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Mass. General Laws c.71

Public schools

This page links to an unofficial version of each section of G.L. c. 71.

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§ 1 Maintenance; double sessions; subjects; twelve-month school year 
§ 1 1/2 Definitions 
§ 1A Period of silence 
§ 1B Voluntary prayer 
§ 1C Workshops on rights of students and their parents under special education laws of the commonwealth and the federal government 
§ 1D Prohibition of adoption or implementation of policy or code in sports or athletic events that impairs or prohibits hairstyle historically associated with race 

Added by St. 2022, c. 117, § 2, effective October 24, 2022

§ 2 Teaching of history and social science; professional development; student-led civic projects; commonwealth civics challenge 
§ 2A Use of tobacco products within school buildings or facilities or on school grounds 
§ 2B Courses in American sign language 
§ 2C Implementation of policy and discipline code addressing teen dating violence in public schools 
§ 3 Physical education 
§ 4 High schools; maintenance; diplomas awarded to veterans 
§ 4A Failure to keep schools open for required period; penalty 
§ 6 Education in out-of-town high schools 
§ 6A Admission of students from outside Commonwealth 
§ 6B A military-connected student school enrollment 

Added by St.2022, c.154, § 9, effective August 5, 2022

§ 7A Transportation of pupils; payment of costs; limitations 
§ 7B Transportation of pupils; reimbursement of costs; determination of amount; use of funds 
§ 7C Bus transportation programs; financial assistance 
§ 10 Expenses of physically disabled children 
§ 11 High school; definition 
§ 13 Requested courses; school committee approval 
§ 13D High schools; required subjects; driver training 
§ 13F Broadcast and television facilities; cost of program; executive committee for educational television 
§ 13G Executive committee for educational television; rules and regulations; personnel 
§ 13H Educational television program fund; accounts and reports 
§ 13I Executive committee for educational television; powers and duties 
§ 14 Regional school district planning committee; creation; membership 
§ 14A Duties of planning board 
§ 14B Regional school districts; formation; procedure 
§ 14C Lease or sale of property to regional school districts 
§ 14D Regional school district planning board; agreement; approval of indebtedness 
§ 14E Regional school district committee membership options 
§ 15 Acceptance of organization provisions by electorate 
§ 16 Status; powers and duties 
§ 16A Regional district school committee; selection, powers and duties of officers; signing of payroll and accounts payable warrants; audits 
§ 16B Budgets; apportionment of expenses 
§ 16B 1/2 Excess and deficiency fund; surplus funds used to reduce assessments 
§ 16C Regional school districts; school transportation 
§ 16D Aid from state 
§ 16D 1/2 Monies received as nonresident tuition or reimbursements from commonwealth for foster care children 
§ 16E Regional school districts; audits; payment of costs 
§ 16F Retirement system 
§ 16G Liability of towns for expenses of district 
§ 16G 1/2 Stabilization fund 
§ 16I Severability of sections relating to regional school districts 
§ 17A Culinary arts program; special fund 
§ 18 Evening schools 
§ 19 Evening classes in high schools 
§ 20 Notice of evening schools; publication; fees for instruction 
§ 20A Instructional Materials Trust Fund 
§ 21 Continuation schools; establishment; conditions 
§ 22 Attendance 
§ 23 Use of existing educational facilities 
§ 24 Cost of maintenance; source of funds 
§ 25 Unemployed minors; attendance requirements 
§ 26 Penalty for failure to establish or maintain school 
§ 26A Extended school services for children; establishment; conditions 
§ 26B Extended school services for children; organization and operation of plan 
§ 26C Extended school services for children; contributions and federal funds; use 
§ 26D Borrowing in anticipation of federal funds 
§ 27 Lectures 
§ 28 Summer schools 
§ 30 Moral education 
§ 31 Bible reading 
§ 31A Guidelines for celebration of holidays authorized 
§ 32 Observance of Memorial Day 
§ 32A Sex education; policy regarding notice to parents, exception 
§ 34 Support of schools; appropriations; recommendations 
§ 34A Transcript of student's record; availability 
§ 34B Remedy for failure to furnish transcript of student's record 
§ 34D Student records; maintenance, storage, destruction, etc.; inspection by parent or guardian 
§ 34E Inspection of student records; persons authorized 
§ 34G Private schools; transfer of transcripts upon ceasing operation 
§ 34H Noncustodial parents; receipt of information for child enrolled in public elementary or secondary schools; notice to custodial parent 
§ 35 Beginning of term 
§ 36 Secretary; appointment; duties 
§ 36A Orientation for school committee members 
§ 37 Powers and duties; superintendent serving joint districts 
§ 37A Grants; acceptance and disbursement 
§ 37B Purchase of or making payments to annuities or investments 
§ 37C Promotion of racial balance 
§ 37D Racial imbalance; definitions; statistics; transfers; priorities; plans for elimination; public hearings; regulations; jurisdiction; costs; attorney's fees 
§ 37E Legal counsel for collective bargaining 
§ 37F Legal counsel for general purposes 
§ 37G Corporal punishment of pupils prohibited; use of physical restraint; regulations 
§ 37H Policies relative to conduct of teachers or students; student handbooks 
§ 37H 1/2 Felony complaint or conviction of student; suspension; expulsion; right to appeal 
§ 37H 3/4 Suspension or expulsion on grounds other than those set forth in Secs. 37H or 37H1/2 

Amended by St.2022, c.177, § 29, effective November 8, 2022

§ 37I Magnet school facilities; grants; application; approval; agreements; eligible costs; regulations 
§ 37J Magnet educational programs; reimbursement for cost; definition; contracts; joining programs 
§ 37K Business demonstration projects; disposition of proceeds 
§ 37L Notification to school personnel of reporting requirements for child abuse and neglect and fires; reports of students possessing or using dangerous weapons on school premises; transferred students' school records 
§ 37M Consolidation of administrative functions with city or town 
§ 37N Policy for school-sponsored student travel 
§ 37O School bullying prohibited; bullying prevention and intervention plans; reporting of bullying incident date 
§ 37P School resource officers 
§ 37Q Mental health support plans 

Amended by St.2022, c.177, § 30, effective November 8, 2022

§ 37R Possession and access to two-way communication device for communicating with police and fire departments during emergency situation 
§ 38 Employment of teachers, aides, principals, etc.; designation of Horace Mann teachers; performance evaluations; performance standards 
§ 38A Duties; appointment of director of occupational guidance, duties of director 
§ 38C Status of director of occupational guidance 
§ 38D District directors of occupational guidance; appointment 
§ 38F Fees for services of directors of occupational guidance; prohibition; penalty for violation 
§ 38G Certification for certain teaching and administrative positions; provisional and standard certificates; policies and guidelines regarding requirements and qualifications; applications; recommendations; review; continuing education 

Amended by St.2022, c.154, §§ 10-11, effective November 3, 2022

§ 38G 1/2 Specialist teacher endorsement in transition services; transition of students with disabilities to post-school activities 
§ 38H School librarian and school library supervisor or co-ordinator; tenure 
§ 38I Reimbursement of teachers for tuitions and fees 
§ 38K Public relations bureau in school departments; establishment 
§ 38M Student advisory committees 
§ 38N Proposed annual budgets; public hearings required; quorum 
§ 38O Sex education advisory committees 
§ 38P School psychologists; tenure 
§ 38Q Professional development plans; statewide assistance plan 
§ 38Q 1/2 Curriculum accommodation plan 
§ 38R Criminal background check of current or prospective school employee, volunteer, or other persons having direct and unmonitored contact with children; criminal offender record information; fingerprint-based criminal background checks 
§ 39 Teacher's application forms; questions concerning religion or politics 
§ 40 Compensation of teachers; deferred payment 
§ 41 Tenure of teachers and superintendents; persons entitled to professional teacher status; dismissal; review 
§ 41A Leaves of absence of professional staff 
§ 41B Leaves of absence; Peace Corps 
§ 42 Dismissal or demotion of teachers or other employees of school or school district; arbitration 
§ 42B Rights of school employees in regional districts 
§ 42C Records of teachers; inspection 
§ 42D Suspension of district employees 
§ 43 Reduction of salaries; conditions 
§ 44 Restrictions on teachers' political rights; prohibition 
§ 45 Procurement of teaching positions; regulation of fees; penalty for violation 
§ 47 Athletic programs; school organizations; student activity accounts 
§ 47A Athletic coaches; employment 
§ 48 Textbooks and school supplies 
§ 48A School safety patrols; functions, limitations; liability 
§ 48B Uniforms of school employees 
§ 49 Purchase of textbooks by pupils 
§ 49A Orders for materials and equipment; contracts for services 

Amended by St.2022, c.198, § 10, effective November 24, 2022

§ 50 Change of school books 
§ 51 Exhibition of school work at expositions 
§ 52 Compensation of school committee members 
§ 53 School physicians and nurses 
§ 53A Employment of medical personnel by superintendency district or union; compensation; removal 
§ 53B Towns within a superintendency district or union; exemption from appointment requirement 
§ 54 Examination of children and school personnel 
§ 54A Physician or person trained in emergency medical care; assignment to interscholastic football games 
§ 54B Administration of medications in school settings; regulations 
§ 54C Automated external defibrillators required at school facilities; certified AED providers; hardship waivers; personal liability; regulations 
§ 55 Contagious diseases; regulations 
§ 55A Sick, injured or incapacitated pupils; procedure for handling; emergency first aid or transportation; exemption from civil liability 
§ 55C Eye protective devices 
§ 55D Musical wind instruments; notification of sanitization and option to sterilize at parental expense 
§ 56 Sick children; notification of parents 
§ 57 Physical examination of pupils; eye examination, written report 
§ 57A Students with potential indicators of a neurological learning disability; guidelines for development of screening procedures 
§ 59 Superintendent of schools; appointment; compensation; powers and duties 
§ 59A Superintendents of schools in small towns; appointment; state aid for compensation 
§ 59B Principals; appointment; compensation; duties; appointment of other personnel 
§ 59C School councils; members; meetings; duties 
§ 59D School-community partnerships; grant program 
§ 61 Superintendent of schools; employment by a town union; termination of town participation in a union 
§ 62 Readjustment of town unions 
§ 63 School committees as joint committee; representation: meetings; employment of superintendent, removal 
§ 64 Union superintendent; compensation 
§ 67 Superintendents of schools; penalty for accepting fees for obtaining positions; employment of immediate family of certain persons prohibited 
§ 68 Duties of towns to maintain schools; transportation of children; school building committee representation 
§ 69 Display of national flags; pledge of allegiance; penalty for violation 
§ 69A Plaque reading ''For God and Country''; placement on public school buildings 
§ 70 Location of schools 
§ 71 Use of school property; purposes 
§ 71A Highway safety stations; designation, discontinuance 
§ 71B Adult physical fitness programs 
§ 71C Community school programs; receipts; deposit and expenditure 
§ 71D Prepayment of tuition to private schools or program sources 
§ 71E Appropriations for and expenditure of receipts from adult education and continuing education programs 
§ 71F Nonresident or foster care students; deposit of tuition payments and state reimbursements; expenditures and appropriations 
§ 72 Sale of lunches 
§ 72A Implementation the federal community eligibility provision; waiver; training; certification of students for free school meal status 
§ 73 Closing of school for teachers' meetings 
§ 74 Management of schools funds by private corporations 
§ 75 Extended courses of instruction 
§ 76 Rules of admission 
§ 77 Joint establishment of extended courses 
§ 79 Junior College designation, degrees 
§ 80 Lunch period for teachers 
§ 81 Junior colleges; restriction on establishment 
§ 82 Public secondary schools; right of students to freedom of expression; limitations; definitions 
§ 83 Dress and appearance of students protected 
§ 84 Discipline of students on matters unrelated to school-sponsored activities prohibited 
§ 85 Guidelines implementing Secs. 82 to 84; rules and regulations; adoption; emergencies; procedures 
§ 86 Application of Secs. 83 to 85 
§ 87 Intelligence test scores; records 
§ 88 Military recruiters; on-campus recruiting opportunities 
§ 89 Commonwealth charter schools; Horace Mann charter schools; applications; enrollment; employees; funding 

Amended by St.2022, c.126, § 34, effective July 1, 2022

§ 90 Classroom placement of twins or higher order multiples 
§ 91 Recovery High School; definition; enrollment; student performance; rules and regulations; deduction of home school district allotment for failure to transfer funds as required 
§ 92 Innovation Schools 
§ 93 Policy regarding internet safety measures for schools providing computer access to students 
§ 94 Commonwealth virtual schools 

Amended by St.2022, c.154, § 12, effective August 5, 2022

§ 95 Reimbursement aid to municipalities for costs incurred for federal military reservation students 
§ 96 Substance use prevention and abuse education policies for public schools 
§ 97 Verbal screening tool for substance abuse disorders 
§ 98 Instruction on the history of genocide 
§ 98A Resources provided relative to antisemitism and societal bias 

Added by St. 2024, c. 140, § 106, effective July 1, 2024

§ 99 Purple Star Campuses / School Transportation Reimbursement Fund 

Added by St.2022, c.154, § 13 / Added by St.2022, c.198, § 11

§ 100 Media literacy instruction 

Added by St.2024, c. 118, § 2, effective September 18, 2024

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