An Act to ensure that all students are prepared for future success

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Mike Brady and 12 co-sponsors

MassCore makes a required statewide high school program that aligns core subjects and electives with college/workforce standards, phased in for ninth graders starting 2027-2028.

Overview

Purpose: Establish a statewide program of study, MassCore, to align high school coursework with college and workforce expectations and ensure all students graduate prepared for postsecondary success, civic engagement, and lifelong learning.

Scope: Creates MassCore as a required program of study for all Massachusetts high school students, with a planned phased start for students entering ninth grade in the 2027-2028 school year.

Legal basis: Amends Chapter 69 of the General Laws by inserting a new Section 38 (MassCore).

Key Provisions (MassCore Framework)

Curriculum requirements (MassCore):

English: 4 units
Mathematics: 4 units
Science: 3 units (lab-based)
History: 3 units
World Language: 2 units
Arts: 1 unit
Core elective courses: 5 additional units

Alignment and flexibility:

All MassCore courses must align with state standards (Massachusetts curriculum frameworks).
Districts/educators retain professional autonomy in curriculum design within standards.
Regulations may amend MassCore via joint department/advisory council recommendations, subject to Board approval.

Implementation, Regulation, and Compliance

Regulatory framework:

The Department of Education, with the MassCore advisory council, will draft regulations for implementation, administration, and enforcement.
Regulations to include waivers, credit for middle school MassCore-equivalent courses, temporary waivers for hardships, course-flexibility provisions (including for state-approved CTE), and a district reporting process.
Provisions to update MassCore through public input.

Advisory council:

A MassCore advisory council will guide implementation and collaborate with the Department.
Members span educators, administrators, parents, students, community organizations, and include a university researcher. (Examples: Massachusetts Teachers Association, MTA-MA, MASS superintendents, school committees, Parent-Teacher associations, NAACP, immigrant/refugee coalition, advocacy groups, and student representatives.)

Accountability, Reporting, and Public Engagement

Capacity reporting: By December 31, 2025, districts must report their capacity to comply, including current compliance status and estimated additional costs to achieve compliance (details to be prescribed by the Department).

Public involvement: Regulations must be developed through transparent processes, including at least two public meetings statewide, a multilingual public survey, and additional hearings as needed.

Timing and Next Steps

Effective start: Ninth graders entering the 2027-2028 school year must begin MassCore as a required program.

Ongoing timeline elements include the development of regulations, district capacity reporting, and a phased implementation with potential waivers and flexibility to address diverse student needs.

Impact and Stakeholders

Affected groups: All high school students in Massachusetts; districts, school administrators, teachers, and families; especially subgroups eligible for waivers (e.g., multilingual learners, students with disabilities, new public school entrants).

Beneficiaries: Students who gain a clearly defined, college-and-workforce-aligned high school program; communities seeking standardized, civically engaged graduates.

Note: The bill text provided is partial; the summary reflects the core provisions described, including the MassCore structure, governance, and implementation framework.

Bill