HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1289 FILED ON: 1/18/2017
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 289
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Robert M. Koczera
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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 authorizing a study to institute a later start time to the school day.
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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
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In the One Hundred and Ninetieth General Court
(2017-2018)
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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.