MA S327

Amends teacher layoff procedures to protect teachers with professional teacher status from being laid off before non-professional status teachers, and requires more senior teachers displacing junior teachers to be currently certified and at least equally qualified

Creates layoff exemptions regardless of professional status for teachers who: graduated from the district's schools or "grow your own" programs in high-needs districts, work in schools with top 20% highest-needs students or lowest staff retention, are designated Teacher of the Year, received highest evaluation ratings, or have linguistic proficiency in languages spoken by at least 5% of students

Limits seniority to use only as a tie-breaker among equally qualified teachers, with job performance and student interests required as primary factors in qualification determinations through collective bargaining

Requires the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to report by June 30, 2031 on whether the act increased the percentage of teachers of color in Massachusetts public schools

Takes effect April 30, 2026 and automatically sunsets on December 31, 2032