SECTION 1. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) shall provide to all students who have reached the level of Grade Six instruction and class offerings in the following subject areas-home economics including cooking and sewing, small engine repair, basic woodworking, metal fabrication, circuitry and basics of electricity, computer technology, plumbing and pipefitting, graphic arts, and musical programming. Each institution shall conduct this programming with the goal of ascertaining student interest and creating pathways forward for students to succeed in their chosen field.  The Department shall develop a clear and consistent curriculum as well as a reasonable set of standards that shall be upheld by all elementary and secondary educational institutions.

SECTION 2. The Department shall make available at the High School level classes and instruction that allows students to pursue their chosen vocational interest. Vocational classes shall be supplemented with core subjects both relating to and unrelated to the vocational interests of the student.  Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the Department shall establish a program to promote student employment partnerships between active and graduated students of public and private institutions in the state and the state’s business community. The Department shall establish rules and regulations governing the implementation and administration of the program. Students eligible to participate in the program shall be in good academic standing.

SECTION 3. The Department shall establish an assistance program for all students sixteen years of age or older to encourage graduation. The Department shall be empowered to establish guidelines for this program.

SECTION 4. Section 1G of Chapter 69 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting at the end thereof the following subsection:-

(1) All children in grades kindergarten through eight shall receive one hundred minutes of supervised, safe, and unstructured free-play recess each week do that there are at least twenty consecutive minutes of free-play recess per day.

SECTION 5. To provide for certain unanticipated obligations of the Commonwealth, to provide for an alteration of purpose for current appropriations, and to meet certain requirements of law, the sums set forth in this section are hereby appropriated from the General Fund. These sums shall be in addition to any amounts previously appropriated and made available for the purpose of these items.

Executive Office of Education

Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

XXXX-XXXX For the development and implementation of standards and curriculum

……………………$50,000,000

XXXX-XXXX For the hiring of guidance counselors and related staff

……………………$65,000,000