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SD 2060

An Act to establish a community schools special legislative commission

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

Creates a MA special legislative commission to study, define, and recommend statewide adoption of community schools, including a pilot program and funding plan focused on equity

House concurred
0
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Bill Summary · SD 2060

Summary: Bill SD 2060 — An Act to establish a community schools special legislative commission

Purpose and intent

  • Establish a special legislative commission to investigate, analyze, and make recommendations on the adoption of community schools across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
  • Define core concepts related to community schools and a statewide approach, including potential funding strategies and a pilot program.

What a “Community School” means (definitions)

  • A Community School is a public school that uses a community school coordinator to build strategic partnerships with community resources. Goals include shared accountability, collaborative leadership, capacity building, family and community engagement, wraparound services, and promoting student achievement and well-being.
  • A “Community Schools strategy” is a approach that transforms a school by aligning educators, community members, families, and students to organize in- and out-of-school resources and opportunities to support learning and healthy development.

Commission establishment and composition

  • Creates a special legislative commission on community schools (the Commission) to investigate and recommend statewide adoption.
  • Membership (15 total):
    • Co-chairs: house and senate chairs of the Joint Committee on Education (or designees).
    • State officials: Secretary of Education (or designee); Secretary of Health and Human Services (or designee).
    • 1 representative each from: Massachusetts Community Schools Coalition; American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts; Massachusetts Teachers Association; United Way of Massachusetts Bay.
    • Governor-appointed members (7 total): 2 student representatives from existing Massachusetts community schools; 1 parent representative from an existing Massachusetts community school; 1 superintendent from a district employing community school strategies; 1 principal of a Massachusetts community school; 1 Massachusetts community school coordinator; 1 representative from a community-based organization.
  • The Governor must ensure geographic diversity (rural, urban, suburban) in appointments.

Commission duties and activities

  • Analyze systems, structures, and policies that support successful community school implementation; review adoption trends locally and nationally.
  • Investigate policies in other jurisdictions that incentivize or support adoption.
  • Assess Massachusetts’ current adoption, implementation, and outcomes of community school models.
  • Define essential elements and principles of implementing community school models, including equity considerations.
  • Research outcomes and evidence, including potential reductions in school absenteeism.
  • Identify barriers to adoption (legal/regulatory, information/training, funding, etc.).
  • Meet at least every two months.

Reporting and deliverables

  • Prepare a comprehensive report with findings and specific recommendations, including:
    • Policy recommendations to codify definitions, and funding strategies to incentivize statewide adoption.
    • Creation of sustainable funding streams to support local districts and schools.
    • A proposed statewide community school pilot program, covering:
    • Eligible communities and scope
    • Resources required
    • Process for awarding pilot funding
    • Data/outcomes reporting requirements and evaluation criteria
  • Filing: The Commission must file its report with the clerks of the Senate and House, the Senate and House Committees on Ways and Means, the Joint Committee on Education, the Governor, and the Executive Office of Education.
  • Deadline: Not later than February 15, 2026.

Procedural status and timeline

  • Filed: January 17, 2025.
  • House concurrence: February 27, 2025.
  • Referred to: House Committee on Education (as part of the bill’s progression).
  • Status noted as “House concurred” (indicating the House adopted the Senate version or concurred with it in a form suitable for further action).

Potential impact and audience

  • Targets statewide consideration of community school models as a strategy to improve student achievement, family engagement, and community well-being through coordinated supports.
  • Impacts schools, districts, students, families, educators, and community organizations by outlining a pathway for adoption, funding, and evaluation.
  • Provides a structured, data-informed approach to pilot programs and scaling, with explicit attention to equity and barriers.

This bill would not immediately create new community schools, but it would establish a formal commission to study, define, and recommend statewide uptake, including a pilot program and funding considerations.

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

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