HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1289        FILED ON: 1/18/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 289

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Robert M. Koczera

_________________

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 to institute a later start time to the school day.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Robert M. Koczera

11th Bristol

1/18/2017

Marjorie C. Decker

25th Middlesex

2/2/2017

Colleen M. Garry

36th Middlesex

1/31/2017

Susan Williams Gifford

2nd Plymouth

1/23/2017

Kay Khan

11th Middlesex

2/3/2017

Elizabeth A. Malia

11th Suffolk

2/3/2017

David M. Rogers

24th Middlesex

2/1/2017

Chris Walsh

6th Middlesex

2/3/2017


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1289        FILED ON: 1/18/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 289

By Mr. Koczera of New Bedford, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 289) of Robert M. Koczera and others that the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education assemble a task force to study instituting a later start time to the school day.  Education.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

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

_______________

 

An Act authorizing a study to institute a later start time to the school day.

 

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.  Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is hereby authorized and directed to assemble an educational task force to conduct a comprehensive study relative to the issues, benefits, and options related to instituting a later start time to the school day for elementary and secondary schools in the Commonwealth.  The task force shall comprise of, but not limited to:  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 Superintendents or a designee; the executive director of the Massachusetts Association of Elementary School Principals or a designee; the executive director of the Massachusetts Association of Secondary School Principals 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 Business Officials or a designee; the executive director of the Massachusetts Association of Special Education Administrators or a designee;  the executive director of the Massachusetts Teachers Association or a designee.

The task force shall: (i) conduct a comprehensive study including, but not limited to, the impact of school start times on student academic performance, school scheduling issues, scientific and academic findings relative to the sleep needs of adolescents; (ii) schedule and hold public hearings throughout the Commonwealth to ensure public input and comment; and (iii) make reasonable attempts at obtaining comments and suggestions from common stakeholders, that may include teachers, students, parents of students, and education policy makers.

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 of Representatives and Senate and the Joint Committee on Education not later than 12 months following the first meeting of the task force.