An Act relative to school site councils and the district parent advisory council
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| Date | Branch | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 10/29/2025 | Joint | Hearing scheduled for 11/12/2025 from 11:00 AM-05:00 PM in Gardner Auditorium |
| 2/27/2025 | Senate | Senate concurred |
| 2/27/2025 | House | Referred to the committee on Education |
No additional cosponsors.
Chapter 71 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 59C the following section:-
½. (a)(1) A parent advisory council on special education established in section 3 of chapter 71B, an English learner parent advisory council established in section 6A of chapter 71A and a district parent advisory council established in said section 6A of said chapter 71A shall serve as advisory councils to the school committee. Each parent advisory council shall provide a biannual presentation of their work pursuant to said enabling sections in the school district to the school committee. (2) The school committee shall be responsible to ensure funding for training of school council members established in section 59C of chapter 71 including, but not limited to, relevant local governance, leadership training and Massachusetts Association of School Committees, Inc. training offered by the school district. The superintendent shall provide a manual written by employees of the school district on school council governance for the training of school council members. (b) The school council shall assess the needs of each school by reviewing the federal annual state report card under 20 U.S.C. § 6311(h) at the earliest possible date after publication. (c) The school council shall provide complete progress reports on current goals at the middle and end of school year in time to be available for school budget development and for future school year planning. (d) The school council shall complete an annual evaluation and rating of the school council’s performance as a group. The evaluation will be distributed in April to the principal and school council chairperson and completed by June 1. A copy of said evaluation shall be provided to the school committee. (e) The department shall establish rules and regulations that are necessary to implement this section.
Chapter 71 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 59C the following section:- Section 59C½. (a)(1) A parent advisory council on special education established in section 3 of chapter 71B, an English learner parent advisory council established in section 6A of chapter 71A and a district parent advisory council established in said section 6A of said chapter 71A shall serve as advisory councils to the school committee. Each parent advisory council shall provide a biannual presentation of their work pursuant to said enabling sections in the school district to the school committee. (2) The school committee shall be responsible to ensure funding for training of school council members established in section 59C of chapter 71 including, but not limited to, relevant local governance, leadership training and Massachusetts Association of School Committees, Inc. training offered by the school district. The superintendent shall provide a manual written by employees of the school district on school council governance for the training of school council members. (b) The school council shall assess the needs of each school by reviewing the federal annual state report card under 20 U.S.C. § 6311(h) at the earliest possible date after publication. (c) The school council shall provide complete progress reports on current goals at the middle and end of school year in time to be available for school budget development and for future school year planning. (d) The school council shall complete an annual evaluation and rating of the school council’s performance as a group. The evaluation will be distributed in April to the principal and school council chairperson and completed by June 1. A copy of said evaluation shall be provided to the school committee. (e) The department shall establish rules and regulations that are necessary to implement this section.