Bill > S251

This bill, titled the "Dropout Prevention and Recovery Act," aims to strengthen efforts to keep students in school and help those at risk of dropping out succeed. Key provisions include extending the mandatory school attendance age to 18 for all students who haven't graduated high school, and requiring schools to use an "early warning indicator index system" (or a similar system) to identify and track students at risk of not graduating on time, with the state providing guidance and support for this data collection. The bill also introduces the "Massachusetts Graduation Coach Initiative," which will fund and place graduation coaches in middle and high schools with high dropout rates or significant numbers of at-risk students to provide direct support, intervention, and connect students and families with resources. Furthermore, it mandates annual workshops for parents and teachers on parental involvement strategies, particularly for at-risk students, and establishes a pilot program to study the impact of employer-provided paid leave for employees to participate in academic activities.