HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3809        FILED ON: 1/20/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3944

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Manny Cruz

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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 school site councils and the district parent advisory council.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3809        FILED ON: 1/20/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3944

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

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An Act relative to school site councils and the district parent advisory council.

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

Chapter 71 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 59C the following section:-

Section 59C½. (a)(1) A parent advisory council on special education established in section 3 of chapter 71B, an English learner parent advisory council established in section 6A of chapter 71A and a district parent advisory council established in said section 6A of said chapter 71A shall serve as advisory councils to the school committee. Each parent advisory council shall provide a biannual presentation of their work pursuant to said enabling sections in the school district to the school committee.

(2) The school committee shall be responsible to ensure funding for training of school council members established in section 59C of chapter 71 including, but not limited to, relevant local governance, leadership training and Massachusetts Association of School Committees, Inc. training offered by the school district. The superintendent shall provide a manual written by employees of the school district on school council governance for the training of school council members.

(b) The school council shall assess the needs of each school by reviewing the federal annual state report card under 20 U.S.C. § 6311(h) at the earliest possible date after publication.

(c) The school council shall provide complete progress reports on current goals at the middle and end of school year in time to be available for school budget development and for future school year planning.

(d) The school council shall complete an annual evaluation and rating of the school council’s performance as a group. The evaluation will be distributed in April to the principal and school council chairperson and completed by June 1. A copy of said evaluation shall be provided to the school committee.

(e) The department shall establish rules and regulations that are necessary to implement this section.