SENATE DOCKET, NO. 773        FILED ON: 1/18/2017

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 227

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Cynthia Stone Creem

_________________

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:

 

Cynthia Stone Creem

First Middlesex and Norfolk

 

Barbara A. L'Italien

Second Essex and Middlesex

2/2/2017

Susan Williams Gifford

2nd Plymouth

1/23/2017

Carmine L. Gentile

13th Middlesex

1/23/2017

Kathleen O'Connor Ives

First Essex

4/14/2017


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 773        FILED ON: 1/18/2017

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 227

By Ms. Creem, a petition (accompanied by resolve, Senate, No. 227) of Cynthia S. Creem, Barbara A. L'Italien, Susan Williams Gifford and Carmine L. Gentile for legislation to authorize a study of starting times and schedules.  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.