SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1712        FILED ON: 1/16/2015

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 280

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

James B. Eldridge

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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 resolve:

Resolve establishing a special commission on two-generation approaches to childhood education.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1712        FILED ON: 1/16/2015

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 280

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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

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Resolve establishing a special commission on two-generation approaches to childhood education.

Resolved, SECTION 1. There shall be a special commission entitled the “Special Commission on Two-Generation Approaches” to study and make recommendations concerning the implementation of two-generation systems in Massachusetts, as defined by focusing on creating opportunities for and addressing needs of both vulnerable parents and children together.

SECTION 2. The commission shall consist of the secretary of education or designee who shall serve as chair; the commissioner of the department of early education and care or designee; two members of the senate: one of whom shall be the chair of the joint committee on education or designee, and one of whom shall be the chair of the joint committee on children, families and persons with disabilities or designee; two members of the house of representatives: one of whom shall be the chair of the joint committee on education or designee, and one of whom shall be the chair of the joint committee on children, families and persons with disabilities or designee; six persons to be appointed by the governor, three of whom shall be representatives of community-based organizations that have experience working with youth and families, two of whom shall be representatives of research or educational institutions specializing in early education, and one of whom shall be a representative of an organization with interest in two-generation approaches.

SECTION 3. The commission shall: (1) solicit information and input from service providers, families, educational institutions, and any other parties or entities the commission deems appropriate;  review and identify best practices learned from similar efforts in other states and codify the core components of a model two-generation approach for young parents, ages 16-24, and their children; (2) establish a two-generational school/employment readiness plan to promote long-term learning and economic success for low-income families by addressing intergenerational barriers to school readiness and workforce readiness with high-quality preschool, intensified workforce training and targeted education, coupled with related support services; (3) study and make recommendations to best maximize the existing intersecting state resources available to fund an expansion of two-generation approaches for young parents, ages 16-24, and their children; (4) develop recommendations to measure and evaluate progress for both children and their parents through specified dual generation approaches that result in improved outcomes and increased cost savings; and (5) identify and make recommendations for a new and sustainable funding source for two-generation approaches.

SECTION 4. Members of the commission shall be named and the commission shall commence its work within 60 days of the effective date of this resolve. The commission shall report to the general court the results of its study, and together with draft legislation necessary to implement two-generation approaches in the commonwealth by filing the same with the clerks of the senate and the house of representatives and the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on education and the joint committee on children, families and persons with disabilities, not more than 365 days after the effective date of this resolve.