Bill > S317

This bill aims to enhance educational equity in Massachusetts by mandating comprehensive and detailed reporting of student data, with a particular focus on special education services. The Massachusetts Department of Education will be required to annually analyze and publish student-specific data across various demographic categories, including race, gender, socioeconomic status, disability category, English learner status, and homeless youth status. School committees and charter schools must report detailed information about special education services, such as related services, assistive technology, behavioral interventions, vocational education, and transition services. The bill introduces a requirement to track and report the delivery of these services across different student groups, with a specific provision to monitor any statistically significant increases in students with disabilities being assigned to substantially separate classrooms following the COVID-19 pandemic. The reporting will be presented in an anonymized, easily accessible format on the department's website, enabling stakeholders to identify and address educational inequities more effectively. Importantly, the comprehensive reporting is contingent upon the department providing an online, web-based IEP (Individualized Education Program) application aligned with the reporting requirements.

Education

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S317