There is a newer version of the Massachusetts General Laws
2016 Massachusetts General Laws
PART I ADMINISTRATION OF THE GOVERNMENT
TITLE XII EDUCATION
Chapter 71 PUBLIC SCHOOLS
- 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- Section 5 Repealed, 1948, 643, Sec. 2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- Section 7 Repealed, 1947, 679, Sec. 5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- Section 8, 9 Repealed, 1948, 643, Sec. 2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- Section 12 Repealed, 1969, 254, Sec. 6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- Section 13A to 13C Repealed, 1972, 215, Sec. 2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- Section 13E Repealed, 1972, 215, Sec. 2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 Regional school district planning board; 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 Regional school districts; 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 Regional school districts; 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; establishment; conditions
- Section 26B Extended school services for children; organization and operation of plan
- Section 26C Extended school services for children; 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 37H1/2 Felony complaint or conviction of student; suspension; expulsion; right to appeal
- Section 37H3/4 Suspension or expulsion on grounds other than those set forth in Secs. 37H or 37H1/2
- 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 and intervention plans; reporting of bullying incident date
- Section 37P School resource officers
- Section 37Q Mental health support plans
- Section 37R Possession and access to two-way communication device for communicating with police and fire departments during emergency situation
- 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 38G1/2 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 Criminal background check of current or prospective school employee, volunteer, or other persons having direct and unmonitored contact with children; criminal offender record information; state and national fingerprint-based criminal background checks
- 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 55D Musical wind instruments; notification of sanitization and option to sterilize at parental expense
- 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
- Section 94 Commonwealth virtual schools
- Section 95 Reimbursement aid to municipalities for costs incurred for federal military reservation students
- Section 96 Substance use prevention and abuse education policies for public schools
- Section 97 Verbal screening tool for substance abuse disorders
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