MA H731

Commissioner of Education must establish statewide targets for addressing disparities in student achievement, suspension, expulsion, and annual days of lost instruction among student subgroups by race, gender, socioeconomic status, English learner status, disability, and homelessness

School districts must create evidence-based 3-year plans to reduce discipline disparities, choosing from interventions including positive behavioral supports, restorative justice, trauma-sensitive learning, expanded learning time, social services, and intermediary disciplinary steps before suspension

Districts must submit annual progress reports by April 1 with data on disparities and plan amendments; all plans must be published on district and department websites

Commissioner must investigate schools that suspend/expel a significant number of students for more than 10 cumulative days, show disproportionate discipline rates (1.5+ standard deviations from average), or display disparate rates of lost instruction between subgroups

Charter schools must include discipline disparity data consistent with these requirements in their annual reports and accountability plans