Bill > S406

This bill directs the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to conduct a comprehensive study on recovery high schools, which are specialized schools designed to support students struggling with substance abuse. The department is required to examine the costs of sending students to these schools, calculate the average per-pupil expense, and evaluate whether a medical diagnosis of "substance use disorder or dependency" (as defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV-TR) should be a prerequisite for enrollment. The study will involve consultation with the five existing recovery high schools in Massachusetts and the Department of Public Health. By June 30, 2025, the department must submit its findings to key legislative committee chairs, including those overseeing ways and means, education, and mental health and substance use recovery. The bill aims to provide a deeper understanding of recovery high schools' operational costs and enrollment criteria, potentially informing future policy decisions about these specialized educational environments.

Education

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S406