The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PETITION OF:
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PETITION OF:
Thomas J. Calter
Michael R. Knapik
Tom Sannicandro
Douglas W. Petersen
John P. Fresolo
Walter F. Timilty
Robert M. Koczera
Brian A. Joyce
John D. Keenan
Stephen P. LeDuc
Susan C. Tucker
Frank M. Hynes
Benjamin Swan
Barbara A. L'Italien
William N. Brownsberger
Alice Hanlon Peisch
Denise Provost
Michael F. Rush
Pam Richardson
Peter V. Kocot
Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr.
Willie Mae Allen
Robert L. Rice, Jr.
Stephen R. Canessa
John F. Quinn
Elizabeth A. Malia
Geraldo Alicea
Robert L. Hedlund
Mary E. Grant
Carl M. Sciortino, Jr.
Mark C. Montigny
Susan C. Fargo
Karen E. Spilka
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In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
SECTION 1. Chapter 69 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2004 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding at the end thereof the following new section:-
Section 1N. The board shall establish a comprehensive dropout prevention grant program that shall be available to all school districts. Grants will be available for state and locally developed programs that may include, but not be limited to, academic remediation, tutoring and counseling; career education and workforce readiness; high school graduation centers for older students, providing specialized instruction and counseling; before and after school activities, summer and vacation programs, including sports, arts, technology and hands-on activities, including crafts and vocational training, focused on keeping students engaged and interested in school; and, professional development and training for school staff on working with at-risk students. Grants may also be used for mental health counseling services, parent education services, mentoring programs, and for other services to prevent or address substance abuse, violence against self or others, pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, eating disorders, depression and other issues that may lead students to drop out of school; grants may also be used to increase communication and coordination between schools, parents and existing community services, as well as for partnerships with public higher education institutions for dual-enrollment classes and other programs.
If sufficient funding is not available to fund programs for all districts in any year, the board may establish priorities in funding based upon the percentage of dropouts in school districts. The department shall provide technical assistance to school districts that request such assistance to help develop appropriate programs to be funded under this section. The department shall develop an evaluation system for programs funded under this section, shall evaluate the effectiveness of such programs to reduce dropouts and shall report its findings and conclusions to the board and to the Joint Committee on Education.
SECTION 2. The board of education, in consultation with Massachusetts Partners for Public Schools and the National Board of Education Testing and Public Policy at Boston College, shall develop and implement a study based upon data from Massachusetts public school districts and other sources to determine the extent and causes of students leaving school prior to high school graduation. The board shall report its findings, conclusions and any recommendations to the Joint Committee on Education no later than December 31, 2008.