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PART I
TITLE XII
CHAPTER 71
Massachusetts Laws
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PART I
ADMINISTRATION OF THE GOVERNMENT
(Chapters 1 through 182)
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TITLE XII
EDUCATION
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CHAPTER 71
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
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Section 1
Maintenance; double sessions; subjects; twelve-month school year
Section 1A
Period of silence
Section 1B
Voluntary prayer
Section 1C
Workshops on rights of students and their parents under special education laws of the commonwealth and the federal government
Section 2
Subjects of instruction; history and civics
Section 2A
Student use of tobacco products
Section 2B
Courses in American sign language
Section 2C
Implementation of policy and discipline code addressing teen dating violence in public schools
Section 3
Physical education
Section 4
High schools; maintenance; diplomas awarded to veterans
Section 4A
Failure to keep schools open for required period; penalty
Section 5
Repealed, 1948, 643, Sec. 2
Section 6
Education in out-of-town high schools
Section 6A
Admission of students from outside Commonwealth
Section 7
Repealed, 1947, 679, Sec. 5
Section 7A
Transportation of pupils; payment of costs; limitations
Section 7B
Transportation of pupils; reimbursement of costs; determination of amount; use of funds
Section 7C
Bus transportation programs; financial assistance
Section 8, 9
Repealed, 1948, 643, Sec. 2
Section 10
Expenses of physically disabled children
Section 11
High school; definition
Section 12
Repealed, 1969, 254, Sec. 6
Section 13
Requested courses; school committee approval
Section 13A to 13C
Repealed, 1972, 215, Sec. 2
Section 13D
High schools; required subjects; driver training
Section 13E
Repealed, 1972, 215, Sec. 2
Section 13F
Broadcast and television facilities; cost of program; executive committee for educational television
Section 13G
Executive committee for educational television; rules and regulations; personnel
Section 13H
Educational television program fund; accounts and reports
Section 13I
Executive committee for educational television; powers and duties
Section 14
Regional school district planning committee; creation; membership
Section 14A
Duties of planning board
Section 14B
Regional school districts; formation; procedure
Section 14C
Lease or sale of property to regional school districts
Section 14D
Agreement; approval of indebtedness
Section 14E
Regional school district committee membership options
Section 15
Acceptance of organization provisions by electorate
Section 16
Status; powers and duties
Section 16A
Regional district school committee; selection, powers and duties of officers; subcommittees
Section 16B
Budgets; apportionment of expenses
Section 16B1/2
Excess and deficiency fund; surplus funds used to reduce assessments
Section 16C
School transportation
Section 16D
Aid from state
Section 16D1/2
Monies received as nonresident tuition or reimbursements from commonwealth for foster care children
Section 16E
Audits; payment of costs
Section 16F
Retirement system
Section 16G
Liability of towns for expenses of district
Section 16G1/2
Stabilization fund
Section 16H
Repealed, 2003, 46, Sec. 80
Section 16I
Severability of sections relating to regional school districts
Section 17
Repealed, 1991, 138, Sec. 336
Section 17A
Culinary arts program; special fund
Section 18
Evening schools
Section 19
Evening classes in high schools
Section 20
Notice of evening schools; publication; fees for instruction
Section 20A
Instructional Materials Trust Fund
Section 21
Continuation schools; establishment; conditions
Section 22
Attendance
Section 23
Use of existing educational facilities
Section 24
Cost of maintenance; source of funds
Section 25
Unemployed minors; attendance requirements
Section 26
Penalty for failure to establish or maintain school
Section 26A
Extended school services for children whose parents are employed; establishment; conditions
Section 26B
Organization and operation of plan
Section 26C
Contributions and federal funds; use
Section 26D
Borrowing in anticipation of federal funds
Section 26E
Repealed, 1978, 367, Sec. 70E
Section 26F
Repealed, 1966, 14, Sec. 52
Section 27
Lectures
Section 28
Summer schools
Section 29
Repealed, 1979, 717, Sec. 3
Section 30
Moral education
Section 30A
Repealed, 1986, 195
Section 31
Bible reading
Section 31A
Guidelines for celebration of holidays authorized
Section 32
Observance of Memorial Day
Section 32A
Sex education; policy regarding notice to parents, exception
Section 33
Repealed, 1979, 439, Sec. 1
Section 34
Support of schools; appropriations; recommendations
Section 34A
Transcript of student’s record; availability
Section 34B
Remedy for failure to furnish transcript of student’s record
Section 34C
Repealed, 1965, 43
Section 34D
Student records; maintenance, storage, destruction, etc.; inspection by parent or guardian
Section 34E
Inspection of student records; persons authorized
Section 34F
Repealed, 1976, 50, Sec. 2
Section 34G
Private schools; transfer of transcripts upon ceasing operation
Section 34H
Noncustodial parents; receipt of information for child enrolled in public elementary or secondary schools; notice to custodial parent
Section 35
Beginning of term
Section 36
Secretary; appointment; duties
Section 36A
Orientation for school committee members
Section 37
Powers and duties; superintendent serving joint districts
Section 37A
Grants; acceptance and disbursement
Section 37B
Purchase of or making payments to annuities or investments
Section 37C
Promotion of racial balance
Section 37D
Racial imbalance; definitions; statistics; transfers; priorities; plans for elimination; public hearings; regulations; jurisdiction; costs; attorney’s fees
Section 37E
Legal counsel for collective bargaining
Section 37F
Legal counsel for general purposes
Section 37G
Corporal punishment of pupils prohibited; use of physical restraint; regulations
Section 37H
Policies relative to conduct of teachers or students; student handbooks
Section 37H.5
Felony complaint or conviction of student; suspension; expulsion; right to appeal
Section 37H.75
Suspension or expulsion on grounds other than those set forth in Secs. 37H or 37H%p1/2%p
Section 37I
Magnet school facilities; grants; application; approval; agreements; eligible costs; regulations
Section 37J
Magnet educational programs; reimbursement for cost; definition; contracts; joining programs
Section 37K
Business demonstration projects; disposition of proceeds
Section 37L
Notification to school personnel of reporting requirements for child abuse and neglect and fires; reports of students possessing or using dangerous weapons on school premises; transferred students’ school records
Section 37M
Consolidation of administrative functions with city or town
Section 37N
Policy for school-sponsored student travel
Section 37O
School bullying prohibited; bullying prevention plans
Section 38
Employment of teachers, aides, principals, etc.; designation of Horace Mann teachers; performance evaluations; performance standards
Section 38A
Duties; appointment of director of occupational guidance, duties of director
Section 38B
Repealed, 1978, 367, Sec. 70E
Section 38C
Status of director of occupational guidance
Section 38D
District directors of occupational guidance; appointment
Section 38E
Repealed, 1978, 367, Sec. 70E
Section 38F
Fees for services of directors of occupational guidance; prohibition; penalty for violation
Section 38G
Certification for certain teaching and administrative positions; provisional and standard certificates; policies and guidelines regarding requirements and qualifications; applications; recommendations; review; continuing education; renewal of certificate
Section 38G.5
Specialist teacher endorsement in transition services; transition of students with disabilities to post-school activities
Section 38H
School librarian and school library supervisor or co-ordinator; tenure
Section 38I
Reimbursement of teachers for tuitions and fees
Section 38J
Repealed, 1995, 209, Sec. 2
Section 38K
Public relations bureau in school departments; establishment
Section 38L
Repealed, 1978, 512, Sec. 12
Section 38M
Student advisory committees
Section 38N
Proposed annual budgets; public hearings required; quorum
Section 38O
Sex education advisory committees
Section 38P
School psychologists; tenure
Section 38Q
Professional development plans; statewide assistance plan
Section 38Q1/2
Curriculum accommodation plan
Section 38R
Schools’ access to criminal offender records; employees, contractors, and volunteers; use limited to protection of children
Section 39
Teacher’s application forms; questions concerning religion or politics
Section 40
Compensation of teachers; deferred payment
Section 41
Tenure of teachers and superintendents; persons entitled to professional teacher status; dismissal; review
Section 41A
Leaves of absence of professional staff
Section 41B
Leaves of absence; Peace Corps
Section 42
Dismissal or demotion of teachers or other employees of school or school district; arbitration
Section 42A
Repealed, 1993, 71, Sec. 45
Section 42B
Rights of school employees in regional districts
Section 42C
Records of teachers; inspection
Section 42D
Suspension of district employees
Section 43
Reduction of salaries; conditions
Section 43A, 43B
Repealed, 1993, 71, Sec. 49
Section 44
Restrictions on teachers’ political rights; prohibition
Section 45
Procurement of teaching positions; regulation of fees; penalty for violation
Section 46 to 46B
Repealed, 1972, 766, Sec. 10
Section 46C
Repealed, 1968, 352, Sec. 2
Section 46D to 46F
Repealed, 1972, 766, Sec. 10
Section 46G
Repealed, 1995, 209, Sec. 4
Section 46H to 46M
Repealed, 1972, 766, Sec. 10
Section 47
Athletic programs; school organizations; student activity accounts
Section 47A
Athletic coaches; employment
Section 48
Textbooks and school supplies
Section 48A
School safety patrols; functions, limitations; liability
Section 48B
Uniforms of school employees
Section 49
Purchase of textbooks by pupils
Section 49A
Orders for materials and equipment; contracts for services
Section 50
Change of school books
Section 51
Exhibition of school work at expositions
Section 52
Compensation of school committee members
Section 53
School physicians and nurses
Section 53A
Employment of medical personnel by superintendency district or union; compensation; removal
Section 53B
Towns within a superintendency district or union; exemption from appointment requirement
Section 54
Examination of children and school personnel
Section 54A
Physician or person trained in emergency medical care; assignment to interscholastic football games
Section 54B
Administration of medications in school settings; regulations
Section 55
Contagious diseases; regulations
Section 55A
Sick, injured or incapacitated pupils; procedure for handling; emergency first aid or transportation; exemption from civil liability
Section 55B
Repealed, 2003, 46, Sec. 81
Section 55C
Eye protective devices
Section 56
Sick children; notification of parents
Section 57
Physical examination of pupils; eye examination, written report
Section 58
Repealed, 1945, 543, Sec. 1
Section 59
Superintendent of schools; appointment; compensation; powers and duties
Section 59A
Superintendents of schools in small towns; appointment; state aid for compensation
Section 59B
Principals; appointment; compensation; duties; appointment of other personnel
Section 59C
School councils; members; meetings; duties
Section 59D
School-community partnerships; grant program
Section 60
Repealed, 1969, 254, Sec. 6
Section 61
Superintendent of schools; employment by a town union; termination of town participation in a union
Section 62
Readjustment of town unions
Section 63
School committees as joint committee; representation: meetings; employment of superintendent, removal
Section 64
Union superintendent; compensation
Section 65
Repealed, 1978, 367, Sec. 70E
Section 66
Repealed, 1958, 241
Section 67
Superintendents of schools; penalty for accepting fees for obtaining positions; employment of immediate family of certain persons prohibited
Section 68
Duties of towns to maintain schools; transportation of children; school building committee representation
Section 69
Display of national flags; pledge of allegiance; penalty for violation
Section 69A
Plaque reading “For God and Country”; placement on public school buildings
Section 70
Location of schools
Section 71
Use of school property; purposes
Section 71A
Highway safety stations; designation, discontinuance
Section 71B
Adult physical fitness programs
Section 71C
Community school programs; receipts; deposit and expenditure
Section 71D
Prepayment of tuition to private schools or program sources
Section 71E
Appropriations for and expenditure of receipts from adult education and continuing education programs
Section 71F
Nonresident or foster care students; deposit of tuition payments and state reimbursements; expenditures and appropriations
Section 72
Sale of lunches
Section 73
Closing of school for teachers’ meetings
Section 74
Management of schools funds by private corporations
Section 75
Extended courses of instruction
Section 76
Rules of admission
Section 77
Joint establishment of extended courses
Section 78
Repealed, 1978, 367, Sec. 70E
Section 79
Junior College designation, degrees
Section 80
Lunch period for teachers
Section 81
Junior colleges; restriction on establishment
Section 82
Public secondary schools; right of students to freedom of expression; limitations; definitions
Section 83
Dress and appearance of students protected
Section 84
Discipline of students on matters unrelated to school-sponsored activities prohibited
Section 85
Guidelines implementing Secs. 82 to 84; rules and regulations; adoption; emergencies; procedures
Section 86
Application of Secs. 83 to 85
Section 87
Intelligence test scores; records
Section 88
Military recruiters; on-campus recruiting opportunities
Section 89
Commonwealth charter schools; Horace Mann charter schools; applications; enrollment; employees; funding
Section 90
Classroom placement of twins or higher order multiples
Section 91
Recovery High School; definition; enrollment; student performance; rules and regulations; deduction of home school district allotment for failure to transfer funds as required
Section 92
Innovation Schools
Section 93
Policy regarding internet safety measures for schools providing computer access to students
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