H524 — An Act to require school attendance up to age 18 or until graduation

Summary

An Act to require school attendance up to age 18 or until graduation

Bill Text

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The bill amends laws pertaining to school attendance requirements and establishes a commission to study barriers to high school graduation.

• Chapter 76, Section 1

  between the minimum and maximum ages established for school attendance by the board of education → ages of 6 and 18, having completed at least the twelfth grade, high school equivalency test, or whichever comes first

  This change specifies the exact ages for mandatory school attendance.

• Chapter 76, Section 1

  , provided that no student over the age of 16 shall face criminal penalties for failure to attend school through the mandatory age for school attendance

  This addition provides that students over 16 will not face criminal penalties for failing to attend school.

• Chapter 69, Section 1B

  , provided, however, that all children under the age of 18 shall be required to attend school if they have not graduated from high school or completed the high school equivalency test

  This ensures all children under 18 must attend school unless they have graduated or completed an equivalency test.

• Chapter 76

  Section 22. Commission to Study Barriers to High School Graduation. (a) Establishment of Commission. There shall be a special commission, referred to as the ‘High School Graduation Commission’. Said commission shall— (1) investigate and study barriers to high school graduation; and (2) make recommendations regarding the identification of students at risk of dropping out of high school and the targeting of services and programs that will ensure all students can graduate from high school.

  This establishes a commission to study and address barriers to high school graduation.

• Chapter 76

  (b) Members. (1) The commission shall be chaired by the secretary of education or the secretary’s designee. (2) The commissioner of the department of higher education or the commissioner’s designee and the commissioner of the department of elementary and secondary education or the commissioner’s designee shall each be members. (3) The governor shall appoint 4 members, one of whom shall be nominated by the Massachusetts Teachers Association and one of whom shall be nominated by the American Federation of Teachers of Massachusetts. (4) The speaker of the house shall appoint one member and the senate president shall appoint one member.

  This outlines the membership and leadership structure of the new commission.

• Chapter 76

  (c) Reporting Requirements. The commission shall report its findings and any legislation necessary to implement said findings to the governor, the clerks of the senate and house of representatives, the senate and house of representatives committees on ways and means, the senate and house of representatives committees on education, six months upon effective date of the act. The commission report shall include but not be limited to: an analysis of the student populations who are at the highest risk of dropping out, mechanisms to identify students who are at risk of dropping out, barriers to high school graduation and evidence based services that reduce and eliminate barriers to high school graduation.

  This mandates the commission to report its findings and recommendations within six months.

Sponsors

• Antonio F. D. Cabral · Primary

Subjects