HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4212        FILED ON: 3/9/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Dylan A. Fernandes, (BY REQUEST)

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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 start times for middle and high school students.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4212        FILED ON: 3/9/2023

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[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 5140 OF 2021-2022.]

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 start times for middle and high school students.

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 69 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out section 1G and inserting in place thereof the following:-

Section 1G. (a) The board shall establish the minimum length for a school day and the minimum number of days in the school year.

(b) (i) The school day for all high schools, including high schools operated as charter schools, shall begin no earlier than 8:30 a.m.

(ii) The school day for all middle schools, including middle schools operated as charter schools, shall begin no earlier than 8:00 a.m.

(iii) For purposes of this section, “school day” has the same meaning as defined by the school district or charter school for purposes of calculating average daily attendance in order to compute any apportionments of state funding.

(iv) The board shall promulgate such rules and regulations as necessary to implement this section in a manner that is fair and equitable.

(v) No public school within the commonwealth shall be entitled to any apportionments of state funding unless the report of the trustees or board for the preceding school year shall show that the school followed this section.

(vi) If the board determines that this section contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to chapters 70 and 71.

SECTION 2. Section 1 shall be implemented by all public schools no later than July 1, 2026, or the date on which a school district’s or charter school’s respective collective bargaining agreement that is operative on January 1, 2024, expires, whichever is later. Section 1 shall apply to all academic years after July 1, 2026.