Bill > H537

This bill modifies Massachusetts education law by establishing new requirements for school site councils and parent advisory councils. Specifically, the bill mandates that parent advisory councils for special education, English learners, and district-wide matters will serve as advisory bodies to school committees, with an obligation to provide biannual presentations about their work. The school committee must now fund training for school council members, including local governance and leadership training, and the superintendent is required to provide a governance manual written by district employees. School councils are tasked with additional responsibilities, including reviewing the federal annual state report card, providing progress reports at mid-year and year-end to inform budget development and planning, and completing an annual self-evaluation by June 1st that assesses their own performance as a group. The evaluation must be shared with the principal, council chairperson, and school committee, and will be distributed in April. The state education department is directed to develop necessary rules and regulations to implement these new requirements, which aim to enhance parental involvement and council accountability in school governance.

Education

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H537