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HD 1518

An Act relative to public school workplace security

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Lindsay Sabadosa

The bill shields educators from retaliation, creates district Review Boards for administrator complaints, and shifts investigations to the Attorney General for independent accounta

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Bill Summary · HD 1518

Summary: An Act Relative to Public School Workplace Security (HD 1518)

What this bill aims to do

  • Provide legal protections for educators and school staff from unjust, antagonistic, or harmful treatment by school administrators.
  • Establish formal accountability mechanisms for administrative conduct in Massachusetts public schools.
  • Shift the handling of conflicts of interest involving school administrators from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) to ensure independent investigation and enforcement.

Key provisions and changes

Definitions

  • Educator: Any teacher, instructor, or staff member employed in a public school.
  • Administrator: Any person in a managerial role within a school or school district.
  • Vindictive actions: Retaliatory, bullying, harassment, or punitive actions against an educator for lawful conduct or advocacy for student well-being. Examples include negative or damaging performance reviews, creating unsafe or unethical work situations, or failing to provide required training before assigning duties outside an educator’s licensure.

Protections Against Retaliation

  • Prohibits disciplinary action, harassment, or retaliation against educators for reporting misconduct or advocating for student well-being.
  • Grants educators the right to appeal disciplinary actions believed to result from vindictive actions.

Review Board

  • Establishment of a district-level Review Board to investigate complaints against administrators.
  • Board composition: teachers, administrators, and community representatives; the text specifies an anonymous process to protect participants.
  • Purpose: provide an independent review of complaints against administrators within the district.

Accountability Measures

  • Administrators found engaging in retaliatory actions may face disciplinary consequences, including suspension, termination, and removal of licensure.
  • An annual report must be submitted to the state legislature detailing:
    • Number of complaints filed
    • Investigation outcomes
    • Actions taken against administrators

Attorney General’s Office Oversight

  • Complaints against school administrators are to be investigated by the AGO, not DESE, due to concerns about potential conflicts of interest within the department.
  • The AGO is granted broad investigative powers to address conflicts of interest and to penalize administrators who engage in aggressive or unjust actions against educators.

Implementation and Timeline

  • Effective date: Immediate upon passage.
  • Districts must implement training and awareness programs for educators and administrators regarding the new provisions.

Severability

  • If any provision is found invalid, the remaining provisions remain in effect.

Who is affected

  • Educators and other public school staff who report misconduct or advocate for student well-being.
  • School administrators and school districts across Massachusetts.
  • DESE (involved in the current system) and the AGO (new investigative leadership).
  • The Massachusetts Legislature, via annual reporting on complaints and outcomes.

Practical considerations

  • The bill creates new independent review structures at the district level and elevates enforcement to the AGO.
  • It emphasizes protections for whistleblowing and educator well-being while establishing measurable accountability through annual reporting.

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

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