HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3186        FILED ON: 2/18/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 569

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Marjorie C. Decker

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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 relative to universal full-day kindergarten.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3186        FILED ON: 2/18/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 569

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 428 OF 2019-2020.]

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 relative to universal full-day kindergarten.

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. Chapter 71 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 4A the following section:-

Section 4B. All school districts shall offer a full-time kindergarten program that is subject to the same minimum requirements that the board establishes for length of a school day and number of days in a school year for elementary schools pursuant to section 1G of chapter 69. For purposes of this section, “elementary school” shall mean a school providing instruction to grades 1 through 5, 6, 7, or 8, and, where so designated by a school committee prior to the commencement of a school year, may also include a middle school or other intermediate level school providing instruction to grades 5 through 6 or any combination thereof.

School districts may apply for a Quality Full-Time Kindergarten Grant to offset the cost of a full-time kindergarten program.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect September 1, 2026.