Amendment ID: S3111-17

Amendment 17

Education reporting of students in foster care

Messrs. Moore and Velis, Ms. Rausch and Mr. Tarr move that the proposed new text be amended by striking out subsection (d) of section 34I, and inserting in place thereof following subsection:-

(d) There shall be a multi-agency foster student educational achievement working group. The working group shall coordinate efforts to implement the provisions of this section, including but not limited to, specific timelines and processes for the transfer of education records for students in the custody of the department of children and families. The working group shall be co-chaired by the house and senate chair of the committee on children, families and persons with disabilities, families and shall also consist of: (i) a member of the board of elementary and secondary education designated by its chair; (ii) a member of the Massachusetts Governor's Council, appointed by the governor; (iii) a member of the attorney general civil rights unit designated by the attorney general; (iv) a member of the safe and supportive schools commission designated by its chair; (v) a district superintendent appointed by the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents; (vi) a teacher appointed by the Massachusetts Teachers Association; (vii) a member appointed the Massachusetts School Mental Health Consortium; (viii) a member appointed by the bryt team of the Brookline Center for Community Mental Health; (ix) a member appointed by the Citizens for Juvenile Justice; (x) a member appointed by the Foster Children Evaluation Services Clinic at UMass Memorial Children’s Medical Center; (xi) and a member appointed by the parent professional advocacy league. The working group shall promulgate regulations to implement the provisions of this section no later than December 1, 2026. For the first academic year this section is implemented, the working group shall meet at least quarterly to identify areas of improvement, create and implement recommendations to fix delays or problems regarding the system. For sequential academic years, all parties shall meet at least bi-annually.