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SD 743

An Act to remodel public school athletics through social-emotional learning

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Cynthia Creem

DESE must publish by June 30, 2025, guidelines to integrate social-emotional learning into middle and high school athletics, with biennial updates.

House concurred
0
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Bill Summary · SD 743

Summary: Massachusetts SD 743 – An Act to remodel public school athletics through social-emotional learning

Overview

  • Bill number: SD 743 (Senate Docket No. 743)
  • Title: An Act to remodel public school athletics through social-emotional learning
  • Introduced: February 27, 2025
  • Status: House concurred (Officer action indicating acceptance of Senate version by the House)
  • Primary sponsor: Cynthia Stone Creem
  • Classification: Proposed bill
  • Purpose: To integrate social-emotional learning (SEL) into public school athletics by requiring the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to publish implementation guidelines for middle and high school athletic programs, and to align these guidelines with existing Safe and Supportive Schools efforts.

Key Provisions

  • New subsection added to law: Section 37O of chapter 71, inserting subsection (o).
  • Guideline publication deadline: DESE must publish guidelines by June 30, 2025.
  • Content of SEL guidelines (non-exhaustive):
    • How to create safe, supportive, and bias-free team cultures.
    • Provision of age-appropriate leadership roles for students in team decisions and responsibilities, including empowerment to report unsafe or biased behaviors.
    • Lessons addressing hate, bias, and negative behaviors to foster healthy norms on teams.
    • Strategies to build and sustain positive relationships.
    • Development of additional skills to overcome obstacles in athletics and life (e.g., emotion and stress management, self-discipline, self-motivation, goal setting, resisting negative peer pressure, conflict resolution, ethical decision making, problem solving).
  • Biennial updates: The guidelines must be updated every two years.
  • Districts’ role: School districts shall consider the guidelines if they choose to integrate SEL into their athletic programs.
  • Definitions and integration:
    • SEL definition: The processes by which students acquire knowledge, attitudes, and skills to recognize/manage emotions, care for others, establish relationships, make responsible decisions, and handle challenging social situations.
    • DESE integration: The SEL guidelines shall be integrated into the Safe and Supportive Schools framework established under section 1P of chapter 69.

Affected Parties and Impacts

  • Students: Enhanced emphasis on safe culture, leadership opportunities, reporting of inappropriate behavior, and development of social-emotional and coping skills within athletics.
  • Coaches and athletic staff: Guidance on implementing SEL-informed practices and fostering inclusive team environments.
  • School districts: Optional adoption in athletics by considering DESE guidelines; potential alignment with broader Safe and Supportive Schools initiatives.
  • State agency: DESE—responsible for developing, updating, and integrating SEL guidelines into existing frameworks.

Timeline and Procedural Notes

  • Guidelines are required to be published by June 30, 2025.
  • Biennial updates to the guidelines thereafter.
  • The bill’s provisions sit within the broader context of Massachusetts’ Safe and Supportive Schools framework.

Related Context

  • The measure mirrors prior similar proposals (notably Senate No. 247 from the 2023-2024 session) and reflects ongoing efforts to embed SEL into school policy and practice, specifically within athletics.

If you’d like, I can add a brief comparison to existing SEL initiatives in Massachusetts or outline potential district-level implementation steps.

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

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