EDUCATION COMMITTEE

I am honored to be reappointed Chairwoman of the Committee on Education for the 2017-2018 session and for the opportunity to continue working on legislation to improve education in Massachusetts. This session I have filed 14 education bills that are focused on providing support for struggling schools and ensuring that all children, regardless of zip code, have access to a high quality education that equips them with the knowledge and skills necessary to meet the needs of the 21st century.
 
My PASS bill aims to empower educators and foster innovative and collaborative educational approaches through the creation of Innovation Partnership Zones that will give struggling schools increased autonomy and flexibility with respect to their operation and management. I have also filed bills that would increase access to high quality early education and summer learning opportunities for low income students. Studies have shown that these programs provide significant benefits to children and are effective tools for closing the achievement gap.
 
Massachusetts has the best public schools in the nation, but there is still work that needs to be done to ensure all students have the opportunity to succeed. I look forward to working with Governor Baker and my legislative colleagues on these and other issues over the next two years.

About the Education Committee
Over 350 bills have been referred to the Education Committee this session. The Committee plans to hold hearings on these bills over the course of this year, during which the Committee will collect and review testimony and conduct research on each individual bill prior to taking action on them by next March.

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UPCOMING EDUCATION COMMITTEE HEARINGS

The Joint Committee on Education will be holding a public hearing on Tuesday, October 3rd at 10:00 am in Room 473G on bills related to Charter Schools, School Choice & Miscellaneous, which are listed below.