HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2046        FILED ON: 1/15/2025

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

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Andres X. Vargas and 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 fulfilling the promise of education reform.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2046        FILED ON: 1/15/2025

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

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

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An Act fulfilling the promise of education reform.

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

Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the Legislature shall establish a commission, hereafter referred to as “the Promise Commission”, the purpose of which is to study the current status, structures, future vision and needs of public education. Said commission shall develop a plan to align the Commonwealth’s expectations for public education in the next decade with demonstrable evidence that students have developed the necessary competencies to succeed in an ever-evolving world.

SECTION 1. The Promise Commission shall consist of eleven (11) members appointed as follows: House Speaker or a designee, the Senate President or a designee, the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education, the Commissioner of Early Education and Care, the Commissioner of Higher Education, a member appointed by the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents, a member appointed by the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, a member appointed by the Massachusetts affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers, a member appointed by the Massachusetts Teachers Association, a member appointed by the Massachusetts Education Equity Partnership, and a Massachusetts based member appointed by Latinos for Education.

SECTION 2. The Commission shall conduct an ongoing study of all matters concerning education in the 21st Century, including but not limited to: educator pipeline (including recruitment, career development, and retention); educator diversity; improved reputation and perception of the profession; curriculum and course of studies that meet the needs of students in a global society regarding technology; flexible learning models beyond traditional “seat time;” multilingualism as an asset and an aspiration; multiple modes of assessing learning beyond MCAS; identifying valid and credible high school competency determination paths and methods; broader methods used for accountability that are ambitious, attainable, and compassionate; reexamination of charter schools as part of the accountability system; and structures that take students from pre-K through college and provide the wrap-around social/emotional and education coaching at each age. With these and other goals, the Commission will dive deep into best practices found in other states and other countries.

SECTION 3.The Promise Commission shall develop a comprehensive report that reenvisions the power and potential of the Massachusetts education system for all students who are in our schools and who will be in our schools for years to come.

SECTION 4. Said commission shall report its findings to the secretary of education, the clerks of the house and senate,and the committees on ways and means and education arts and humanities by  no later than March 1, 2026