HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4042        FILED ON: 1/20/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 444

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Manny Cruz and Estela A. Reyes

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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 expand the use of career and academic plans.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4042        FILED ON: 1/20/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 444

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 to expand the use of career and academic plans.

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 is amended by adding the following two new sections:-

Section 100. (a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

“college and career pathway program”, a high school based program, designated by the department of elementary and secondary education, which offers a sequenced and/or career-themed set of academic and/or work-based learning experiences, including designated early college, vocational-technical education and innovation pathways programs, which can lead to, in the department’s opinion, improved college and career readiness outcomes. 

“individual learning plan”, a plan devised by individual students with assistance from a designated educator that provides a clear and detailed student academic pathway from secondary to post- secondary education or career with regard to coursework, sequencing and experiences beyond the classroom, beginning in the ninth grade or earlier. 

“MyCAP”, an acronym for My Career and Academic Plan, a process for creating a student’s individual learning plan as defined in this subsection, and supported by utilization of an online platform, 

(b) All public school districts shall ensure that all high school students, beginning in the ninth grade, have developed, with the support of a designated educator and an online platform approved by the department of elementary and secondary education, an individual learning plan as defined in subsection a of this section. Said plans shall allow students to continue to adapt said plans and to make reasonable and relevant changes to their plans through the course of their secondary education that allow for a continuing process of alignment with the student’s needs and planning goals. Districts will provide support to students to participate in the development and refinement of their plans. Districts will also make every reasonable effort to offer students the experiences identified in their plans to ensure alignment with, and accomplishment of, the student’s goals for post-graduate success. 

(c) Nothing contained herein will prevent districts from beginning the process of having students develop individual learning plans prior to beginning high school, for students within their jurisdictions. 

(d) Districts shall report annually to the department of elementary and secondary education on their progress in meeting the requirements contained in this section. 

(e) The department of elementary and secondary education shall develop guidance for districts to oversee and ensure their compliance with the provisions of this section, aligned with their current guidance to districts utilizing the structure of the MyCAP system and its component parts. 

Section 2. Section 1 shall take effect for the school year beginning after July 1, 2026.