Bill > S337

This bill aims to interrupt the school-to-prison pipeline by amending Massachusetts General Laws (M.G.L.) Chapter 71, Section 37H ¾, which governs student discipline. The bill highlights concerning statistics showing disproportionately higher out-of-school suspension rates for Black and Latino students, as well as students with disabilities, compared to white students. To address this, the bill mandates that when a student is subject to an "Emergency Removal" (meaning they are temporarily removed from school due to suspension or expulsion), the school district must ensure the student's safety, health, and provide appropriate transportation directly, rather than relying on other agencies, to maintain clear responsibility. Furthermore, if the student is eligible for school meals, the district must provide them before the emergency removal takes place. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is tasked with creating regulations to implement these changes across all Massachusetts school districts.