HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3544        FILED ON: 2/19/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4032

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf

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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 to enhance public early education opportunities.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3544        FILED ON: 2/19/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4032

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)

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An Act to enhance public early education opportunities.

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. (a) There shall be, within the department of education, a pilot program for early education and care at public high schools and community colleges. The program shall establish a minimum 1-year pilot, whereby early education and care programs, as defined in section 1A of chapter 15D of the General Laws, shall be available at public high schools and community colleges for children of students.

(b) There shall be an early education and care at public high schools and community colleges advisory group, hereinafter advisory group, consisting of 7 members to oversee the pilot program. The advisory group shall include: the secretary of education or a designee; the commissioner of early education and care or a designee; the commissioner elementary and secondary education or a designee; the commissioner of higher education or a designee; and 3 members to be appointed by the governor, of whom 1 shall be a representative of the state advisory council on early education and care; 1 shall be a representative of AFT Massachusetts and 1 shall be a representative of the Massachusetts Association of Community Colleges.

(c) The advisory group shall create goals, standards and key metrics for the development and tracking of the early education and care at public high schools and community colleges pilot program. The advisory group shall hold public meetings at which public testimony will be accepted not less than quarterly and present all relevant data and implementation information. The advisory group shall form sub-groups as needed, including to evaluate the impacts on student performance, retention and attendance or any other area identified by the advisory group. The advisory group shall have full access to any data or record related to the pilot.

(d) The pilot shall commence not later than December 31, 2022. The advisory group shall present formal findings not less than every 6 months thereafter to the board of education. A final report on the pilot shall be submitted to the board of education, joint committee on education, the house and senate chairs of ways and means and the clerks of the house and senate not later than 3 months after the conclusion of the pilot.

SECTION 2. The secretary of education shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to implement this act.

SECTION 3. Sections 1 and 2 are hereby repealed.

SECTION 4. Section 3 shall take effect December 31, 2023.