HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4544

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, March 31, 2022.

The committee on Education to whom were referred the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 709) of Chynah Tyler and others for legislation to establish a special commission (including members of the General Court) on school segregation and the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 4069) of Chynah Tyler relative to the establishment of a special commission (including members of the General Court) to reassess school integration within the Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity (METCO) Program, reports recommending that the accompanying bill (House, No. 4544) ought to pass [Representative Pease of Westfield dissents].

For the committee,

ALICE HANLON PEISCH.

        FILED ON: 2/2/2022

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4544

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 establishing a study of school segregation.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the department of elementary and secondary education shall study the status of school segregation in public schools in the Commonwealth.

In conducting the study, the department shall: (i) assess the current state and historical trends of school segregation in Massachusetts, both within districts and across district boundaries, (ii) establish a quantifiable, comparable measure of school-level segregation (iii) evaluate current and historical programs the Commonwealth or individual districts have used to increase school integration, including, but not limited to the Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity (METCO) program (iv) identify successful efforts to increase school integration in other states,  (v) identify laws, regulations, and administrative directives that hinder the ability of the state or individual districts to pursue school integration, (v) develop recommendations to advance the goal of school integration in the Commonwealth. In developing recommendations, the department shall consider the impact of such recommendations on educational equity and prioritize proposals that expand educational opportunity in historically disadvantaged communities.

The department may consult with and solicit input from various persons, groups, and agencies as deemed appropriate.

The report, including any analysis, recommendations, or proposed legislation, shall be filed with the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate, the chairs of the joint committee on education and the chairs of the house and senate committees on ways and means not later than June 30, 2024.