Education and Childcare

Student and Educator Data Privacy

 

H.532, An Act Relative to Student and Educator Data Privacy, would update our state law framework to reflect the digitization of school records and materials and establish more rigorous standards for accessing and protecting user information. Specific provisions include prohibiting operators of digital platforms/applications used for K-12 school purposes from engaging in targeted advertising or creating user profiles with individual information and prohibiting the selling of this data. The bill also establishes more rigorous standards for accessing and protecting user information with increased security protections on the part of companies and school districts. This legislation is necessary to keep pace with 45 other states that have implemented similar laws and to keep student and educator information safe.

 

Education Data Governance

 

H. 530, An Act establishing an Education-to-Career Data Center, would establish a state office in the Executive Office of Technology Services and Security to oversee the linkage of data from public agencies including in the education and workforce spaces to form a longitudinal data system. Linked, longitudinal data then will inform state policies and investments in education and other public systems.

 

College in High School

 

H. 1286, An Act Relative to College in High School, seeks to expand student access to college and post secondary opportunities and enhance equitable access to higher education. This bill would require all public higher education institutions to develop policies for accepting course credit for satisfactorily completion of AP exams, dual enrollment courses, and IB programs. It would also establish the Massachusetts College in High School Trust Fund and Massachusetts Office of College in High School to facilitate the provision of college in high school experiences to all students.

Vocational Technical Education

 

H. 531, An Act to Increase Student Access to Career Technical Education Schools and Programs which are Aligned with Regional Labor Market Needs, seeks to improve and maximize career technical education throughout the Commonwealth. This bill would establish an Office of Career Technical Education within the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to expand vocational education opportunities, enforce certificates of occupational proficiency regulations, and facilitate the introduction of career technical education programs aligned with regional demand.

 

Safe Drinking Water in Schools

 

H. 851, An Act ensuring safe drinking water in schools, protects children’s health by getting the lead out of the water at all schools and childcare centers by requiring the removal of lead service lines; the installation of lead-certified filters or water filling stations; and the regular and transparent testing of water. This bill would establish a health-based lead level standard for schools and childcare centers of 1 ppb and requires the immediate shut-off of outlets with elevated levels of lead.