About These Bills
Historic victories – the Student Opportunity Act, Fair Share Amendment and Question 2 to replace the MCAS graduation requirement – have addressed important needs in our public schools and created an unprecedented opportunity to reimagine public education. This legislation builds on these achievements by offering a comprehensive vision for public schools that prepare all students for success throughout their lives. It also creates working conditions for educators that will allow them to meet the needs of all students and help schools to recruit and retain a strong and diverse educator workforce.
The Bills
An Act to ensure that all students are prepared for future success
Lead Sponsors: Rep. Jim Hawkins (D-Attleboro) | Sen. Jake Oliveira (D-Ludlow)
H.596 | S.426 | Fact Sheet
- Makes MassCore a required program of study for high school students statewide, with funding support to school districts and a public process to implement the new requirement, and creates a commission to study and make recommendations on more holistic and accurate methods of assessing students that align with the skills and knowledge that we want our students to learn and develop.
An Act relative to educator pay
Lead Sponsors: Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven (D-Somerville) & Rep. Tara Hong (D-Lowell) | Sen. Adam Gomez (D-Springfield)
H.733 | S.370 | Fact Sheet
- Establishes a statewide minimum salary of $55,000 for Education Support Professionals and increases the minimum salary for teachers to $70,000, while also creating a process for future increases and a multi-year reimbursement schedule for school districts to help cover the associated cost increases.
An Act uplifting families and securing the right to strike for certain public employees
Lead Sponsors: Rep. Mike Connolly (D-Cambridge) and Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven (D-Somerville) | Sen. Jamie Eldridge (D-Acton)
H.2078 | S.1311 | Fact Sheet
- Authorizes educators and other public employees, except for public safety personnel, to legally strike after six months of negotiations if they have not been able to reach an agreement. It also ensures that the right to free speech is no longer restricted for public employees and their unions as it relates to discussing or supporting a strike.
An Act relative to recess for elementary and middle school students
Lead Sponsors: Rep. Marjorie Decker (D-Cambridge) | Sen. Patrick O’Connor (R-Weymouth)
H.543 | S.417 | Fact Sheet | MTA Center for Education Policy and Practice Report: Recess is Essential for Student Success
- Ensures that all students in grades K-8 receive at least 30 minutes of free-play recess per school day. Presently, the time allotted to recess can vary dramatically from district to district despite the clear benefits associated with students receiving consistent access to recess and physical activity.
An Act to provide paid family and medical leave to all educators
Lead Sponsors: Rep. Vanna Howard (D-Lowell) | Sen. Pat Jehlen (D-Somerville)
H.2125 | S.1339 | Fact Sheet
- Expands the Commonwealth’s paid family and medical leave law to cover all public school educators and requires the state pay the employer’s share of the cost using funds from the Fair Share Amendment. This legislation also permits creditable service to be accrued during the time that leave is taken.
An Act to strengthen the Taxpayer Protection Act
Lead Sponsors: Rep. David LeBoeuf (D-Worcester) | Sen. Mike Brady (D-Brockton)
H.3380 | S.2014 | Fact Sheet
- Strengthens the enforcement of the Taxpayer Protection Act (also known as the Pacheco Law) by clarifying that the attorney general has enforcement authority, and expands the law to cover public schools and account for hidden costs to the public before a service is privatized.
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