Donor Statute

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Brad Hutto

MA DESE may create an optional statewide Portrait of a Graduate outlining seven competencies to guide high school learning; voluntary, no funding or mandates.

Referred to Committee on Judiciary

Main purpose

S. 431 directs the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), working with school districts and external partners, to develop an optional statewide "Portrait of a Graduate" — a resource that identifies seven competencies schools should support students in developing by high‑school graduation to help them thrive in the 21st century.

Key provisions

Authorizes DESE, in partnership with:

school districts,
experts in social and emotional learning (SEL) in school settings,
the Massachusetts Association of School Psychologists,
Wayfinder Inc.,
workforce development agencies,
and other stakeholders, to develop a statewide Portrait of a Graduate and a statewide resource for schools.

Identifies a suggested set of seven competencies (the bill language uses “may include”):

Self‑Awareness
Adaptability
Empathy
Collaboration
Agency
Purpose
Responsible decision‑making

The language is permissive: DESE “may” develop the Portrait and the competencies are examples, not rigid mandates.

Who is affected

Students: the Portrait would shape competencies schools emphasize for high‑school graduates.

School districts and schools: potential adoption of the resource and alignment of curricula, instruction, and supports with the identified competencies.

Educators and school psychologists: may be involved in implementation, professional development, and SEL programming.

Workforce development partners and employers: may inform competency definitions to align schooling with workforce expectations.

DESE: tasked with coordinating development with partners; the bill does not establish new regulatory or enforcement powers beyond producing the resource.

Implementation, timeline & fiscal impact

The bill sets no deadlines, funding, or statutory obligations for districts; it authorizes DESE to create the resource and to collaborate with named partners.

No appropriation or separate funding stream is included in the text, so implementation would depend on DESE priorities and available resources or subsequent appropriation/authorization.

The bill does not create assessment, accountability, or reporting requirements tied to the Portrait.

Legislative status & procedure (provided record)

Introduced: February 5, 2025 (presented by Sen. Jacob R. Oliveira).

Committee referrals and actions in the provided record include referral to the Committee on the Judiciary and to Education; a hearing is scheduled for November 12, 2025 (11:00 AM–5:00 PM, Gardner Auditorium). Status entries also list “Referred to Crime Victims, Crime and Correction” and a notation that the House concurred; these entries appear inconsistent with the bill text and sponsor information.

Note: some metadata in the provided record (committee referrals and listed sponsors) appears inconsistent with the bill text and its primary sponsor (Jacob R. Oliveira). This summary focuses on the statutory language and the core policy content of S. 431 as filed.

Bill