House Passes An Act to Improve Student Achievement

(BOSTON) – The Massachusetts House of Representatives passed legislation that builds on existing statewide education reform efforts by providing additional turnaround opportunities to schools at risk of being classified as underperforming and by offering a targeted lift to the charter school cap in the lowest performing ten percent of districts.  

In an update to the framework of the state's current accountability system, the bill creates a new "challenge school" classification within the lowest performing 20 percent of schools. Challenge schools are required to develop two-year turnaround plans with the help of stakeholders which, unlike the plans required of level four and five schools, must be approved by teachers employed at the school. 

“This legislation will position Massachusetts to advance its standing as a national academic leader as we continue to find inventive ways to help close the achievement gap and provide opportunities to those students who are most at-risk in the classroom," House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo (D-Winthrop) said. “I thank Chair Peisch and my colleagues in the House for their work in designing such a prudent and forward-thinking plan.”

"I am grateful to the Speaker and my colleagues in the House for their continued commitment to improving educational opportunities for Massachusetts students," said Representative Alice Peisch, House Chair of the Joint Committee on Education (D-Wellesley). 

The bill allows for the charter school cap to be raised in the lowest-performing tenth percentile of districts that are nearing the net school spending (NSS) cap. For these schools, the NSS cap may be incrementally increased by one percent for a five year period beginning in FY18.

Under this legislation, any proposed charter school must serve at-risk students or those in danger of dropping out, or use an "opt out" lottery process to enroll its students. 

The legislation also:

• Directs the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to establish a charter school transportation working group to study related financial impacts and identify opportunities to improve efficiency;
• Requires DESE to annually collect and publish attrition data from charter schools.

The bill passed the House 114 to 35.

NOTE: This release was prepared by House leadership.