SECTION 1. Chapter 71 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

Section 98. (a) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, any student scheduled to graduate at the conclusion of the 2020-2021 or 2021-2022 academic year from a district high school or charter school, as defined in section 89, or their parent, legal guardian or custodian may opt-in to an additional academic year if the student or their parent, legal guardian or custodian determines that the student’s education has been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

(b) Notwithstanding section 12C of chapter 71B or any other general or special law to the contrary, a student who will attain the age of 22 during the 2020-2021 or 2021-2022 academic year and has been receiving special education pursuant to said chapter 71B or their parent, legal guardian or custodian may opt-in to an additional academic year until attaining the age of 23 if the student or their parent, legal guardian or custodian determines that the student’s education has been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

SECTION 2. Section 98 of chapter 71 the General Laws is hereby repealed.

SECTION 3.  The department of elementary and secondary education shall reimburse municipalities for eligible costs associated with providing additional education services to certain students whose education was negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic pursuant to section 98 of chapter 71 of the General Laws for 2 years’ following the termination of the governor’s March 10, 2020 declaration of a state of emergency.

SECTION 4. Section 2 shall take effect on August 31, 2022.