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Bill

H 524

An Act to require school attendance up to age 18 or until graduation

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Tony Cabral and 1 co-sponsor

Requires attendance through age 18 or until graduation/HSE, and creates a Commission to study barriers to graduation and coordinate supports for at-risk students.

Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Ways and Means
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Bill Summary · H 524

Summary: H 524 – An Act to require school attendance up to age 18 or until graduation

Purpose

This bill would (1) establish a mandatory school-attendance requirement through age 18 or until graduation (whichever comes first) and (2) create a commission to study barriers to high school graduation and identify strategies to ensure all students graduate.

Key Provisions

  • Mandatory attendance through age 18 or graduation

    • Amends General Laws to replace prior language about attendance “between the minimum and maximum ages established for school attendance by the board of education” with: attendance for students ages 6 to 18, provided they have completed at least the twelfth grade, a high school equivalency test (HSE), or whichever event occurs first.
    • Adds that no student over age 16 shall face criminal penalties for failure to attend through the mandatory attendance age.
    • Amends Section 1B of Chapter 69 to require that all children under 18 attend school if they have not graduated from high school or completed the high school equivalency test.

  • High School Graduation Commission (Section 22)

    • Establishes the High School Graduation Commission to study barriers to graduation and to identify at-risk students and effective supports.
    • Leadership and membership:
    • Chaired by the Secretary of Education or designee.
    • Commissioners from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and Department of Higher Education (DHE).
    • Governor to appoint 4 members (one nominated by the Massachusetts Teachers Association and one by the American Federation of Teachers of Massachusetts).
    • One member each appointed by the Speaker of the House and the Senate President.
    • Reporting: Must report to the Governor, clerks, and relevant committees within six months after the act’s effective date.
    • Required focus areas include:
    • Identifying student populations at highest risk of dropping out.
    • Mechanisms to identify and track at-risk students.
    • Barriers to graduation and evidence-based services to address them.
    • Benchmarks for monitoring progress.
    • Wrap-around supports, tutoring, and academic services for students with gaps due to relocation, illness, absences, disciplinary issues, or immigration.
    • Reengagement strategies for students who have left school.
    • Emotional supports and resources.
    • Emphasis on the importance of graduation for all students.

  • Effective date

    • Sections 1–3 take effect the next school year calendar after passage.

Who Is Affected

  • Students: All children from age 6 to 18, with enforcement aligned to graduation or HSE completion; those under 18 who have not yet graduated or earned an HSE must attend school.
  • Students currently aged 16–18: Reduced risk of criminal penalties for nonattendance, subject to the new mandatory framework.
  • School districts and districts’ administration: Compliance with new attendance requirements and potential implementation of supports to aid at-risk students.
  • Educators' associations: Representation in Commission appointments (MTA and AFT Massachusetts named as potential appointees).
  • State agencies: DESE and DHE participation on the Commission; potential program and funding implications guided by Commission findings.

Procedural Timeline & Status

  • Introduced: February 27, 2025.
  • Referred to Education (House) on February 27, 2025; Senate concurrence noted the same day.
  • Hearing: Scheduled for July 8, 2025 (01:00 PM–05:00 PM).
  • Current status (as of the latest action): Reported favorably by committee and referred to the House Ways and Means; indicates advancement toward potential floor action and funding consideration.

Notable Details

  • The bill aligns compulsory attendance with an 18-year standard or completion of high school (or HSE) and includes a protection against criminal penalties for certain older students.
  • It creates a dedicated advisory commission with a structured, multi-stakeholder composition and a concrete six-month reporting deadline to identify barriers and propose actionable policy options.

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

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