H 718
An Act to reduce out-of-school suspensions
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Sign in to take action- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill, H.718, aims to reduce the number of students suspended out of school in Massachusetts. It seeks to address concerns about the disproportionate impact of suspensions, particularly on students of color and students with disabilities. The legislation intends to encourage schools to explore alternative disciplinary measures and support systems instead of relying heavily on suspensions. Ultimately, the goal is to create a more equitable and effective approach to student discipline.
Key provisions
- Encourages schools to implement restorative justice practices.
- Promotes the use of alternative disciplinary measures.
- Requires schools to track and analyze suspension data.
- Supports professional development for educators on effective discipline strategies.
- Focuses on addressing the root causes of student misbehavior.
Who is affected
- Students in Massachusetts public schools
- School administrators and educators
- Parents and families of students
- School districts in Massachusetts
Notable changes
- The bill encourages a shift away from punitive disciplinary measures like out-of-school suspensions.
- It mandates data collection to assess the impact of these changes.
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsor
Joshua Tarsky
Cosponsor
Joshua Tarsky
Arguments in favor
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Bill H.718 194th (Current)
An Act to reduce out-of-school suspensions
By Representative Tarsky of Needham, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 718) of Joshua Tarsky for legislation to reduce out-of-school suspensions. Education.
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Bill Information
Bill Information
Presenter: Joshua Tarsky Status: Referred to House Committee on Ways and Means
Tabs
Bill History Petitioners Committee Vote
Bill History
Displaying 4 actions for Bill H.718
| Date | Branch | Action |
| 2/27/2025 | House | Referred to the committee on Education |
| 2/27/2025 | Senate | Senate concurred |
| 6/25/2025 | Joint | Hearing scheduled for 07/08/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in B-2 |
| 9/15/2025 | House | Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Ways and Means |
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