Amendment #14 to H4091

Study School Outcomes

Ms. Andrews of Orange moves to amend the bill by adding the following 2 sections:-

SECTION XX. There shall be a special commission to consist of: the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on education, who shall serve as co-chairs; the secretary of education; the commissioner of elementary and secondary education; the governor or a designee; and 1 member to be appointed by each of the following organizations: the Massachusetts Municipal Association, Inc.; the Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education, Inc.; Stand for Children, Inc.; the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, Inc.; the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents, Inc.; the Massachusetts Teachers Association; the American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts; the Massachusetts Parent Teacher Association; the Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators; and the Massachusetts Association of Regional Schools, Inc. The commission shall review the impact and performance of charter schools, Horace Mann schools and school choice policy and make recommendations to the general court regarding such changes as may be appropriate. In conducting such review, the commission shall seek to determine any correlation between per capita income of students, equalized values of cities and towns, cost per student, and school performance. The review shall include, but not be limited to: class size; special education programs, including programs for English language learners; teacher salaries; extracurricular programs; and remedial programs. In carrying out the review, the commission shall examine relevant data and any reports on education outcomes produced within the 10 years preceding the issuance of a commission report. Members shall receive no compensation for their services but may receive reimbursement for the reasonable expenses incurred in carrying out their responsibilities as members of the commission. The department of elementary and secondary education shall furnish reasonable staff and other support for the work of the commission.

Prior to issuing its recommendations, the commission shall conduct not fewer than 8 hearings to receive testimony from members of the public. The hearings shall be held in locations that provide opportunities for residents from all geographic regions of the commonwealth to testify.

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.

The commission’s recommendations, together with any proposed legislation, shall be filed within 1 year of the effective date of this act with the clerks of the senate and house of representatives who shall refer such recommendations to the appropriate committee of the general court. Within 30 days after such filing, the committee shall hold a public hearing on the recommendations.

SECTION XY. Section 40 shall not take effect until the special commission established in section XX has filed its recommendations with the clerks of the senate and house of representatives.