Bill > H515

This bill aims to ensure the educational rights of incarcerated youth are upheld. It amends existing laws to: 1) Allow qualified students, including those in the care or custody of the Department of Youth Services, county houses of corrections, or the Department of Correction, to enroll in Massachusetts public institutions of higher education. 2) Require public secondary schools to credit coursework completed by students in institutional settings towards graduation requirements and list that coursework on their transcripts. 3) Mandate that the Department of Correction provide special education services to school-aged children in their care, and require correctional facilities to promptly report information related to a student's potential need for special education. 4) Require correctional facilities to provide a minimum of 6 hours of daily classroom instruction and educational opportunities for individuals under 22 years old, including the ability to receive high school credits, graduate, pursue higher education, and receive vocational training. 5) Establish the Deputy Commissioner for Educational Services to oversee teaching standards and personnel within the Department of Correction. The overall goal is to ensure incarcerated youth have access to quality educational opportunities and are able to continue their studies and progress towards graduation, even while in custody.

Education

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/H515