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Bill

S 125

An act relating to collective bargaining

2025-2026 Regular Session

Creates an electronic backpack in DESE to centralize foster youths’ educational records, accessible to authorized educators and caregivers to promote stability and continuity.

Committed to Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs on motion of Senator Clarkson
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Bill Summary · S 125

Summary — S.125 (2025): “Electronic Backpack” for Foster Children’s Educational Records

Note: The bill text available for S.125 creates an “electronic backpack” for foster children’s educational records. Some accompanying metadata in the file (alternate titles, sponsors, and referral history) appears inconsistent with the bill text; this summary focuses on the substantive text inserted into Chapter 71 of the Massachusetts General Laws.

Main purpose

To require the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), in consultation with the Office of the Child Advocate and the Department of Children and Families (DCF), to develop and operate an electronic repository ("electronic backpack") that centralizes and preserves educational records for children and young adults in foster care to promote educational stability.

Key provisions

  • Adds Section 100 to Chapter 71 of the General Laws.
  • Definitions: establishes terms for “department” (DESE), “foster child or youth” (children in DCF care and young adults with voluntary placement agreements), and “electronic backpack” (electronic repository of educational records).
  • System development: DESE, working with the Office of the Child Advocate and the DCF commissioner, must develop and implement the electronic backpack system for foster children’s educational stability.
  • Required contents: each backpack must include — at minimum — names/addresses of education providers, DCF caseworker contact, grade-level performance, transcripts, attendance records, Individualized Education Program (IEP) if applicable, educational decision-maker contact(s), legal guardian with signing rights, school nurse/guidance/administrator visit notes, detailed best-interest determination meeting notes, and any other educational information DESE requires.
  • Access rules: the backpack must be made available to (i) persons legally authorized to make educational decisions for the child, (ii) the child’s teacher(s), school and district, (iii) persons authorized to consent to the child’s medical care, and (iv) medical providers when necessary for care and not prohibited by law.
  • Record retention: DESE shall maintain the electronic backpack as part of the child’s departmental records for the duration the child remains in foster care.
  • Regulations & policies: DESE and DCF are to promulgate regulations on format and function and develop policies/procedures to meet foster youths’ needs in every school district.

Implementation timeline

  • The department must implement the electronic backpack program within one year of the act’s passage.

Who is affected

  • Primary: foster children and youth in DCF care (including young adults on voluntary placement agreements), their educational decision-makers, schools, teachers, DCF caseworkers, and medical providers involved in care.
  • Administrative: DESE and DCF (development, regulation, record-keeping), Office of the Child Advocate (consultation).

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Benefits: improved educational continuity during placement changes, faster access to transcripts/IEPs, better-informed placement and medical decisions.
  • Administrative costs and workload for DESE/DCF to build, secure, and maintain the system; school-district coordination required.
  • Privacy & data security: system must comply with student-privacy laws (e.g., FERPA-equivalent state rules); regulations will need to address access controls, data sharing, retention limits, and auditing.
  • Implementation feasibility: one-year deadline may be ambitious depending on resource needs and technical complexity.

Legislative status & notes

  • Bill text filed Jan 14–16, 2025 and referred to relevant committees. A hearing was scheduled for July 8, 2025 (per docket entries), and a new draft (S2659) accompanied the bill on 2025-11-03. The bill text lists petitioners including Sen. Ryan C. Fattman, Joseph McKenna, Bruce E. Tarr, and Kelly W. Pease. Some administrative metadata provided with the request (alternate title, sponsors) appears inconsistent; consult the official legislative docket for final sponsor/referral details.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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