An Act relative to neurodiversity education

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Paul McMurtry

Creates guidelines for K-12 neurodiversity education and forms a commission to study and recommend policies across all grades.

Purpose and intent

The bill seeks to advance neurodiversity education in Massachusetts by:

Creating guidelines to help school districts develop neurodiversity-focused education for K-12 students.
Establishing a Commission to study and recommend policies for neurodiversity education across early childhood through secondary public education.

The overarching aim is to promote understanding and inclusive practices related to neurodiversity within the state's education system.

Key provisions and changes

1) Guidelines for K-12 neurodiversity education
- The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), in consultation with the Department of Early Education and Care (DEEC), would issue guidelines to assist districts in developing K-12 education on neurodiversity.
- This authority is contingent on appropriation (i.e., it would require funding to be available to implement).

2) Creation of a Neurodiversity Education Commission
- A nine-member commission would be established to study and make recommendations on neurodiversity education for early childhood, elementary, and secondary public school education.
- Commission composition:
- Secretary of Health and Human Services (or designee) as chair.
- 1 member of the House of Representatives (appointed by the Speaker).
- 1 member of the Senate (appointed by the Senate President).
- 3 members appointed by the Governor (2 of whom must be neurodiverse adults).
- 1 representative from DESE.
- 1 representative from DEEC.
- 1 representative from the Massachusetts Teachers Association.
- The commission would focus on studies and recommendations applicable across the education continuum.

3) Reporting and recommendations
- The commission would report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the clerks of the House and Senate, including any proposed legislation or regulations.
- The reporting deadline is within 4 months of the act’s effective date.

Who/what would be affected

State agencies: DESE and DEEC (guidelines development and guidance for districts).

Public school districts and schools (K-12) and early childhood programs (through the commission’s purview).

Neurodiverse students and adults (as participants in the commission and eventual beneficiaries of education guidelines).

Education stakeholders, including the Massachusetts Teachers Association (as a commission member).

Timelines and process

Guidelines: to be issued subject to appropriation; timing contingent on funding.

Commission: to study and issue recommendations, with a formal report due within 4 months of the act’s effective date.

Legal basis: adds Section 99 to Chapter 71 of the Acts of 2021 (the 2021 education statute framework).

Fiscal and legal context

The bill explicitly notes that guideline development is contingent on appropriation, indicating potential budget considerations.

It does not mandate specific curricular mandates or funding beyond guidelines and the commission’s work, but it could pave the way for future regulations or legislation based on the commission’s findings.

Overall, HD 1747 proposes a structured approach to formalizing neurodiversity education through guidance for districts and a formal study commission to guide future policy.

Bill