SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1872        FILED ON: 2/18/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 364

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Jason M. Lewis

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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 establish a special commission on innovative technology-enabled teaching and learning.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1872        FILED ON: 2/18/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 364

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 establish a special commission on innovative technology-enabled teaching and learning.

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. There shall be a special commission established pursuant to section 2A of chapter 4 of the General Laws to study high-quality technology-enabled teaching and learning practices. In conducting its study, the special commission shall evaluate educator preparedness related to technology-enabled instruction, including, but not limited to curriculum, student engagement, and innovative practices aimed to ensure equitable outcomes for students and families in the Commonwealth; and make recommendations to address inequities in high quality technology-enabled teaching and learning practices and student outcomes.  

The commission shall consist of the secretary of education, or a designee; the commissioner of elementary and secondary education, or a designee; 2 members to be appointed by the governor who shall have experience in integrative professional learning technology; 3 members of the senate of which the senate president shall appoint one to serve as co-chair, 1 of whom shall be the senate chair of the joint committee on education, 1 of whom shall be the senate chair of the labor and workforce development and 1 of whom shall be a member of the minority part to be appointed by the senate minority party leader; 3 members of the house of representatives of which the speaker of the house shall appoint 1 to serve as co-chair, 1 of whom shall be the house chair of the joint committee on education, 1 of whom shall be the house chair of the joint committee on labor and workforce development and 1 of whom shall be a member of the minority party who shall be appointed by the house minority leader; and 1 member to be appointed by each of the following organizations: LearnLaunch, Inc., the Deeper Learning Dozen, the Massachusetts Teachers Association, the American Federation of Teachers of Massachusetts, the Boston Teachers Union, Massachusetts Association of Regional Schools, Massachusetts Rural Policy Advisory Commission, Latinos for Education, Massachusetts Educational Technology Administrators Association, Massachusetts Parent Teacher Organization, the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents, Inc., the Massachusetts Technology Leadership Council, the Clayton Christensen Institute, and the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, Inc.   

It shall not constitute a violation of chapter 268A for a person employed by a school district to serve on the commission or to participate in commission deliberations that may have a financial impact on the district employing that person or on the rate at which that person may be compensated. The commission may establish procedures to ensure that no such person participates in commission deliberations that may directly affect the school districts employing those persons or that may directly affect the rate at which those persons are compensated. 

Prior to issuing its recommendations, the special commission shall conduct not fewer than 6 public meetings across regions of the commonwealth and incorporate feedback from students, families, and relevant stakeholders. 

The commission shall study and report on: (i) the status of technology-related teaching and learning prior to March 2020, including an assessment of need and quality; (ii) the transition schools have made since March 2020 to provide technology-enabled teaching and learning; (iii) the impact of said transition on educators in the commonwealth (iv) the outcomes of  technology-enabled teaching and learning on students and families throughout the commonwealth; (v) whether said student outcomes were equitable across student subgroups, demographics, and geographic locations; (vi) the role of the external stakeholders in facilitating the transition to technology-enabled teaching and learning; (viii) best practices pertaining to technology-enabled teaching and learning; and (ix) any other matters related to technology-enabled teaching and learning as determined by the co-chairs. 

The commission shall submit a report containing its findings and recommendations, including drafts of proposed legislation to carry out its recommendations, by filing the same with the clerks of the senate and house of representatives, the chairs of the joint committee on education, the chairs of the joint committee on ways and means, and the department of elementary and secondary education not later than December 31, 2022.