Bill
SD 2761
The bill requires the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to publicly report on progress implementing three-year, evidence-based SOA plans aimed at closing persistent
SD 2761 — Student Opportunity Act Three-Year Evidence-Based Plans 2022 Report
Overview
- Bill number: SD 2761
- Title: Student Opportunity Act Three-Year Evidence-Based Plans 2022 Report
- Status: Placed on file
- Classification: Proposed bill
- Introduced: March 20, 2025
- Context: This bill centers on the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (DESE) progress report required under the Student Opportunity Act (SOA), specifically the three-year evidence-based plans for 2021-2022 and related amendments and implementation.
What this bill is about
- Purpose: To document and communicate the Department’s progress in supporting districts as they develop and implement three-year SOA plans intended to close persistent gaps in learning experiences, academic outcomes, and postsecondary trajectories for historically underserved student groups.
- Legal framework: Builds on Chapter 132 of the Acts of 2019 (The Student Opportunity Act), which revised the Chapter 70 funding formula to more equitably distribute state education funds and requires districts to apply increased funding to evidence-based practices targeting gaps among groups such as English learners, students with disabilities, and students from high-poverty backgrounds.
Key provisions and content of the report
- Report content: The FY22 report to the Legislature details the Department’s implementation of the SOA plan amendments, the data review process, and findings from amended plans. It includes:
- Introduction and Overview
- SOA 3-Year Gap Closing Plans
- Key Findings from April 2022 SOA Amendments
- Looking Ahead
- Appendix A: High funding districts receiving $1.5 million or more in additional Chapter 70 aid in FY22
- Appendix B: FY22 SOA Evidence-based Program Areas
- Public data: District and school-level data remain publicly accessible on the DESE website, ensuring transparency and accountability.
- Emphasis on pandemic context: The report discusses the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on plan development and implementation, the role of ESSER funds, and the need for robust amendments to address pandemic-era needs.
- Funding context: FY21-22 was the first full year of SOA plan implementation with added Chapter 70 funds; districts were asked to integrate SOA and ESSER funding to close opportunity gaps.
Who is affected
- Primary stakeholders: Massachusetts school districts implementing SOA three-year plans.
- Target groups benefitting from the initiative: Students from historically underserved groups, including English learners, students with disabilities, and students from high-poverty backgrounds.
- Accountability and oversight: DESE reviews amendments, provides feedback, and posts amendments publicly; the Legislature receives the annual progress report.
Procedural and timeline aspects
- Annual reporting requirement: The SOA requires a progress report to the Legislature by December 31 each year, with district-level data publicly posted.
- FY22 emphasis: District amendments were due April 1, 2022; this report consolidates findings from those amendments and outlines next steps for implementation.
- Future steps: The report’s “Looking Ahead” section outlines upcoming actions and continued monitoring of SOA plan implementation.
Potential impact
- Accountability and transparency: Maintains public reporting of progress on closing gaps and the use of SOA and ESSER funds.
- Policy implications: Informs ongoing refinement of funding uses and evidence-based practices to reduce achievement disparities.
- Long-term goals: Supports sustained district efforts to improve outcomes for historically underserved student populations through data-driven, evidence-based planning.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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