j ust the facts M TA G O V E R N M E N T R E L A T I O N S H319 – AN ACT PROMOTING COLLABORATION AT LEVEL 4/5 SCHOOLS LEAD SPONSOR Rep. Michael Brady (D-Brockton) CO-SPONSORS REPRESENTATIVES Antonio Cabral James Cantwell Gailanne Cariddi Edward Coppinger Claire Cronin Josh Cutler Marjorie Decker Daniel Donahue Ann-Margaret Ferrante Colleen Garry Mary Keefe James Miceli James O’Day Denise Provost Angelo Puppolo David Rogers Frank Smizik Thomas Stanley John Velis Christopher Walsh SENATORS Sal DiDomenico James Eldridge Patricia Jehlen Thomas Kennedy Barbara L’Italien Marc Pacheco PURPOSE OF THIS BILL Massachusetts is lauded as the national leader in overall student achievement, yet there are some schools that continue to require additional help. The MTA supports a collaborative approach to help these schools improve. Chapter 12 of the Acts of 2010 (An Act Relative to the Achievement Gap) sought to improve student achievement in public schools designated as “underperforming” and “chronically underperforming” through the implementation of a “turnaround plan,” which gives the superintendent or receiver the power, as needed, to alter or modify provisions of an existing collective bargaining agreement in up to 4 percent of schools. To date, 4 schools and 1 school district have been designated as “chronically underperforming”. The law has been used by superintendents/receivers in all of these schools to abrogate agreements that have been collectively bargained in these schools. WHAT THIS BILL DOES Modifies the existing achievement gap law by implementing a collaborative labor/management approach for the formation of a specific turnaround plan. Maintains the employment rights within the district for professional status teachers who are transferred out of a turnaround school. Prohibits any requirement that a teacher reapplies for the job he or she currently holds within the school district. Seeks to ensure that the Commissioner has met the statutorily-required family and community services provided to students and their families so that each student arrives and remains at school ready to learn. Kate Donaghey, Lobbyist | Catherine Fichtner, Lobbyist | Julie Johnson, Lobbyist | Sean King, Lobbyist 617.878.8119
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