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S 437

Personnel Administrative Exemption

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Matt Leber

Creates a three-year DESE pilot with grants to districts above average dropout rates to fund alternative education, graduation coaches, outreach/recovery, and parenting student sup

Referred to Committee on Finance
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Bill Summary · S 437

Summary — S. 437 (Senate Docket No. 1278): An Act relative to dropout prevention and student recovery

Purpose

S. 437 establishes a statewide effort to reduce high school dropout rates and recover students who have left school. The bill (1) tightens compulsory attendance language to require school attendance for children under 18 who have not graduated, (2) repeals an older statute (Ch. 741 of the Acts of 1965), and (3) creates a 3‑year, competitive pilot grant program administered by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to fund dropout prevention and recovery services in districts with dropout rates above the state average.

Key provisions

  • Amendment to law: Modifies Section 1B of Chapter 69 to add that children under age 18 must attend school if they have not graduated from high school. (Section 1; effective date: September 1, 2025.)
  • Repeal: Chapter 741 of the Acts of 1965 is repealed. (Section 2.)
  • Pilot program (Section 3):
    • DESE, subject to appropriation, will design and run a 3‑year pilot program targeting school districts with annual dropout rates greater than the state average.
    • Grants will be competitively awarded to school districts or local community agencies serving students who live in those districts.
    • Allowed program models (at least one must be used):
    • Alternative education (diploma/GED pathways using evidence‑based instruction and supports such as smaller classes, competency/project/work‑based learning, graduation coaching, wraparound services, restorative practices, etc.).
    • Graduation coaches (professionals who create and follow students’ graduation plans with academic, career, and postsecondary goals and provide follow‑up/support and family engagement).
    • Dropout outreach and recovery (targeted outreach to determine status, assist re‑enrollment in high school or GED programs, provide transition supports and track progress).
    • Expectant and parenting student support (policies for leave/flexible scheduling, liaisons to develop and support graduation plans, and annual data collection on parenting students and supports).
    • Evaluation and reporting:
    • DESE will create guidelines for annual review and require participating districts/agencies to engage in evaluations.
    • Annual report (filed by September 1 each year to legislative clerks and forwarded to the Joint Committee on Education) must include program participation, services, student counts, progress toward diplomas/GEDs, and outcomes.
    • A final report is required within six months after the pilot ends, with data analysis and legislative recommendations on continuation/expansion.

Who is affected

  • Primary beneficiaries: students at risk of dropping out and students who have already dropped out, including expectant and parenting students.
  • Implementers: school districts with above‑average dropout rates, local community agencies, DESE, and professionals hired as graduation coaches.
  • Fiscal impact: requires appropriations to fund the pilot grants; school districts and local agencies may incur administrative responsibilities to participate and report.

Timeline & procedural notes

  • Section 1 (attendance amendment) takes effect September 1, 2025.
  • The pilot is a 3‑year program to begin once appropriations are made; DESE must produce annual reports by September 1 and a final evaluation within six months of pilot completion.
  • Legislative status (from provided record): Introduced and filed (Senate Docket No. 1278 / S. 437); read twice and referred to committee; hearing scheduled for 07/08/2025. (Record shows multiple committee referrals—see note below.)

Sponsors and related bills

  • Presented and petitioned by Senator Pavel M. Payano (First Essex) per the Senate docket.
  • The provided materials also list several federal senators and other identifiers (e.g., HR 1002, SD 1278). These appear to be inconsistent with the Massachusetts state bill record; the primary state sponsor in this docket is Senator Payano.

Notes / Caveats

  • The bill’s implementation depends on an appropriation to DESE for the competitive grants; absent funding, the pilot would not proceed.
  • The provided legislative record contains some conflicting entries (multiple committee referrals and a list of federal sponsors). The summary above follows the Massachusetts docket text and sponsor (Pavel M. Payano) and highlights the major substantive provisions and timelines contained in the bill text.

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

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