Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-692

EDU 692

Special Commission on Student Learning and the Education Workforce

Mr. Tarr moved that the proposed new text be amended SECTION XX.  (a) There shall be a special commission to study the condition of the commonwealth’s public education system and to make recommendations to improve student learning outcomes, strengthen the educator workforce and ensure that state and local education spending is aligned with strategies that produce measurable improvements in student achievement.

(b) The commission shall consist of: the commissioner of elementary and secondary education, or a designee, who shall serve as chair; the commissioner of higher education, or a designee; the secretary of education, or a designee; the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on education, or their designees; 1 member appointed by the speaker of the house; 1 member appointed by the president of the senate; 1 member appointed by the minority leader of the house; 1 member appointed by the minority leader of the senate; 1 representative of the Massachusetts Teachers Association; 1 representative of the American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts; 1 representative of the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents; 1 representative of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees; 1 representative from Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education; 1 representative from the Massachusetts Municipal Association; 1 parent of a student enrolled in a Massachusetts public school appointed by the governor; and 3 members with expertise in literacy, student assessment or education workforce development appointed by the governor.

(c) The commission shall examine the following areas, including but not limited to:

(i) student learning outcomes in English language arts and mathematics, including whether students are reading and performing at or above grade level by grade 3, grade 8 and grade 10;

(ii) the extent and persistence of learning loss attributable to the COVID 19 pandemic and the effectiveness of district recovery strategies;

(iii) achievement gaps by race, ethnicity, income, disability status, English learner status and geography;

(iv) teacher qualifications, including licensure, preparation pathways, in field teaching assignments and years of experience;

(v) educator workforce conditions, including vacancies, turnover, retention, recruitment challenges and pipeline programs;

(vi) the use of state, local and federal funds—including federal COVID 19 relief funds and Student Opportunity Act funds—to determine whether expenditures have been directed toward evidence based practices that improve student learning;

(vii) whether additional funding alone is sufficient to improve student outcomes or whether structural, regulatory or programmatic changes are necessary to ensure that resources are used effectively;

(viii) options to improve student learning and expand educational opportunity, including but not limited models that increase access to high quality educational options for students and families; and

(ix) a comparison of the commonwealth’s post COVID education strategies with those of other states, including but not limited to literacy reforms, learning loss recovery initiatives, educator workforce strategies and models that expand educational opportunity.

(d) The commission shall identify best practices, high impact interventions and barriers to implementation, and shall make recommendations for legislative or regulatory changes, including changes to accountability, data reporting, educator preparation, licensure or funding structures, as the commission deems appropriate.

(e) The commission shall hold at least 3 public hearings in geographically diverse locations in the commonwealth, shall consult with educators, parents, students, researchers and community organizations, and shall use existing data collections to the maximum extent practicable.

(f) Not later than March 1, 2027, the commission shall file a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, with the clerks of the senate and house of representatives, the joint committee on education and the house and senate committees on ways and means. The report shall be made publicly available on the department of elementary and secondary education’s website.