be available free to all residents, available for up to ten hours daily, up to five days a week, and throughout the year;  and, provided further, that the board shall determine a schedule for the universal program for three and four year olds to be fully established and fully funded no later than September first, 2020; and, provided further, that the board shall begin the program in districts where at least fifty percent of the students are classified as low-come.

The program shall be designed to meet and enhance the preschool-aged child’s ability to make age appropriate progress in the development of cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional and physical capacities and school readiness based on curriculum frameworks, after consultation with representatives of early childhood educators and their professional associations, including the Massachusetts Teachers Association, the American Federation of Teachers-Massachusetts and the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

(b) The Massachusetts universal pre-kindergarten program shall be delivered through a mixed system of providers and programs.

The board shall ensure that, by 2020, all teachers in the programs established under this section shall be licensed; provided, further, that the board shall establish a grant program to provide funding for teachers to pay for courses and other costs associated with obtaining a license under this section. 

Programs shall be sufficiently flexible to serve families with various work schedules. The department shall develop a method for funding the program, which may provide grants, or enter into contracts with any provider of early education and care, or entities coordinating or administering plans to provide high-quality, comprehensive services to children and their families within the local community. These providers may include, but are not limited to: public; private; non-profit preschools; child care centers; nursery schools; preschools operating within public and private schools; Head Start programs; independent and system-affiliated family child care homes; and local early education and care councils; provided, however, that for profit preschools or other for profit entities will not be eligible as authorized providers under this section The department may provide vouchers to eligible households for the purpose of implementing the early education and care program. All providers shall demonstrate that they are willing and able to serve and integrate children of diverse abilities and special needs, diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds and diverse economic circumstances.

SECTION 2.  Section 1B of chapter 69 of the general laws, as appearing in the 2012 official edition, is hereby amended by striking the words contained in paragraph 20, and inserting in place thereof the following:-

The board shall establish the permissible and mandatory ages for school attendance provided that each child be required to attend a full-day educational program at the beginning of the school year in the calendar year in which he or she attains the age of five.