HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2668        FILED ON: 1/20/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2038

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Carmine L. Gentile

_________________

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 authorizing a study of starting times and schedules.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Carmine L. Gentile

13th Middlesex

1/20/2017

Carolyn C. Dykema

8th Middlesex

2/2/2017

Robert M. Koczera

11th Bristol

 

Timothy R. Whelan

1st Barnstable

 

Chris Walsh

6th Middlesex

 

Michael S. Day

31st Middlesex

2/1/2017

Steven Ultrino

33rd Middlesex

 

Susan Williams Gifford

2nd Plymouth

 

Barbara A. L'Italien

Second Essex and Middlesex

 

Richard J. Ross

Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex

 

Jason M. Lewis

Fifth Middlesex

 

James B. Eldridge

Middlesex and Worcester

2/2/2017

Karen E. Spilka

Second Middlesex and Norfolk

 

Michelle M. DuBois

10th Plymouth

 


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2668        FILED ON: 1/20/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2038

By Mr. Gentile of Sudbury, a petition (accompanied by resolve, House, No. 2038) of Carmine L. Gentile and others for an investigation by an educational task force of the effects of school day start times for middle school and secondary school students.  Education.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 2464 OF 2015-2016.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninetieth General Court
(2017-2018)

_______________

 

Resolve authorizing a study of starting times and schedules.

 

Resolved, That the department of elementary and secondary education shall convene 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: the commissioner of elementary and secondary education or a designee who shall serve as chair; the secretary of education or a designee; the executive director of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, Inc. or a designee; the executive director of the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents, Inc. or a designee; the executive director of the Massachusetts Secondary Schools Administration Association, Inc. or a designee; the executive director of Start School Later, Inc. or a designee; the executive director of the Massachusetts Association of School Business Officials, Inc. or a designee; a representative from the National Sleep Foundation; a parent of a high school student who is a member of a school council, as defined in section 59C of chapter 71 of the General Laws; and a superintendent from a district which has implemented later school day start times.

The task force shall: (i) conduct a comprehensive study, including a review of the scientific findings relative to sleep needs of adolescents and the effect that middle school and secondary school day start times have on the health and academic performance of students; (ii) determine the number of districts in the commonwealth that have implemented later school day start times for middle schools 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 schools and secondary schools, should the task force’s findings under clauses (i) and (ii) suggest that a later school day start time is beneficial to student learning.

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 senate and house of representatives by July 1, 2018.