MA H668

Requires newly elected or appointed school committee members to complete at least 8 hours of orientation within 3 months of taking office, at no cost to the individual members

Orientation must cover school finance, Chapter 70 funding, statewide education goals, open meeting law, public records law, conflict of interest law, special education law, collective bargaining, school leadership standards, and member roles and responsibilities

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education develops the orientation curriculum; Massachusetts Association of School Committees or other commissioner-approved entities may deliver the training

Approved training providers must offer at least 3 orientation sessions annually at no cost to eligible school committees

Members who fail to complete the required orientation are disqualified from participating in any formal committee business; completion certificates must be filed with the city or town clerk