Safety
Views of Climate and Learning (VOCAL) Survey Project.
Administered to students in grades 4, 5, 8, and 10, and participation in this project is voluntary. The three dimensions of school climate the survey analyses are engagement, safety, and environment.
https://www.doe.mass.edu/research/vocal/
Who does this protect? Students, Staff and Administrators
Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? No
Provides a definition for the terms bullying and cyberbullying as well as the behaviors and consequences associated with these actions.
- 603 CMR 49.3. Definitions and terms.
https://regulations.justia.com/states/massachusetts/600-699-cmr/603/603-cmr-49/49-03/
- General Laws of Massachusetts 71.37o School bullying prohibited; bullying prevention and intervention plans; reporting of bullying incident date.
https://law.justia.com/codes/massachusetts/2020/part-i/title-xii/chapter-71/section-37o/
Massachusetts asks schools to develop and implement procedures to prevent bullying and harassment behavior and the consequences of such behavior. Policies also explain that procedures are needed for reporting an incidence of bullying and investigating it as well as how this policy will be communicated.
- General Laws of Massachusetts 71.37o School bullying prohibited; bullying prevention and intervention plans; reporting of bullying incident date.
https://law.justia.com/codes/massachusetts/2020/part-i/title-xii/chapter-71/section-37o/
- 603 CMR 49.04. Bullying and retaliation are prohibited.
https://regulations.justia.com/states/massachusetts/600-699-cmr/603/603-cmr-49/49-04/
603 Code of Massachusetts Regulations 49.05 Notice to Parents.
Upon investigation and determination that bullying or retaliation has occurred, the principal shall promptly notify the parents of the target and the aggressor of the determination and the school district or school’s procedures for responding to the bullying or retaliation.
https://regulations.justia.com/states/massachusetts/600-699-cmr/603/603-cmr-49/49-05/
603 CMR 49.04. Bullying and retaliation are prohibited.
Massachusetts anti-bullying laws cover conduct that occurs off-school property if the bullying;
- Creates a hostile environment at school for the target.
- Infringes on the rights of the target at school.
- Materially and substantially disrupts the education process or the orderly operation of a school.
https://regulations.justia.com/states/massachusetts/600-699-cmr/603/603-cmr-49/49-04/
Who does this protect? Students, Teachers
Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? Yes
Massachusetts schools need to develop plans for dealing with emergencies and explain drills that need to take place during the school year.
- General Laws of Massachusetts 69.8a Medical emergency response plans; model plans.
https://law.justia.com/codes/massachusetts/2020/part-i/title-xii/chapter-69/section-8a/
General Laws of Massachusetts 71.37p School Resource Officers.
Defines what a school resource officer is, explains how the process of appointing a school resource officer works and what is expected from them
https://law.justia.com/codes/massachusetts/2020/part-i/title-xii/chapter-71/section-37p/
General Laws of Massachusetts 71.37h Policies relative to the conduct of teachers or students; student handbooks.
Students and teachers are prohibited from possessing and bringing dangerous weapons and firearms on school property and school-sponsored events
https://law.justia.com/codes/massachusetts/2020/part-i/title-xii/chapter-71/section-37h/
Who does this protect? Students, Staff
Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? No
Teaching/Learning
Massachusetts provides students with disabilities the accommodations and resources they need to have an appropriate education.
- General Laws of Massachusetts 71.2. Regulations; Special Education Programs; Pre-School Level Admission to Programs; Assignment of Child.
https://law.justia.com/codes/massachusetts/2020/part-i/title-xii/chapter-71b/section-2/
- General Laws of Massachusetts 71.3. Identification of School Age Children With a Disability; Diagnosis of Disability; Proposal of Program; Evaluations and Assessments of Child and Program.
https://law.justia.com/codes/massachusetts/2020/part-i/title-xii/chapter-71b/section-3/
- 603 CMR 28.05 The Team Process and Development of the IEP.
https://regulations.justia.com/states/massachusetts/600-699-cmr/603/603-cmr-28/28-05/
- 603 CMR 28.10 School district responsibility.
https://regulations.justia.com/states/massachusetts/600-699-cmr/603/603-cmr-28/28-10/
- 603 CMR 28.07 – Parent Involvement.
https://regulations.justia.com/states/massachusetts/600-699-cmr/603/603-cmr-28/28-07/
General Laws of Massachusetts 71a.4. English language education.
All children in Massachusetts public schools who are not proficient in English shall be taught English through sheltered English immersion or an alternative instructional program that meets the requirements of federal and state law, during a temporary transition period.
https://law.justia.com/codes/massachusetts/2020/part-i/title-xii/chapter-71a/section-4/
Who does this protect? Students, Students with disabilities
Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? Yes
Interpersonal Relationships
603 CMR 26.01 – Purpose and Construction; Definition.
Public schools of the Commonwealth should not discriminate against students based on race, color, sex, gender identity, religion, national origin, or sexual orientation, and that all students have equal rights of access and equal enjoyment of the opportunities, advantages, privileges, and courses of study at such schools.
https://regulations.justia.com/states/massachusetts/600-699-cmr/603/603-cmr-26/26-01/
General Laws of Massachusetts 71.37o School bullying prohibited; bullying prevention and intervention plans; reporting of bullying incident date.
When creating their anti-bullying policies schools need to recognize that certain students may be more vulnerable to becoming a target of bullying or harassment based on actual or perceived differentiating characteristics, including race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, socioeconomic status, homelessness, academic status, gender identity or expression, physical appearance, pregnant or parenting status, sexual orientation, mental, physical, developmental or sensory disability
https://law.justia.com/codes/massachusetts/2020/part-i/title-xii/chapter-71/section-37o/
Who does this protect? Students, Parents
Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? No
Institutional Enviroments
There is currently no policy surrounding School Connectiveness in Massachusetts. For more information on school climate please visit us at Services – National School Climate Center
Who does this protect? N/A
Massachusetts schools need to develop plans for dealing with emergencies and explain drills that need to take place during the school year.
- General Laws of Massachusetts 69.8a Medical emergency response plans; model plans.
https://law.justia.com/codes/massachusetts/2020/part-i/title-xii/chapter-69/section-8a/
General Laws of Massachusetts 71.37p School Resource Officers.
Defines what a school resource officer is, explains how the process of appointing a school resource officer works and what is expected from them.
https://law.justia.com/codes/massachusetts/2020/part-i/title-xii/chapter-71/section-37p/
General Laws of Massachusetts 71.37h Policies relative to the conduct of teachers or students; student handbooks.
Students and teachers are prohibited from possessing and bringing dangerous weapons and firearms on school property and school-sponsored events
https://law.justia.com/codes/massachusetts/2020/part-i/title-xii/chapter-71/section-37h/
Who does this protect? Students, Staff
Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? No
Social Media
There is currently no policy surrounding Leadership in Massachusetts. For more information on school climate please visit us at Services – National School
There is currently no policy surrounding Professional Relations in Massachusetts. For more information on school climate please visit us at Services – National School