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HB 4523 - An Act to Assure College and Career Readiness Through Six Year Career Plans for All Massachusetts Public School Students
Dear colleagues-
On behalf of the Government Relations Committee I wish to thank the 50+ members, friends and supporters who attend the 2nd Annual School Counselor Leadership Day on Beacon Hill. We had a beautiful sunny day to learn about school counselor advocacy, get an update on HB 4523 and meet with legislators to continue to educate them about the value of school counseling in the Commonwealth.
Participants heard from Chris Evans, MASCA President, Dr. John McEwan, President of Cardinal Spellman High School, Paul Lynskey, MEFA's Director of Secondary School Relations, Rep. Alice Peisch, sponsor of HB4523, Dan Sullivan, Aide to Rep. Dave Flynn and former student of MASCA's Executive Director, Donna Brown, and Lori Fresina, grassroots organizer and consultant to MASCA's Government Relations Committee.
Most exciting was to hear that our bill regarding mandatory career plans for all Massachusetts students that we spoke with legislators about last year when we were on the Hill had been given a favorable review from the Joint Committee on Education and was headed to the House Ways & Means Committee for its approval as well. There was even some talk about putting this bill on the fast track before the upcoming budget discussions as it does not require any funding.
HB 4523 would create a 14 member advisory Committee to study whether all students in the Commonwealth should have a Career Plan in order to graduate. The Commission would put MASCA at the table with other key stakeholders such as the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents, Massachusetts Association of Secondary School Principals and the Massachusetts Business Education Alliance. There seemed to be much support for this bill and the idea that Massachusetts would be one of the few states in the country that would require a career plan as a graduation requirement.
The Government Relations Committee urges you contact your state representative and senator and encourage them to support HB 4523 when it comes to a final vote on the floor of the House and Senate. As soon as we know more about the exact schedule of the bill and when it is expected to be voted upon, we will notify you. We know that not all members agree that Career Plans are the best way to gain awareness for our profession as this will require more of school counselors. For a detailed discussion of this topic please check out the April issue of the Counselor's Notebook.
We are also monitoring the bullying legislation (Senate Bill 2313) that is currently making its way through the legislature as well as HB 487 which would substantially expand parent rights to attorneys’ fees which would have a drastic impact school budgets.
Please contact me at bardwellr@monsonschools.com if you have any questions or wish to join the Government Relations Committee.
Bob Bardwell
Interim MASCA Government Relations Chair
Monson High School
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