By Mr. Canessa of New Bedford, petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 407) of Stephen R. Canessa and others that the Board of Education be directed to increase the maximum age for attendance of students in the schools of the Commonwealth.  Education.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PETITION OF:

 

Stephen R. Canessa

John F. Quinn

Mary E. Grant

Edward M. Augustus, Jr.

Robert M. Koczera

Thomas J. Calter

Jennifer L. Flanagan

Barbara A. L'Italien

Antonio F. D. Cabral

David B. Sullivan

Alice Hanlon Peisch

Mark C. Montigny

 

 

 

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In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.

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 An Act concerning dropout prevention and intervention.

 

    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 Section 1B of chapter 69 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2004 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the 20th paragraph and inserting in place thereof the following:-

 

“The Board shall establish the permissible and mandatory ages for school attendance; provided, that such mandatory maximum age shall be the age of 18, or until graduation from high school or attainment of equivalent thereof, whichever occurs first.

 

SECTION 2            The Department of Education shall promulgate regulations to expand the definition of “Structured Learning Time” to include alternative learning opportunities that currently exist or may exist.

 

SECTION 3            Line item 7061-9404 appearing in chapter 139 of the Acts of 2006 is hereby amended by striking out the years “2003 and beyond,” and inserting in place thereof the following years:- “2007 and beyond.”

 

SECTION 4            Line item 7061-9404 appearing in chapter 139 of the Acts of 2006 is hereby amended by striking out in the final line, the amount “$10,332,793,” and inserting in place thereof the following:- “$20,000,000.”

 

SECTION 5            The Department of Education shall establish a student dropout prevention program, in each fiscal year in which funds are appropriated, to assist local and regional school districts with the greatest need in decreasing the number of students dropping out of school and increasing the state-wide graduation rate.  Local and regional school districts shall use the program to conduct needs assessments, implement or expand innovative programs, or evaluate existing efforts.  No less than $10,000,000 shall be expended for this fund.

 

SECTION 6            The Department of Education shall conduct a study on the feasibility of incorporating a student’s structured summer employment into the structured learning time requirements under 603 CMR 27.04. 

 

SECTION 7            The Department of Education shall conduct a study on the establishment of a permanent cooperative learning program of  that would fulfill a student’s graduation requirements under 603 CMR 27.04.