Bill > H585

This bill authorizes the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to establish an educational task force to study the impact of school start times for middle and secondary school students. The task force will be composed of representatives from various educational organizations, including the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education, the Secretary of Education, leaders from school committees and superintendent associations, Start School Later, Inc., the National Sleep Foundation, a parent of a high school student, and a superintendent from a district with later start times. The task force will conduct a comprehensive study examining the scientific findings on adolescent sleep needs, review how later school start times affect student health and academic performance, determine how many districts have already implemented later start times, analyze the academic performance of students in those districts, and identify resources to help other districts potentially adopt later start times. By July 1, 2026, the task force is required to submit a detailed report with its findings, recommendations, and any proposed legislation to the state legislature's clerks, with the ultimate goal of understanding and potentially improving student learning and well-being through school scheduling.

Budget and Finance, Education

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H585