Bill
H 706
Creates Massachusetts Geography Education Week and a Commission to study and propose improvements to K-12 geography education, with a final 2025 report.
Status and timeline
- Bill number: H 706
- Introduced: February 27, 2025
- Referred to: House Committee on Education; Senate concurred
- Hearing: Scheduled for September 16, 2025, from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM in Gardner Auditorium
- Related action: Similar matter previously filed as H 581 in 2023-2024
Purpose and overall aim
H 706 would elevate focus on geography education in Massachusetts by:
- Establishing a formal Massachusetts Geography Education Week each year.
- Adjusting the composition of the Council on Global Education to include geography-focused representation.
- Creating an eight-member Commission on Geography Education to study the status and quality of geography education across K-12 and to propose improvements, including professional development for teachers.
- Requiring a comprehensive report with findings and recommended legislation by the end of 2025.
Key provisions by section
Section 1: Massachusetts Geography Education Week
- The governor would annually issue a proclamation designating the first week of April as Massachusetts Geography Education Week.
Section 2: Council on Global Education composition
- Amends section 1G of chapter 15 to strike the existing sixth paragraph and insert a revised statement.
- The council would include the directors of each Bay State Center for Global Education and a representative from the Massachusetts Geographic Alliance.
Section 3: Commission on Geography Education
- Establishes an eight-member commission with the following appointments:
- 1) The Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education (chair) or designee.
- 1) A member appointed by the Commissioner (from the council on global education).
- 2) Two members appointed by the Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development (one representing the alternative energy industry; one representing the geo-technology industry).
- 4) Four members appointed by the Governor, including:
- 1) A public university professor or administrator (selected from nominees by the New England-St. Lawrence Valley Geographical Society).
- 1) A geography-education teacher from nominees submitted by the Massachusetts Federation of Teachers (AFT Massachusetts).
- 1) A geography-education teacher from nominees submitted by the Massachusetts Teachers Association.
- 1) A representative from the Massachusetts Geographic Alliance (nominees submitted by the Alliance’ executive committee).
- Responsibilities (subsection b):
- Assess the status of geography education from kindergarten through 12th grade within the Massachusetts history and social science framework.
- Examine programs that promote geography education and potential cost-effective curriculum enhancements through collaboration among public educational entities.
- Review best practices in U.S. geography education, including applicable national geography standards.
- Propose professional development points to encourage teacher participation in geography-focused workshops and seminars.
- Consider any other relevant matters to fulfill the commission’s mission.
- Reporting (subsection c):
- The commission must report findings and recommendations to the General Court, including draft legislation needed to implement recommendations.
- The report must be filed with the clerks of the Senate and House and forwarded to chairs of relevant education and ways and means committees by December 31, 2025.
Section 4: Commission convening
- The commission must be convened by the chair within 90 days after the act’s effective date, regardless of whether all designees have been appointed.
Who would be affected
- State agencies and entities:
- Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE)
- Council on Global Education
- Bay State Centers for Global Education
- Massachusetts Geographic Alliance
- Education professionals and organizations:
- K-12 teachers, especially those specializing in geography education
- Public university faculty/administrators involved in geography or related fields
- The American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts (nominees for teacher positions)
- The Massachusetts Teachers Association (nominees for teacher positions)
- Industry and workforce groups:
- Representatives from the alternative energy industry
- Representatives from the geo-technology industry
- Students and curriculum:
- K-12 students through updated geography education standards and professional development for teachers
Potential impact and implementation notes
- Policy shift: Formal recognition of geography education through a dedicated week and a commissioned study to evaluate and improve geography teaching across K-12.
- Curriculum and standards: Possible alignment with national geography standards and consideration of cost-effective enhancements to the Massachusetts history and social science frameworks.
- Professional development: Emphasis on identifying and expanding professional development opportunities for geography teachers.
- Timeline: Fast-tracked review culminating in a report by December 31, 2025; implementation dependencies would follow the General Court’s consideration of the commission’s recommendations.
- Fiscal note: The bill does not specify funding; success would depend on future appropriations or administrative funding for the commission and any recommended initiatives.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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