Bill > H4425

This bill aims to provide a sustainable future for rural schools in Massachusetts. The key provisions are: 1. Establishes an Office of Shared Services within the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to oversee the formation of regional school districts and superintendent unions, and provide assistance and recommendations on strategies to improve coverage and reduce costs for rural school districts' health insurance plans. 2. Requires the Center for Health Information and Analysis to review and analyze the range of health insurance plans used by rural school districts and provide the findings to the Office of Shared Services. 3. Gives priority for educational grants to paraprofessionals seeking to obtain licensure as special education teachers. 4. Defines a "rural school district" as one with a student density of not more than 35 students per square mile and a per capita income below the state average. 5. Provides assistance to municipalities where a school is closed due to school district regionalization, including help with demolition or repurposing of the school building. 6. Provides transitional funding for the first three years of a regional school district's operation. 7. Establishes the School District Regionalization Grant Fund to support the study, planning, and implementation of school district regionalization efforts. 8. Creates a program within DESE to support the development of specialized teachers, including providing funding for local educator preparation programs for special education. 9. Requires DESE to review its special education regulations as they pertain to the needs of rural school districts and engage in a public comment process.