Public Policy Updates: May 2021 Board of Ed meeting

The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education met on May 25, 2021 at 9 am. The agenda for this meeting can be found online here. Video coverage of the meeting can be found here. 

Traditionally, the May meeting of the Board is hosted by the district of the ongoing student representative; this was not done at this meeting due to the pandemic. Board Chair Katherine Craven said she hoped that the Board might still be able to meet in Billerica, hometown of student member Jared Coughlin, before the Board's summer recess.

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Sexual Harassment Policy Under Development

Schools have legal obligations to address sexual harassment under both federal (Title IX) and state (MGL c. 76, s. 5; c. 151C, s. 2) law. Schools must have policies and procedures that comply with both sets of obligations. Federal regulations concerning sexual harassment have recently changed. A new template policy that will cover both federal and state obligations is under development and will be posted when it is ready. In the meantime, schools should consult counsel and have in place state- and federally- compliant policies and procedures.

Legislative Bulletin - 2022 Senate Ways & Means Budget Proposal

The Massachusetts Senate Ways & Means Committee recently released its Budget recommendations for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2021. The $149.1 million budget makes a number of targeted investments to address the emerging needs of the Commonwealth as we recover from the lasting impacts of this pandemic. MASC General Counsel Stephen Finnegan has released an overview and brief analysis of the proposal as it relates to public schools in a new Legislative Bulletin.

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Public Policy Updates: April 2021 Board of Ed

The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education had its regular April meeting on Tuesday, April 20, 2021 at 1 pm. The agenda is here; the livestream is here. The livestream is here. 

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Day on the Hill

Day on the Hill is MASC's annual legislative advocacy day. Typically, this event brings hundreds of school committee members, superintendents and student leaders to the State House in Boston to meet with the executive and legislative leadership as well as local senators and representatives. This event is an increasingly critical moment for MASC members to advance the message of the value of public education and ensure that legislators and other key decision/policy makers understand the issues and challenges that you confront and that they can support.

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Legislative Bulletin - 2022 House Ways & Means Budget Proposal

On April 14, 2021, the Massachusetts House Ways & Means Committee released its FY2022 Budget recommendations. Among the recommendations from the House Ways and Means Committee is a significant increase in Chapter 70 funding, as well as funding for the Special Education Circuit Breaker and Regional Transportation. MASC General Counsel Stephen Finnegan has released an overview and brief analysis of the proposal as it relates to public schools in a new Legislative Bulletin.

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