Bill > H399

This bill establishes a pilot study grant program, allocating $690,000 to the Massachusetts Department of Education (MASS DOE) to fund a "Strengths-Based Bullying Prevention Pilot" (SBBPP) in up to 15 schools experiencing moderate to high rates of bullying events. The program aims to reduce bullying by recruiting and training "Relationship Managers" (RMs) within these schools, who will focus on nurturing students' strengths rather than solely addressing their weaknesses. Qualifying schools must demonstrate a need based on referral and suspension data, and commit to ongoing tracking and support for students. The RMs, who can be former educators or military members with a commitment to education, will work with school leadership, teachers, and students to implement strengths-based strategies, conduct equity audits, and track behavioral changes. The MASS DOE will oversee the program, including selecting vendors for RM training and managing the overall grant administration, with a focus on rigorous evaluation of the program's effectiveness and potential return on investment.