2023-05-02 00:00:00 - Joint Committee on Education
2023-05-02 00:00:00 - Joint Committee on Education
SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
We welcome you to the public hearing, and I would like to recognize at this time, the house members who are present and I will ask my colleague to recognize177 the senate president. I would like to say first that Kimberly Ferguson, who has served so faithfully and so thoughtfully on this committee is with us virtually. And I am joined by my vice chair. In his second term is the vice chair of education. Representative Steven Altrina. We are197 joined by Representative Kate Donahue, and and we are recognized by representative Donna Howard, who is also in her second term on the committee. Is there anyone else who wishes to be recognized in the house?
And I will take this brief moment us to introduce to you as before I get to my colleague, the members of the education committee staff. First and foremost, I'm here with Colin and Feedo. He's my chief of staff, Zach Sports, is the
the education research director and Andrew and Victoria, the education committee members. We have worked long and hot to be prepared for this very first hearing. And with that senator, I turn this to you. Good afternoon, everybody. Thank you, representative Garlic. I'm delighted to be chairing the education committee this session alongside you and to be joined by the other members of the committee who are here with us in person and and some who may be participating remotely. I'm also very pleased that for the first time this session, all of the committee's hearings will be hybrid. So we're making it as accessible as possible for members of the public to participate. Certainly, you're welcome to be in person, but we you're also welcome, of course, to participate remotely for all of our hearings that we will be holding this this session. And very much look forward to hearing. From from folks. Obviously, today's hearing, but also for the the remainder of the hearings that the committee291 will be holding. As we work our way through that,293 I believe, more than 300
I think, more than 300 bills that are pending before the committee this session. I don't know if any of the senate members of the committee are they're not physically here. There may be some joining us online or later in the session. But thank you.
So if you'll bear with me for a bit of housekeeping news, Today's hearing, the education committee will listen to testimony on bills related to extracurriculars and student learning time. This is the education committee's first hearing of the hundred and 90 third session and our first hybrid hearing, accepting virtual and in person testimony from the public. We appreciate everyone's patience and understanding as we continue to navigate conducting a hybrid meeting I'm a strong component of hybrid meetings just not for342 our public hearings, but in our towns and municipalities as well. Any feedback you give us is most welcome. We have many people signed up to provide testimony today, and I strongly encourage people355 to submit written testimony as well and be very thoughtful as a listener and try not to duplicate. Oral testimony that you have heard. In order to best serve everyone, we have requested people share any accommodations that they may need. And I hope that you will see that we have worked very hard to make sure that any member in the disability community who wishes to thoughtfully engage in our meetings. We have made accommodations for that and anything that you may need, please notify us. I'd like to remind everyone that there is a 3 minute limit to your testimony. 3 minutes doesn't sound like a lot. It can be a very long time398 if you use it effectively. But when we have many people testifying, it adds up quickly. You'll only be called to testify once, so please touch on all the bills on which you are testifying during those 3 minutes. We do not have the capacity to go back and then reopen as we address new bills.
A copy of the agenda for today's hearing has been made made available. And it is online under hearings and events page on the mass legislature website, and we will be conforming to this agenda to the very best of our ability and recognizing similar bills together, you may know that It has become somewhat of a practice to file the same bill in both the house and the senate. We will hear those 2 bills together.
In deference to the legislators and my colleagues, we may take them out of turn and but we will alternate that with members of the public as well. This hearing is live streamed. I want you to know that on the legislature's website and the recording will be posted shortly after the conclusion of the hearing. As you know, anyone who is disruptive will be asked to leave, and at this time we ask you to mute your phones mute your microphone if you're on Teams and until you're called on476 to testify.
If you have any questions or concerns during the course of the hearing, please tell the committee staff and once again, to my right is 2 committee staff to my right is my chief of staff and seated beside me is the491 research director. At this time, with everyone's ready set go. Excuse me. I didn't have an opportunity to recognize you. Representative of oral. We talked about other house members. Welcome. Welcome to the team. Okay. The very first bill on the agenda is H577
with Ameri Bill of S360 from Bio By Senator, Sina, And John Villas John Villas is asked to testify virtually. He is not yet with us with everyone's appreciation when he can come on, I will recognize him.
So at this time, I would then move to Brandon Holly who is testifying in person.
Without seeing Brandon Holly here, I would like to move to Nija and Nija. Are you here? Nija, can you come and help me pronounce your last name appropriately?
Please come to the front table and testify.
And knee hire, as you're getting started, I wanna recognize representative Joe McGonigal on the education committee has entered the room.
NEHA GURUPASAD - WELLESLEY HIGH SCHOOL - SB 360 - HB 577 - Good afternoon, representative Garlic, Senator Lewis, and members of the joint committee on education. I'm Neha Guruprasad, a sophomore at Wellesley High School. Thank you for the opportunity to speak on behalf of first robotics team, team ultra violet, in support of Bill H 577588 and588 S590 360.590 The590 World Economic Forum predicts that by 2025, 85,000,000 jobs will be replaced by robots. However, this shift is expected to create 97,000,000 new jobs in stem fields. It is no secret that we are living607 in a technological revolution, so learning robotics will be crucial to611 avoid Mass unemployment as younger generations must obtain jobs not in jeopardy of being replaced by AI. Bill H 577 will alleviate the consequences of this inevitable digital future by ensuring younger generations have secure careers from the robotic skills acquired early on in their education. As an example, First Robotics has developed engaging programs to teach kids vital skills, including how to effectively fund team operations, develop software and engineering skills to help design the robots of the future.
With funding from the government towards these programs, we believe that the future careers of younger generations will be both innovative and secure due to their enhanced abilities. I'd like to share some insights from my team members for our school today. Our technical captains, Cal Dragonov and Elouise Seng, say that their participation in our team has allowed them to evolve from shy kids to confident leaders of a team with over 30 students. They gained engineering expertise as well as essential life skills such as resolving conflicts, communicating effectively while maintaining a welcoming environment. Adi Kumar, and John Bresnahan, both sophomore members of our mechanical sub team say they were surprised by how much robotics has exposed them to beyond their academic classes. From technical to leadership responsibilities, they thought that they would never be introduced to such valuable skills until college. These students acquire these abilities during high school, but if exposing children to these robotic techniques as early as elementary school to utilize and strengthen these skills at a young age.
Participating in a robotics team has taught me how to harness the strength of others to enhance a product rather than taking everything on myself. Through learning interview skills and securing723 funds with grant writing, I've learned how to delegate with confidence to pursue an improved result. These abilities are increasingly valid in today's workforce, so I am very grateful that I can develop my skills through this team. I still have two years of high school ahead of me, yet, I've already gained so much from robotics, so I can only imagine how valued the experiences and nuanced robotics knowledge of those exposed from early on will be. By voting for Bill H 577 and S 360, you would not just be investing in the future of robotics, but also the security of the lives of Massachusetts next generation. Thank you again for listening to the perspective of me and my team. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
So Nija, I would like to congratulate you. Everything you are telling us about developing confidence and being a leader you have demonstrated at this table today. I I thank you for your work. I thank you for your input and I would hold you up as a model told782 the many adults in this room in the way you delivered your testimony in exactly 3 minutes. So you are most welcome here. Thank you for your testimony. Thank you so much. Do I hear any questions from the senate or other members of the committee?
Gearing none, we'll move on. And I like I like to take this moment to say, particularly to the young people who are here and testifying for the first time. To pass a bill from an idea to a law is a 13 step process. The public hearing is step 3. Okay? So what we need to do is hear your voice and then the committee does a great deal of work. And then the bill may move through a variety of different steps. To not hear a question, do not interpret that not being interested. Enterfit that is we're just at the first step and we need to digest what we have heard. We might ask for a question to clarify, but our interest is strong as the bill continues to move. So thank you. Thank you so much. At this time, I'd like to call Adam Ashwood to testify in person.
Do a good job now,
SPEAKER1 - Adam.
And I'm up to the chair.
ADAM ASHORE - REVERE HIGH SCHOOL - HB 577 - SB 360 - My name is Adam Ashore, I'm a ninth grader who has joined the Revere High School Robotics team this year dubbed the neutrons. The first time I had heard of the873 neutrons was when I was being tore through my high school, my member of the877 team. After mentioning that's interest in computer science, it was recommended that I join the team but I still remember those first few meetings very clearly when it comes. The place was bustling with people, they were assembled robots and this piece of disassembled robots all over the place, trophies on the wall, I thought it was nice. It was great. It was great to have both students and mentors, which are former students who came back just to help the team move forward. They were helping members of the team both new and still there to build robots, build, assemble and program robots, all those three steps in order to meet a certain goal. This was the first time in my life I ever touched, put together, inanimate objects, and made them come to life. I'm going to say this team has benefited me so much from all this. I learned new math skills, new science skills, it was just great. This was just for small robots, this is in the beginning, it was small robots.
After that, when the FRC by first, the submit by first stands for first or what is competition. When first is put this competition on for us, everyone started, like, shifting what they were doing. Instead of working in small groups with mentors, they all seem as build one legendary robot to win the world championships. And yes, we were that focused that early on winning because since this year, both new and old was intended winning. So we went to end, we did well, but how we did is not important for right now why I'm977 here sitting before you today, the reason I'm here is because once I saw this pill, I saw that not only would it help new teams but also old folks teams. So, well, not all teams, also new teams. I mean to say that it will help new teams go forward to do what I have done, to learn what I have learned, to be able to like have the joy of not only learning to solve new problems and new ways and having much more fun than I ever had doing them.
I've never seen and dealt with more like minded people than I have in this team. And it was just great. Not only solving problems, being with these people, but just that the atmosphere and competing and feeling the competitive initial sportsmanship of everyone, not just our team, but all other teams and I just feel like testifying here today to help other teams come about to be like anyone else is in first, would just be a great experience and it would help along. So thank you and I'll yield to the remainder of my time SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
to the Chair.
the trip. Absolutely. Thank you very much, Adam. Before you go, are there any questions from the committee? No. And Adam, I must confess. I thought Neha was so extraordinary. No 1 could be there as as good as she was and you were. So well done. As well then. Good call. At this time, before we turn1055 to the virtual individuals who'd like to testify on this bill, I'd like to recognize my colleagues And with my colleague's permission, if we could do an elected person, 1 of the virtual speakers, an elected person, I'd appreciate that very much. Having said that the1071 first colleague who entered the room was representative Khan. Representative Khan,1075 if you'd like to testify.
This is perfect.
Please. So representative kcon, senator cream.
Such a bag.
Okay.
Is this moving? Yes. Okay.
Okay.
REP KHAN - HB 516 - Thank you very much for taking us out of turn. I'm here to talk about House 516, an act to remodel public school athletics through social emotional learning. So Chair Lewis, Chair Garlic and distinguished members of the committee, I'm really happy to be here and grateful for this opportunity to testify before you today on House 516. As I said, an act to remodel public school athletics through social emotional learning which I filed this session. If passed, this Bill would require DESE to publish guidelines for a new curricula in middle and high school athletic programs. The new curricula would foster the social and emotional growth of students, empower coaches and students to create safe and a supportive team environment. I sincerely appreciate your attention and consideration of this important piece of legislation. I want to be clear, most coaches and teams are not abusive, however, when abuse does occur, it can be devastating, both for those who are victimized and those who witness it.
We've all seen the social media posts and read the headlines detailing the abusive behavior students sometimes endure from their school coaches. This damaging conduct from coaches creates an environment in which even recent incidents of racism, misogyny, homophobia, and antisemitism on school sports teams are incredibly alarming. We cannot continue1208 to allow our middle and high school sports teams to be run like this. We must protect our student athletes and in doing so, we can reimagine school athletic programs through social emotional learning. Social emotional learning is the process of developing the self awareness, self control, and interpersonal skills that are vital to success in schoolwork and life. Social emotional skills include emotional management, leadership, positive relationships, building conflict resolution, and problem solving. This type of learning provides a foundation for positive, long term effects on kids and by transitioning from abusive tactics to social emotional tactics in school coaching, student athletes are bound to benefit. This Bill would require DESE to publish guidelines for a new social emotional learning curriculum.
For sports teams, the curriculum will consist of several mechanisms to teach students and coaches how to develop social and emotional skills, and such skills will foster healthier team cultures, and be transferable outside of athletics. If passed, DESE will integrate the guidelines into a safe and supportive school framework. House 516 is not a mandate, however, if school districts choose to change their approach to school athletics, this legislation will provide guidelines for that transition. So thank you very much for your consideration of this important legislation. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you.
SEN CREEM - SB 247 - Thank you. I hate to be repetitive, but it was so important that it was filed in the House and filed in the Senate. So I'm happy to speak in support of Senate 247 which has the same name, an act to a model public school as well as through social emotional learning. So thank you, Chairs Garlic and Lewis and members of committee for allowing me to testify today. In recent years, it had been far too many incidents of hazing, bullying, racism, anti Semitism of student teams in Massachusetts. We all remember what went on in some of the teams and the fact that it made the news that there was a bit of fair and a lot of antisemitism. It is clear that we need culture of sports teams and transform them into safe1353 and supportive environments that helps to athletic build1357 positive relationships and social emotional skills. For hundreds of years or more, we thought of youth athletics as a way to1366 impart values and skills like high worth, determination, cooperation, problem solving, emotion1374 management and leadership.
We also think of team sports as a way to bring1380 people of different backgrounds and ethnicities and identities together to overcome barriers of race and class. There's even the plot of countless movies. Like, remember the titans and Ben did like Becca, but we don't have any curriculum in place to ensure that student athletes really are learning these skills and values. What they learned varies greatly from team to team and coach to coach. At best, coaches seek to nurture student athletic skills and create positive environment but they don't have a curriculum that provides them with the best practices for doing so. At worst, cultures just turn to old fashion practices. There are artists, step was forged and actually contribute to an abusive team environment. Massachusetts would ensure that athletic programs live up to their purpose and1443 potential by explicitly teaching student athletes how to set goals, overcome setbacks, build relationships with teammates, and create healthy team cultures.
These skills will help students perform better on the field or the core, and they will also make students better prepared to navigate interpersonal and emotional challenges in other parts of their lives. And the Bill, it's not a mandate because we're not trying to put a mandate on schools' districts, it simply says that DESE should issue guidelines for implementation social and emotional learning curriculum in middle and high school athletic programs. That way, schools that are interested in improving their athletic programs and reducing various incidents will know how1496 to get started and which way to go. The Bill will help us achieve our vision, our collective vision of school athletic as an institution that helps young people learn new life skills, develop strong values, and transcend cultural divides. I respectfully request that it receive a favorable report. I'm happy to answer any questions1522 if so. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Are there any questions from the committee? Hearing Nann on behalf of the committee, we thank both of you for your tremendous leadership, not just on this 1 issue, but on social emotional issues, mental health choose and a myriad of other concerns. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you. Representative of Paulino, if It is possible I'd like to go to the person who is going to give us virtual testimony and then come directly to
SPEAKER1 - you.
SPEAKER2 - For virtual testimony, we will now hear from Christine Miska.
SPEAKER7 - Hello. Hi, Chrissy. It's me. Get my camera, and hi, everybody. Hi.
CHRISTINE MISKA - BAE SYSTEMS - HB 577 - SB 360 - Thank you so much for the opportunity to testify today. My name is Christine Miska, I'm an engineering director at BAE Systems and the founder of First1575 Robotics competition team 4905. I'm here in support of the Bill H 577 and S 360, an act establishing an elementary and secondary school robotics grant program. It's no1592 surprise that the United States and Massachusetts1594 need more STEM professionals to be competitive. As a hiring manager at a large engineering company, we compete for the best talent, and we target students who have first robotics team experience. The technical skills that the students develop on our robotics team are fantastic,1611 including computer programming and Java,1615 systems engineering, electronics design, mechanical design, solid works, CAD, 3D printing, but the workforce and life skills are even more valuable than the technical skills gained. These include teamwork, communications, brainstorming, performing trade studies, meeting critical deadlines, working on a budget, troubleshooting, problem solving, presentation skills, and most importantly resilience.
There is no better way to learn these skills than being part of an after school team that builds a high performing robot in only six weeks on a budget to compete against other robots in a stadium fall armoring crowds. The team's excitement and engagement inspires students teachers, and community volunteers like myself to invest 20 to 30 hours per week on a common mission. In First Robotics, we like to say, we don't use kids to build robots, we use robots to build kids. I watched the first robotics program, transform many students on my team, many kids who never use tools learned proficiency with a drill press, a jigsaw, lathe and CNC machines, kids with little support at home develop life changing role model relationships. The most shy and quiet students become leaders who confidently present design ideas in front of a room of peers, and professionals, and as you've seen in front of the state house leaders like you are today.
So inspiring kids to go into STEM fields paves the way for high salaries and job availability, a life of financial and job security is something that I desire for my two children, as well as the kids in the state of Massachusetts. The grant program proposed in H 577 and S 360 inspires schools to1729 offer robotics and science won't be ad programs. Several other states, including Michigan and New Hampshire already have grant programs, so Massachusetts is behind in this area. This program builds important STEM pipeline in Massachusetts. It's good for the economy, it's good for our school districts and it's life changing for our students. The Massachusetts Department of Education website says the goal of Massachusetts public K through 12 in adult education system is to prepare all students for success in life, and I can think of no better way to do it than to support this grant program. Thank you. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you very much, Christine. Are there1770 any questions from the committee?
Thank you very much. Excuse me. I see a question. Representative of dummy.
REP DONAGHUE - So how much money would be in a typical grant? How much do you need for a program to be successful?
MISKA - Thank you. So that's a great question, and there's different values for the little kid programs. We have a second and third grade program, a fourth and fifth grade program in our school, a middle school one, and a high school. So the younger grades, it's really just a few hundred dollars to help get things off the ground to be able to fund a small robot kit and then at the high school level, the large robots, that is a bigger investment. So my mentor told me when we first started a $12000 target to raise money to start a team is something that you want to do, $6000 to register. Now it doesn't mean this grant program would include all of that, there are grants from companies like myself, BAE systems, that help the teams, but getting over that hurdle of several thousand dollars is what we need to enable the teams to get started and especially to help the teams and the students and some of the underrepresented communities. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you. Thank you.
Hearing no further questions. We will now move to Senate Gobi.
You're
SPEAKER2 - welcome very
SPEAKER1 - much.
SPEAKER10 - I was listening when RipCon and a so the cream came up. It sounded like the Ted lasso bill you needed. Sound pretty good. I
SEN GOBI - HB 447 - I'm here in support of House 447 and has to do with with 4H. To be honest with you, I didn't even think we'd have to file a Bill on this It's so that kids participate in a 4H program. If they're at a sanctioned event that it's not going to cost them1893 a day of school, if you will and they won't be called out absent. Just think about a few weeks ago, we had the most wonderful day of the year here at the state house when we1905 have Ag day and those kids that were1907 here from 4H, and we're going maybe to many of your offices to advocate for their programs, advocate for this Bill and other things, obviously something very worthwhile for many of them that counted as an absence. So that's what what I'm here to speak on. In full disclosure, I was in 4H growing up, I was a married milkmaid, and I'm very proud of that. This spends a 4H, and I currently serve on the 4H foundation1932 board. And so I would ask your consideration of this bill to see it pass favorably to continue to support so many kids that are in 4H, and it's not just the rural kids, there are kids in the urban communities that part of 4H that participate specifically a lot in their oration programs.1948 So thank you. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Any questions? Any questions from the committee? Hearing you very much. I must say send it to go, but you're a great example of what Farh can do
SPEAKER10 - for me. We love
SPEAKER1 - Farh. Thanks. At
SPEAKER2 - this time, we're going to move to Olivia.
SPEAKER1 - And
SPEAKER2 - Olivia, I will also ask you to help me with the pronunciation of your name. Olivia is testifying virtually, and then I will go to representative Barriago.
SPEAKER11 - Hi. Olivia? Well,
OLIVIA STREICHER - AYER SHIRLEY REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL - HB 577 - SB 360 - My name is Olivia Streicher, I am a resident of Shirley, Massachusetts, and an alumni of the Ayer Shirley Regional High School class of 2021. I'm currently a student at Northeastern University1990 in Boston, Massachusetts. Today, I'm speaking enthusiastically in support of Bill H 577 and S 360. Years ago, I conceptualized this Bill while a senior in high school interning for Representative Dan Sena, who represents my district. Funding life changing STEM education programs is very personal to me and my friends. I was lucky enough to attend the public high school with an incredible first robotics competition team, which I participated in from my freshman to senior year. In 2021, I2024 saw a need for a grant program like, these Bills provide as I saw2028 many of the STEM education programs in my own district and in surrounding public and charter schools struggle to make ends meet and continue programming. On top of this, it was clear from the intense2041 copious amounts of research that we did going into this bill that the financial burden of running STEM education programs like2047 the one that I participated in at the high school level with a large reason that public and charter schools all across Massachusetts specifically in school districts and low income areas couldn't run the programs in the first place and had never started in this type of programming.
The Covid-19 pandemic highlighted the preexisting disparities in extracurricular stem education opportunities for K to 12 schools. I firmly believe that one of the most significant reasons that stem education programs in my school district had been as successful as they2079 are and survived the pandemic is not2081 only because of the school district support but the parents and mentors like Christine who spend thousands of hours collectively volunteering to teach and support the students on the team and many of whom work in STEM careers and have been able to secure financial sponsorships for the team through their workplace connection. Students and other schools who aren't as lucky to have dedicated and well connected mentors as I did often entirely miss out on the life changing experience of participating in STEM education programming due to finances. I am absolutely confident that these Bills will help solve this disparity. Some education programs like the ones outlining the Bill are intrinsically so much more than STEM.
My experience on the robotic team was the reason that I made meaningful life long friendships in high school, I gained experience in public speaking, writing, communication, leadership, community service, civic engagement, perseverance, networking, project management, and so many more soft skills that I use now in college and will for the rest of my life on top of the massive amounts of exposure that I got to software and mechanical engineering, CAD 3D design, and game theory. These soft and hard skills are needed for the millions of current and future jobs young people need to fill to keep the American innovation at the top of the world and for our economy to run and remain competitive. Additionally, participation in these programs was an absolute game changer for me and my friends when applying to public and private universities, community colleges, and2170 grade schools. My best friend actually received a full ride scholarship to WPI to study mechanical engineering because of her participation and excellence on the team.
While these programs can sound on paper like they are limited to STEM, I am living proof that they are so much more. Getting early exposure to community outreach projects, bill drafting, filing, research and advocacy for this very Bill with life changing for me and which is why I am studying political science and communications at northeastern University, and will continue to have a career in that field. There is a space for all students in these types of programs whether they are super into STEM or not. If you genuinely want to invest in future of Massachusetts and positively impact the lives of K to 12 students in schools all over the commonwealth, I urge you to vote in favor of Bill's H 577 and S SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
360.
Thank you very much, Olivia. At this time, I would like to turn to the committee to see if there are any questions.
K. And I would like to recognize that representative Kelly Peace, is with us virtually, and representative Dan Sena has just joined us in person. Okay. Hearing no questions,2244 we thank you for your testimony, Olivia.
Okay. At this time, I'm going to go to rep Ariago. And I just wanna give you a lay of the land because this is all new for all of us. We2256 will hear from rep Ariago. And then we have 2 individuals who signed up testify in person, and we2262 will go first to Hopeely, and then we will go to Margaret. And Margaret, I'm not reading my2268 own writing here. Then we will go to the people who have asked to testify virtually, and the first person2274 there will be giovanna and2276 Annabelle. And I, Ian, in in a panel. But at this time, Reparion, we could call you2282 to testify.
REP ARRIAGA - HB 3753 - Good afternoon, Chairman Lewis, Chairwoman Garlick and members of the panel. I am here today to speak on behalf of H 3753, also known as the act relative to youth and athletics, which I refer to as the play act. This Bill intent is very simple and straightforward, it is meant to help children in grade K through 8, play in sports. As many of us know, if you wanted to play in a team sports, our family members, our guardians are responsible for signing us up and paying for the equipment registration fees, travel fees, etcetera. With everything given, in the economy, cost of inflation, cost of living, it has become more difficult nowadays for parents to sign up their children for extracurricular activities. This Bill is intended to help2345 families with that burden. As a parent, as a former educator, and as now as a legislator, it is my responsibility to help children and this is one important way that we can do that, allowing them to have the opportunities to one, play but really explore their talents and develop physically, mentally, and socially.
Given with everything that has happened with Covid, and two years of delay in social and mental health issues that a lot of us are facing, especially our children, this is just an ideal way to help kids get actively involved, physically involved, and, of course, the long list of benefits that come with playing in team2386 sports. As we know, we learn leadership, we learn responsibility, accountability, hard and soft skills, which translate into the adult world. It helps with confidence and self esteem. So this Bill is simply intended to help families who will love the opportunity to sign their kids out for sports and otherwise can't because of financial responsibilities and financial burdens that should not be placed on children. I ask for a favorable report out of committee, and I thank you for your time. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
SPEAKER2 - Thank you. Representative is we are welcoming you to the legislature and to your testimony. Your I am correcting myself on the pronunciation of your name because I always wanna say it right and2428 I know my colleagues do as well. And I believe you pronounce your last name Arianka.
SPEAKER13 - That is correct.
SPEAKER2 - Alright. But you can still go go go. Right?
Senator, would you like to recognize
SPEAKER1 - our
SPEAKER2 - colleague who was here as well?
SPEAKER3 - Sure. We are pleased to be2444 joined by a senator Robin Candid. It's a new member of the committee of the session. So welcome. Thank you, Senator.
SPEAKER2 - Are there any questions from the committee for the representative?
Hearing now. Thank you.
Okay.
SPEAKER1 - At
SPEAKER2 - this time, we're going to turn to in person testimony by Hope Healey.
HOPE HEALEY - BRISTOL COUNTY AGRICULTURAL HIGH SCHOOL - HB 447 - Good afternoon. I'm here to testify on behalf of the 4H absence Bill, which is Bill 447. I'm from Plymouth,2480 I'm in Plymouth County 4H, and I attend Bristol County agricultural high school. I think right now, what I want to drive home is that I'm here because I attend an Agricultural high school. This isn't an option for every kid that's in 4H. Children or kids that are attending the public schools aren't able to come to things like this to tell you how important 4H is because it's not an excuse absence. I mean, they're doing the exact same work that I'm doing to lead up to this, they're not able to attend because their school says, no, that's a detention, you're missing out on school. A few things I want to speak about are things I've done in 4H, which would be attending a national conference in DC, which was three days of missed school that were2531 all excused because I attend Bristol County Agricultural high school. It was three days of school that I2537 missed. And then I came back to the Commonwealth and I participated in months and months of workshops that I brought back to the youth here. I wouldn't be able to do that if I didn't attend a school2550 that allowed me to leave and come back and it was a free absence, I didn't get a detention, I wasn't discipline.
These students are doing the exact same work that I'm doing, and they're not able to get there.2569 I think a good thing to reflect on is that a lot of us come like we're six years old and we're going 4H2576 and we do all this work, you know, to get to high school where it's the integral part of 4H where all of this is applying, this is all applicable, it's all vital right now to apply to college of what your career path might be in agriculture, and these kids are missing out on it because they're not able to go to what I'm able to go to, they're not able to sit here and tell you how important 4H is. Another thing that is huge is the biggie fair. I'm sure you've all heard of it at2606 Eastern States Exposition Center where kids are raising steers, lambs, all of these animals. They've been raising for an entire year, they've put in work for marketing, nutrition, team building, work ethic, public outreach, all of these things. I could list them on that you're all you're learning in school, and they're not able to come to the biggie and exhibit an animal that they work countless hours to prepare. That's not fair, that's not equitable, that's why I'm here and I hope that you guys can support Bill 447.
SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
there
any questions? Thank you, David. Are there any questions from the committee?
There are none. Thank you.
And at this time, I'd like to turn to Margaret Turpell.
MARGARET TUPLE - MASCONOMET REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL - HB 447 - Good afternoon, Chair Lewis, and Chair Garlick, and the other members of the committee. My name is Margaret Tuple, and I am 17 years old. I am here today to ask for your support of Bill 447, which will put 4H on the same footing as school sports and activities. If you are unaware, 4H is the largest youth development organization in the country. It empowers 6000000 young people to learn by doing and to2684 pursue excellence as an individual and2686 a member of a community. The reason2688 I am passionate about this Bill is because of my own experience with school absences in 4H, I attend Masconomet Regional High School, which is a public school. About a year and a half ago, I had the privilege of attending the National 4H Congress in Atlanta, Georgia. This was an amazing opportunity that I had spent a lot of time preparing for through an extensive application process and orientation meetings. I will never forget what that experience did for me. I saw 4H through a totally new lens, I never thought I could meet so many people from completely different parts of the country and find so much in common with them.
One of the best moments of the trip was getting to represent Massachusetts at the flag bearing ceremony and formally introduce our delegation to hundreds of other 4H. But all throughout this time, in between leadership workshops, community service, assemblies, and speakers, I had to think about the three days of school I was missing and the unexcused absence that was stamped into my record. Even after I had provided a letter from the 4H office an additional explanation as to the immense educational value of the experience, I could not believe that the administration would categorize this in the same way it categorizes students who skip class or go on vacation. I can assure you that while exciting, my time in Atlanta was no vacation, I was there as a representative of Massachusetts 4H and I was there to learn. It was in Atlanta that I first heard about a law passed in Tennessee, and now in other states that require schools to consider 4H absences in the same way it considers school sport and activity absences. These laws recognize the educational value of the 4H programs, which has been important to so many young people including myself. After hearing about this law, I reached out to the 4H leadership here in Massachusetts and worked with a Mass 4H foundation to file this Bill. Thanks to Representative Cutler and Representative Schmid, in addition to many other sponsors, we are one step closer to putting 4H on equal footing with school sports and activities. Your support for this Bill will ensure that every 4H in Massachusetts is given equal ability to pursue the incredible opportunities our programs have to offer. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you. Any questions from the committee? Lisa.
Well, thank you so much for coming to testify today to both you and the other young people. On this. And I I'm not as as familiar with 4 h as as I'd like to be, but I I do know it's a wonderful program. Creates lots of opportunities for young people. So wanna be as, you know, supportive as possible. So more young people can participate as well as you have and and others
SEN LEWIS - I'm just curious, you know, if a program is an extracurricular whether it's sports or music or drama or something that's sanctioned by a public school and organized for the school, then, obviously, that's an excused absence if they have to go, you know, could be a debate tournament or sports, so that's pretty clear. 4H is obviously organized outside of the public school system, correct? Would you think 4H is sort of unique in that way and that it, again, should be entitled to an excused absence or do you know if there are any other examples of other kinds of activities or programming that would occur outside of the public schools that would receive an excused absence?
TUPLE - I personally do not know of any program outside of school. If you're not aware 4H is publicly funded through the UMass Amherst program, so it is partially run by the government and it's partially a government program. So, we are asking that 4H is considered in the same way, you know, organizations like Decca, while you on debate, whatever you just mentioned. Also, the students who are in public school that maybe did not get the opportunity to go to agricultural or technical high schools will be given that same opportunity. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Alright. Well, thank
SPEAKER1 - you.
Yes,
SPEAKER2 - please. Representative in front of you. Thank
SPEAKER8 - you.
DONAGHUE - To the extent that you're comfortable sharing, who decides whether it's an excused absence or isn't whether you get to detention? And just if you wanted to share with us a little bit about your actual experience.
TUPLE - Yes, of course. So originally, my mother actually reached out with the letter to the school administration specifically the principal and they said, we can't excuse it, there's no provision in our school charter or guide book. So, I just thought that was really unfair because I know other students who miss school for sports games, for Decca conferences, for moly UN trips. You know, I looked at the educational value and how much work I'd put in to go to this conference up until that point, and I found that really unfair. So I think in general, it's just an administration decision and because there is no provision, either through the law or through the school guide book, they weren't allowed to give me an excused absence. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you. Thank you. Thank
SPEAKER2 - you very much. I'd like to share with you all that repi Andy, Vargas, is all with us virtually and has been for close to a half an hour. K. At this time, I'd like to move to the panel of Giovanna Ferrara, Annabel Clements, and Ian Piles.
That
SPEAKER2 - will be followed by virtual testimony by Faith Salton.
YOLGANA FERRERO - AYERS SHIRLEY HIGH SCHOOL - HB 577 - SB 360 - Good afternoon, committee. My name is Yolgana Ferrero, I'm a freshman student from Ayers Shirley High School, and I'm speaking in support of the bills H 577 and S 360. I'm a proud member of the first robotic competition team and drum dial 4905. My first journey started during the season of 2023 and although I haven't been role in the robotics program as long as most of my teammates have, I already feel so passionate about all first robotics means and all the incredible opportunities it has given to me. In eighth grade, some high school students came to our school, and they talked about how cool robotics was, and that got stuck in my head. So once in high school, I contact our coach and joined the team during the billing season as a member of the hardware team. At that time, I didn't know what exactly to expect, but the unknowingly, it got me curious and since my first day of robotics I was excited to learn, and I knew we were about to build something amazing. In 19, I got the chance to work with other students and incredible mentors, the most amazing thing is that it is a completely different learning experience inside a classroom.
We need to have Mr. or Ms. live in the class while the students listen but, in this case, it is a teammate-to-teammate relationship in each everyone has opportunity to speak, give their ideas and thoughts, and has a role in the process of building a robot and competing that being cared hardware, software, or business team. I learned how to use different tools like the drilling press and the chop saw, and I developed valuable skills like public speaking, problem solving and creativity. Through3133 our robotics team, we improve our communication with peers, build self-confidence and become leaders. For me, first is no longer only about robots, it is about making friends, creating connections with different people from different backgrounds with different culture and perspectives and learning with them. It is about being creative to discover yourself and being. First robotics is not about kids building robots, but robots building3161 kids, building them to3163 the future.
Therefore, I want others to have this same amazing experience I am having now and money, not to be a problem. Now a personal note that I would like to share. When I was at the world championship of 2023 in Texas, I figured out the robotics teams were being created in Brazil, my home country, and first was becoming popular there. So, I was so happy and excited, so I went to the teams that were at the competition, I talked to them and looked earn about them in their team and once more, I realized this positive and massive impact, first robotics has on people all around the world and how it connects us as a community, like a big family. Thank you for listening and for this opportunity.
SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you very much. Are the members of the panel?
ANNABELLE CLEMENT - FIRST ROBOTICS TEAM 4905 - HB 577 - SB 360 - Good afternoon, and thank you for this opportunity. My name is Annabelle Clement,3225 I'm a senior on first robotics team 4905 in trigonometry one. I've been a part of this team since I was in sixth grade, and while3232 I've grown outside this program, most of my life lessons has come from within this team. I've learned skills all the way from teamwork to engineering and manufacturing. Learning all the knowledge about electrical connectors, drivetrain sprockets, power distribution hubs, and other important lessons has led me to choose my future career of mechanical engineering. With the knowledge I've gained through this program, I'm confident that I will be able to succeed. First, there's an important thing that this program is more than robots, and that is evident in the community that First Robotics has built. When I started on the team, I was very shy and didn't know what I was going to do with the rest of my life. Throughout my years on this team, I began to grow into a leader and gained multiple lead positions, including the hardware lead, the robot systems driver, the summer stun lead, and the mass first lead.
Being the hardware lead is about more than building, it's about sharing the knowledge that I've gained with younger students3281 who haven't yet had the same amazing experiences that I've had. One of my favorite moments this year was when another hardware student whom I worked with closely throughout the whole build season stated during the New England championship that this day was the best day ever. I've played many different sports and I have to agree that no other competition has made me as enthusiastic as a robot competition day. As part of this program, our team has gone to both the New England championship and the World Championship are I as a member of the drive team have found the opportunity to communicate, strategize, and compete with teams from all over the world, including students from France, Mexico, Israel and beyond. In my mind, this experience is irreplaceable. Being with Summer Assembly is about more than outreach, this week-long summer camp is a place where students learn different aspects of science, technology, engineering, and math through hands on experiments like by members of our team. For the past two years, I've been the director of3332 this program, and I've learned important tasks such as registration, filing and daily planning.
This camp not only provides valuable lessons for the students currently on our team but creates a pipeline for students entering grades 4 through 8 get them excited about STEM and maybe even inspire them to join robotics at their own levels. Finally, being with Mass First lead is about more than our team. It's about the community and the impact we're making at the next level. This team has spent several years making connections get robotics teams in every school district in3357 Massachusetts focusing on underfunded communities. We believe that everyone, no matter their background, should have equal people opportunity to explore their passions and stem and join into this inclusive community. While money is an important factor in starting a team, it shouldn't be a barrier. This Bill is designed to reduce team costs and increase patient on robotics teams across the state. I wat to be able to share the impact this program has had on me with others and show new teams why first is more than robots. Thank you for your time and your consideration on this impactful Bill.
SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank
SPEAKER2 - you very
SPEAKER1 - much.
SPEAKER2 - Ian Piles?
SPEAKER19 - Hello.
SPEAKER2 - As
SPEAKER19 - a mem as memory room drama 1, FRC team fallen off, 5
IAN PILES - FIRST ROBOTICS TEAM 4905 - HB 577 - SB 360 - I would like to thank you for the opportunity to provide oral testimony in support of these Bills. I personally believe robotics teams and organizations are invaluable for many in high school are not aware of their job interests or goals. Robotics provides these students with goals and desires beyond high school. My Robotics team has enabled as many as 91% of its graduates to pursue STEM careers including me. Personally, with my school-based education and biotechnology along with my robotics-based education and computer design, I'm pursuing a career in bio fabrication, a career that would never have become apparent if I did not participate in my school's robotics team. Robotics3438 teams are mentored by professionals, professionals in engineering, management, software, and finance.
Their expertise grows our interests in STEM and their own growth in managing teams. As in a way, these robotics teams function as small business, this business has to deal with financing itself. These funds come from a variety of places including personal donations but, however, the vast majority come from sponsor companies who see the direct benefit of growing their labor pool for statisticians. But for new teams, getting the sponsorship developing their team framework and find the mentors to win them and most importantly, designing their robot before competitions is a very difficult task. That is where this Bill steps in to ease the cost and fund the machinery, materials, and software robots’ programs need. This Bill will give will give new teams an easier first in future years. I ask you to vote this Bill into law and thank you for taking the time to listen to my testimony. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you very much. It's a pleasure to listen to your testimony and everyone's testimony. Are there any questions from the committee?
Hearing now. None. Thank you for your testimony.
We had spoken about moving to the in-person testimony of Hope Healey, but I would like to share with you the Senate of Villas is here with us3548 personally, virtually, and we'll testify
SEN VELIS - Good afternoon, Chair Garlick, thanks so much for taking me out of order. Chair Lewis, and thank you to all the members of the education committee for allowing me to testify on this piece of legislation today, Senate Bill 360, an act establishing elementary and secondary school robotics grant program. I guess I would just begin by stating the obvious which is that there's nothing I'm going to say right now that's going to outdo what so many of these students have already said in the virtues of this program but I'll give it a go. At the most basic level, this bill establishes a grant program within DESE to expand STEM and robotics programs in schools throughout the commonwealth. I also want to note that the House version of this Bill, House Bill 577 filed by my good friend, Rep Sena is also being heard by the committee today. Every day, schools throughout the Commonwealth, students are participating in robotics clubs, sitting down with their peers, and working together on some truly incredible projects. We have some of these students and their mentors who have already testified today, and let me just tell you it has been absolutely awesome and an experience of a lifetime to get to know some of these students and hear about their experiences with their robotics clubs.
Through these clubs, whether they be first robotics, vex robotics, or science, Olympiad, these students have been able to develop tangible skills. This includes coding skills, engineering3636 skills, and the ability to3638 think critically and problem solve.3640 The results are abundantly clear. Participants in robotics clubs and robotics programs help students succeed academically and motivates them to attend colleges with a major in science, technology, engineering, and robotics. These are majors that many students may not even consider without these clubs. Furthermore, these programs help prepare students for a workforce, in career and STEM and robotics, fields that we know that our commonwealth is going to depend on for years to come. In fact, recent studies project that STEM occupations are estimated to grow over two times faster than the total of all other occupations in the next decade. The Bill doesn't just benefit our education, it benefits our workforce as well, most of all, though, it still is about the students themselves. Through these clubs, Students have also developed invaluable leadership and communication skills and have learned how to work together on a team.
These clubs provide students with a community and an outlet to develop and continue to grow. The goal of this Bill is to expand those opportunities so that more students and more schools are able to have the experiences and learn about STEM in a very tangible and hands on way. I want to note that this is the second session that Rep Sena and I have filed this legislation and that the language this session has a few technical changes to keep it in line with other grant programs and to allow DESE to have more discretion over the amounts awarded to schools. Applicants for the grant program shall commit to running a register robotics team and preference shall be given to schools that currently do not have a sponsored or established robotics team. We want existing programs to go and want schools without programs to start them. I encourage all of you to visit schools in your districts and learn about their robotics and the projects and competitions that they're working on. It has been an absolutely eye-opening experience for me about it and in this area, we as a state should absolutely be invested in. Thank you again for giving me the chance to testify before you today. Thank you very much. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you, senator. Any questions?
Thank you very much3765 for your testimony.
And hope and Margaret, I hope I'm not causing you great agitator. I keep repeating that you're gone testify when you've already testified so well. At this point, we're going to turn to Faith Salta who is testifying virtually.
FAITH SALTER - AYERS SHIRLEY REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL - HB 577 - SB 360 - Thanks very much. I'm Faith Salter here to talk about H 577 and S 360. I'm a parent and I am the rules and strategy mentor for the FRC team 4905 ondometer one at the Air Shirley Regional High School. My husband is both the finance and the food mentor for the team. We don't work in STEM fields, but we have seen the impact of robotics in our school district and on our daughters, the oldest of whom is a sophomore studying computer science at WPI. I support these acts because they increase multifaceted engagement in STEM related activities, and because I believe Robotics build science literacy in our communities. I believe really strongly in quality public schools, I think they're a cornerstone of a strong democracy, and I think Public Schools are community responsibility. State provided financial support for robotics would expand the ways young people engage3828 in science, technology, engineering, and3830 math outside of the traditional classroom. There's ample research demonstrating the efficacy of robotics programs and preparing young people for the rapidly changing opportunities and STEM related work field and for supporting the inclusion of those who are traditionally underrepresented in those spaces.
As you've heard today, if you know about robotics, you know it's about more than the robot, it's a hands-on team-oriented learning environment with multigenerational engagement of students' teachers, parents, and professionals. Robotics offers scientific learning, a community experience and for these reasons, I think robotics will increase science literacy in the Commonwealth, and that is something we desperately need. I have volunteered for many years as a climate activist, and I have talked to many people of scientific and of the delayed our action on climate change to a critical point And I think it's imperative that we actively address this learning deficit, this fear of science that is out there in our communities. So, I for one would gladly see my tax, got dollar, go to support robust robotics programs in public schools. So, Massachusetts can continue to be an example to other New England states and across the country in terms of our commitment to STEM education and the public-school learning experience. In short, I want a world where science literacy is the norm in our communities.
One last thing I'll say about ondometer one, you may have gathered we just got back from the World Robotics competition in Houston. I didn't get to go, but anybody who knows me at work or at church or on the commuter rail knows about our team and their journey, and they have asked me in recent days, did they win anything? And I tell them, the very first day, in the very first match, the arm broke off of our robot, basically making it nonfunctional. So, in the next match, we had to send the robot out with no arm just doing what it could do to help its alliance but by the third match, the arm was back on the robot and fully functional. So, for me, as a parent and a mentor, the ability of this team to face that challenge, to continue to work and compete and ultimately solve that problem, that is the greatest reward they could have gotten out of this experience. The trophies and medals that they could've won, they would've gotten left behind, right? This experience they had of resiliency and teamwork and problem solving and confidence building is something they will all carry into the future and I want that for all of the kids in the Massachusetts Public Schools. So, thanks for listening today, I really appreciate it. And I don't know if I can answer any questions, but if you have any, you can ask them. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
I asked the committee, does the committee have any questions.
Hearing then, we thank3980 you for your testimony.
At this time, we're going to turn3984 to Michael Phantom, who is also tested defying virtually.
MICHAEL FANTOM - FIRST NEW ENGLAND - HB 577 - SB 360 - Good afternoon, Representative Garlick, Senator Lewis and members of the joint committee on Education. I'm delighted to have the opportunity to speak in support of Bill H 577 and S 360, an act establishing an elementary and secondary school robotics scrum program. My name is Michael Fantom, I'm executive director of New England first. Our mission at first is to inspire young people, and I am so proud of all our students, alumni, and parents that are present today and testifying. The first continuum of STEM programs was founded to create fun filled innovative robotics programs that motivate young people to pursue career and stand fields. There is a four-program progression from pre-K to grade 12 backed by a New England network of mentors, coaches, volunteers, alumni, and sponsors. The progression of4045 team-based robotics challenges starts with first Lego league explorer programs, focused on the fundamentals of engineering, moves through first Lego league challenge programs, whereby students engage in research, problem solving, coding and engineering.
First tech challenge is the next level where students learn to think like engineers, designing, building, and programming robots to compete and finally, first robotics competition where andromeda one is one of those teams where4075 teams design program and4077 build 120-pound robot. Our unique first programs at the high school level are centered around work based learning opportunities, working side by side with engineers and technicians like Christine Miska, to develop skilled trades as well as college graduates. Guided by industry mentors and teachers, students participate in subgroups, depending on their interest area such as marketing, design, building, mechanical, programming, and fundraising.4106 Our request today and our desires for state funding to remove barriers to entry. The grant program proposed by H 577 and S 360 will inspire schools to offer robotics and Science Olympiad programs. I'll yield the rest of my time. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you very much. Are there any questions from the committee?
Bear none, I4131 thank you for your testimony.
At this point, we have combined the testimony that we heard on H577 in S360I
believe there is nobody else who wishes to testify on that bill, that combined bill.
Excuse me. Yes, please.
Excuse me.
I apologize it4167 did not show up, and you are here in person which is even more wonderful. If you'd like to come up and testify, you're most welcome.
I want to take this moment to say, I I cannot overstate how powerful it is to have testimony from young people. You know, the joint committee on education deals with as the senator talked about more than 300 bills. And sometimes we can
be so concentrated on Paul so concentrated on budget issue that it is hard to see the impact on the very people we're trying to serve to have you here at very4202 powerful to have you here virtually is very powerful. Thank you.
ETHAN MEN - REVERE HIGH SCHOOL - HB 577 - SB 360 - Thank you. I'm a ninth grader who's attending Revere high school. I'm currently on Revere's high school robotics team, Neutron's FRC 125. I was introduced to robotics in the sixth grade, and I saw firsthand all the opportunity that were there for me. I think supporting Bill H 577 and S 360 would allow opportunities for students all around Massachusetts in elementary and middle schools. I cannot imagine where my life would be now and what my interest would be if I wasn't given this opportunity to be introduced to robotics and fields such as computer programming, mechanical design, computer CAD, media, and so much more. In our robotics team, we work with mentors who have real life experience in professional companies such as professional software engineers, mechanical engineers, and people who work with very high-level companies and in these teams, our mentors are not just mentors and teachers, they're also teammates.
So not only do we learn hard skills that can be measured, but we also learn social skills. Communication, teamwork and building connections with people and networking. So I believe that's very important for elementary school students and middle school students to work with at a young age such as passion and a strong interest I believe start at a young age as I've experienced myself. We also travel a lot as teams, so I believe we should give opportunities to less fortunate communities where schools don't have the appropriate funding and resources to provide for these programs and people. I'd like to yield the rest of my time. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Well, I thank you very much. I thank you very
SPEAKER1 - much.
As we're working through this new system, I want to say, as I'm closing this hearing on H577 and S360, Actually, I've jumped ahead of you. Are there any questions? Sure. Garlic. Yes.
2 more of everything. Glad to testify.
Alright. So let's do this. First, can you please state your name and the spelling of your name for our record? My name is Ethan Men, ETHAN.
First
if there is anyone virtually who had wished to testify and had signed up by the deadline. If we have not called your name, if you would please send to Zach Sach towards in the chat a message. But thank you for that. Thank you for your testimony. Thank you too.
Please come forward.
And I think from my understanding from my staff and I apologize Ethan because I had turned to Zach while you were speaking. But people can sign up for testimony in person. They can sign up for testimony virtually. They can sign up for written testimony. I believe some of that got conflated and so moving forward, people4447 that are attending to this hearing. Please be very careful about how you are signing up. I would ask you to state your name and the spelling of your name, please.
Zurais. Zurais Bilamoria, ZARAIUSBILIM0RIA.
Please know your most welcome.
Hello, everyone.
ZARAIUS BILAMORIA - 125 NEUTRONS - HB 577 - SB 360 - I just want to say thank you for having me4476 here and giving me an opportunity to have voiced my opinions and for me to be heard. I'm on team, so I brought his team with 125 neutrons and I'm the lead programmer and operator. I just want to talk about how robotics has impacted my life. So I was first introduced robotics in fifth grade when high schoolers from the team came over to my elementary school and they introduced us to engineering puzzles and they gave us a robot4503 to explore with. Starting that part sparked my interest4507 in STEM and that motivated me to join the team when I was in seventh grade with one of my friends where I learned some basic physics and math skills alongside designing and building and programming robots. I was excited to join the team in 8 and my 8th grade on my freshman year, hoping to learn some programming skills and engineering skills but I got a lot more than that. I learned how to be an effective contributor to a team of 50 plus students and mentors, I learned how to communicate my ideas to everyone effectively, I learned perseverance and problem-solving skills, to solve some really complicated technical problems which I couldn't even imagine doing by myself and all this was possible because of the amazing mentors in our team.
For example, I worked alongside a senior developer at Amazon who taught me basically everything I know, including programming and social skills and these skills have helped4566 my personal and professional life. I'm confident they'll serve me in my college and career. They helped me and this program has helped me discover my passion for software engineering. Working alongside a real engineer gives you a real sense of what4582 it's like to work in the field which you'll never get in any other high school program. I even had the opportunity to travel to Houston where my team 125 were world finalist, so second place in the whole world which was a really fun experience. But it's not all about winning but learning how to work with a team, alongside a group of people and we're all solving for one main goal and our goal was to win.
All these experiences have been a transformative experience for me and this Bill can help make this experience4618 more common for everyone around Massachusetts,4620 not just teams who are4622 fortunate enough to have good funding and fundraising. I think something that's really cool is when we learn these skills, we're able to use them and teach it to younger students. So, me and a few other kids on the team are able to mentor middle schoolers, design smaller robots and that really gets them building those skills even if they don't join the team, they still have these skills that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. Thank you. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you. Are there any questions from the committee?
Hearing none, we thank you for your testimony.
So at this time, I believe, as we prepare to close the hearing on H577 and senate 03:60, which is not closing the public hearing, but just closing it on these 2 bills. I believe there is no 1 else in person who wishes to testify and we have received no notification in the chat of anyone who had wished and signed up by the deadline to testify virtually. So, at this time, I closed the hearing on H577 and s 03:60. And I just want to make a personal comment in in the many things that we have learned in this work around your robotics team, you have learned to be active citizens. This is quite incredible what we've witnessed this morning. Thank you. I then want to go to house bill 447 and act relative supporting student participation on 4 h programs. We have heard some testimony on that by the sponsor of the bill and by several Bemba's who whose name I keep repeating? Sorry about that.
Is4720 there4720 anybody else in the room who had signed up by deadline who wish testify in person. Is there anyone else we've been notified in the chat? Yes.
I'll see you are most welcome.
ELSIE WOODLAND - BRISTOL COUNTY AGRICULTURAL HIGH SCHOOL - HB 447 - My name is Elsie woodland, and I've been in 4H for seven years, and4749 I ask for your support in Bill 447 today. My first project's in 4H were horse and leadership. My leadership project being coaching, my equipped a three involving team leading into this day. Having that as my leadership project encouraged me to set goals to dream the bigger year to work harder as well as for each private providing me skills so that. My first visual presentation, which is a public speaking presentation for was on a equestrian vault which is gymnastics on horseback. I did fairly well, so I was able to present at the biggie. I performed with my students and I presented about what vaulting was. This was a defining moment for my future as I found a love for performing and for presenting, and this put me on a kick to work really hard. I'd like to say that hasn't ended.
Two weeks ago, I came home from the senior world championship where I was performing, two weeks from now I'll leave for the junior World Cup qualifier, the first one of the seasons. I currently travel around the world for training and for competitions in my sport. None of this would have been possible without the help of 4H. Whether I'm performing or I'm teaching, I find myself needing public speaking skills, skill all loaded to 4H and the events not possible, unless I attended Bristol County agricultural high school which allowed me to have excused absences. One year ago, I attended a national 4H conference in DC, I missed five days of school, and they were all excused. The knowledge and experience that I gained was absolutely priceless but this event could have been bigger if more students were able to make it.
We presented to the USDA, and focused on how to engage and encourage youth to be in agriculture. My answer to4866 you today would be to promote 4H. The number one project in 4H right now is livestock. Livestock takes time that normal school days cannot allow for, whether it's traveling to the competition or competing in the competition. Why is this important? At a competition member's learner gain confidence, leadership, communication skills, and they make good friends, not to mention that livestock can be a gateway into other projects. For example, I started with horses, and now I'm heavily involved in communications, community service, therapy animals, and a lot of other animals. So, if we can encourage youth to get into these other projects and they can become the leaders. I've watched these events change lives for 4H members and I've experienced it change mine. So, I thank you for your consideration, allowing 4H members to fully flourish by taking every opportunity that they can't.
SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you very much. Any questions from the committee?
Hearing none,4928 we4928 thank you for your testimony.
So at this point, having heard the testimony that any individual
Excuse me. So, you are very welcome here. I just want to let people know on the committee. And people who are with us virtually, that there have been some disconnects around signing up for testimony in person virtually or written4967 testimony by the deadline of 5PM last night. Having said that, I am so very appreciative that you are here in person. Certainly, would allow you to testify. I just want to set the table, though, moving forward, that there are some hearings that the education committee will do that will cover many bills with great intensity
on the part of all the participants And I appreciate everyone's patience as we're working this out, but I want to reiterate for the education committee. We will need people to follow the guidelines on testimony. Having said that and with grace, please come forward. That's a lot.
WILL MAXWELL - NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY BOSTON - HB 447 - Good afternoon. My name is Will Maxwell, I'm a second-year student at Northeastern University here in Boston, and I'm a recent alumnus of the 4H program, which I was a member for 13 years. I first joined the 4H program at Revere farm in Hingham, Massachusetts at the age of six as the shyest kid in any room. 13 years later, I can confidently say that 4H has changed this and has further shaped me and raised me to5047 become the person that I am today. As I just mentioned, by extreme shyness, however, as I grew up in the program, I5057 quickly became a passionate animal ambassador at various programs at the Revere Farm, which coupled with highly encouraged public speaking and a genuine love for what I was doing in 4h helped me to shed my shyness. As my passion for 4h grew, so did my confidence and I soon dedicate countless weekends, evenings, and summer to my 4H projects. Engaging with the public, training my animals, and sharing what I had learned and what I was so passionate about. In the latter half of my years at 4H, my confidence and abilities quickly led to a passion for leadership which I saw at every corner.
When I turned 14, I was invited to join at the Plymouth5093 County 4H Ambassador's Club, as a senior 4H member with a desire to pursue leadership opportunities, I was very excited by this and I took it. As a member of the 4H Ambassador's club, I was presented with many opportunities to travel through 4H, including National 4H conferences and the National 4H Congress in Washington DC. However, as a public-school student, I was unable5115 to attend these events. Although I was interested in these opportunities, I was not able to go mostly for academic reasons and due to the facts, that I could not afford to miss a day of school. Had this absence been excused, I likely would have participated in as many of these as I could. If only to pursue my leadership opportunities and develop leadership skills while continuing to make connections outside of Plymouth County 4H which I was also unable to do as a result of the pandemic as I graduated high school. When examining the 4H absence Bill today, it's my hope that you will consider the potential that 4H events that require travel like these ones, have to further the education of youth in our communities. 4H are some of the most highly motivated passionate people I know, and I know that I would not be where I am today without 4H. So, it is my hope that the passing of this Bill can continue to open doors for young 4H to pursue their passions through learning opportunities such as these. Thank you.5166 SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you very much. Are there any questions from the committee?
Gary Nami, thank you for your testimony.
At this point with no 1 else who has written by the deadline to testify in person nor do we have any notification of anyone virtually who had written to us to testify virtually by the deadline. I am now going to close this hearing on H447, enact relative supporting student participation in 4 h programs.
At this time, I'm going to move to H3753, and act relative to youth and athletics.
We have heard from the sponsor of the bill. I would now like to turn to Timothy Wagner to testify in person. We have no 1 who has notified for us5218 that they wanted to testify virtually.
Is Timothy Wagner present?
I have not heard from Timothy Wagner. I am now going to move to H429, and act prevent concussion and head injury.
I have no 1 who has signed up to testify on this bill. In person or virtually.
I'm now closing the hearing on H429.
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We're now going to move to S269. And act to prevent discrimination in interscholastic athletic and extracurricular activities.
At this time, I believe I have no 1 who has signed up to testify in person or virtually. I am now closing the hearing on S269I
am now opening the hearing on H516S247, an act to remodel public school athletics through social emotional learning. We have heard from the chief sponsors of both of these bills, senator Cynthia Cream and representative Kay Khan. At this time, I would like to turn to Mitch Lions
to testify in person.
That's for having me. You're welcome.
Theory. This is important to ask you.
MITCH LYONS - SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING ALLIANCE FOR MASSACHUSETTS - HB 516 - SB 247 - Like Senator Creem and Representative Khan who I've known for many years, I want to thank you for the opportunity to talk about athletics in high school and middle school. I founded the social emotional learning alliance for Massachusetts and Get Psych Sports that advocates for transforming athletics and this is in support of Senate 247 and House Bill 516. I've submitted written testimony explaining the5358 logic behind this and5360 it's rather a simple Bill, just asked DESE to create an alternative to the 1903 model that we are currently using. 1903 is when high school sports started in New York City. As stated by the legislators, this is not a mandate, it just presents a science-based alternative for schools to opt for if they so choose. If you look at this picture being disseminated here of a 1903 Cadillac model A, it will help you understand that we're5406 still driving that car without any of the improvements that have been made in the 120 years since that has happened.
All school is teaching up to date knowledge, but sports is not. In athletics, we're still teaching a career ready skill that includes blind obedience to a boss, only because schools were training kids in 1903 to work in factories and we're still in that same position. With an institutionalized power imbalance between a coach and a student, can we really be surprised that abuse happens? I don't mean just the horrific incidents that you see on the headlines but I'm talking about the verbal and emotional abuse that is present in almost every single school. Just go into a high school, and ask this question to anyone who's an athlete, who is the coach you don't want to play for? And they will have an answer, that's who we're talking about today. Not all of the people who are really in sports are able to help kids regularly but even they are not teaching the skills that social emotional learning and sports psychology teaches, those two sciences are amazingly similar in findings.
So, the inertia of the status quo is such that this Bill was necessary to be filed because I've been talking about this since the early 2000s with the MIAA and their sister organization, the athletic director’s association in 2005, sent me an email banning me from and Get Sykes sports from attending any of their events, because they neither support nor endorse my ideas and having me attend would send the wrong message to their members. We're still banned today because periodically, I write them as ask the same5554 question. I tell you this only to let you know that the level of antipathy they have for modernization and for an educational organization to ban you is pretty serious. So well intentioned ironically, they're against teaching the skills that have their players play better, that's what the science of sports psychology5581 is. Well intention trainings are not going to stem the tide of abuse, hate, and bias as a proposed last fall in a conference, we need to look at the system itself and what's wrong, make changes.
We're in a mental health crisis. Sports can teach coping skills; we must use every resource to protect our children's emotional health. The legislation offers an opportunity to be the first in the nation to modernize athletic. I'll leave you with this, if all of behavioral science says that people perform better and learn faster, in a positive safe and supportive environment, as DESE already says, why are coaches yelling at kids. I don't know the answer to that, but we shouldn't be doing it in public schools, and we should be teaching a superior education, and that would include the lessons in social emotional learning and sports psychology. Thank you so much.
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Thank you, mister Lyons. Are there any questions from the committee?
UNKNOWN SPEAKER - I'd like to make a comment, please. Thank you, madam Chair. Thank you for your testimony. I tend to listen more at these and make comments, but I've been a sports official for 26 years football and 10 years of baseball, so I can understand this importance. Because we are seeing more assaultive behavior. Just two games I did this year, two of my fellow officials have been assault at physically, verbally assaulted at its every game but unfortunately, physical assault is on the increase. You also saw that on the news as some of them as well. So, I appreciate your work, I appreciate your testimony and I really do think in some manner local schools, whether it's principals who go to the MIAA and what have you, really need to do something to demonstrate a better example and better character for student athletes. So, I appreciate your work and your time.
LYONS - And I appreciate your being an official at a game because the people as you know are dropped leaving by droves and I hear complaints all the time from coaches, etcetera and why are they leaving? Because of the negativity that you have just expressed. So, the novel idea is to do the opposite of that, create a positive environment that attracts people just like employers and employees. If you attract people with a positive environment, climate, people will come back. People love sports as we all know but that it's commonplace so much that actually, I've spoken to many of your age, first question I asked did you play high school sports? Did you see the Bill? Yes. They know all about it, just ask it. It's commonplace, we should give school districts an alternative and I think they'll take it just like we gave an alternative in 2011 when we asked DESE to publish guidelines for the implementation of a social emotional learning curriculum. We did that and it was just offered and then people started taking it and using it and find it very obviously, very helpful and research based. Same thing here, we're just asking them, listen, transfer safe and supportive of school’s frameworks onto5806 teams. I offer that it is just habit, 120 years of the same problems.
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Thank you very much. I think for all the comments. I think, virtually, that are gonna be
Yes. At this time, I'm going to move to Carrie Wulak, who is testifying virtually followed by Rebecca Rulia.
Carrie?
KHARI ROULHAC - SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING ALLIANCE FOR MASSACHUSETTS - SB 247 - HB 516 - Good afternoon. My name5850 is Khari Roulhac, I am the co-chair of the board of directors for social emotional learning of Massachusetts and the president of Get Sykes5859 Sports. I've been an educator for 20 plus years. Many of those years, spending as an athletic director, and I'm here to support House number 516 and Senate 247, an act to remodel public schools, and athletics through social emotional learning. So, Get Sykes Sports, Massachusetts nonprofit has been advocating for 20 years for systemic change in the way the schools are delivered. We strongly recommend the passage of the act because school is rife with, you know, headline grabbing issues that this Bill would clearly rectify and address by presenting an alternative that you know, aligns with public school who are coaching with the sciences of achievement. While the open and you have a coaching style that is neither in keeping with our times node based in behavioral science.
While sports have been popular and worthwhile for many5931 since its inception in the late5933 1800, its built on a two-legged stool comprised of all powerful coaches and voice to students. This structure invites the possibility of abuse, this Bill presents a third leg to a stool that lends stability to sports by providing an alternative to districts. This is not a mandate as we've heard a number of times today but an invitation to school districts to explore a delivery system that teaches current career ready science-based skills. While the whole school is teaching present day knowledge, sports is still locked into its original form when students were training to work in factories and with blind obedience, etcetera. Just let the kids play is an important philosophy outside of school, but taxpayer funded educational athletics, as it's called by our state authorities, government and athletics, don't teach educationally as the lessons we take from sports that go beyond the game. I talk with our intentionality and are not explicit. There are no writings that bind our teams so there's no consistency where athletic departments send out as many messages as there are teams in a school district.
When a coach yells out, focus out there, for example, he's likely not taught that student how to focus. Social6017 emotional learning supplies the answers6022 to this and other skills that are6024 listed as being implicitly learned6026 by student athletes. Sports through a random social emotional learning curriculum can explicitly teach sportsmanship, emotion management, self-awareness, teamwork, relationship building, leadership, assertiveness, self-control responsibility, critical thinking, accountability, character, social responsibility, ethical decision making. While in the midst of a children's missile health crisis, we cannot afford to just discard this powerful tool as a resource. While abuse hate bias, negative cultures threaten many children in sport with long lasting effects, can we afford to let this moment pass while change is happening all around us in this pivotal moment in history? While training all of our coaches is extremely important, without a writing that binds the teams in districts together and allows for follow-up, knowledge in part is quickly forgotten. We strongly support and act to remodel public schools and athletics through social emotional learning because the time is now. I have respectfully submitted; can we go back and get Sykes6099 Force. Thank you very much.
SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you. Are there any questions from the committee? Hearing none, we thank you for your testimony.
SPEAKER1 - At
this time, I would like to move to Rebecca Rulia. It's testifying virtually.
And then they she will be6117 followed by Larry Childs.
Becca?
Please turn on your video as you open your microphone. Thank you.
Hello.
REBEKAH ROULIER - DOC WAYNE YOUTH SERVICES - HB 516 - SB 247 - Thank you to the team members of the joint committee on education for providing me the opportunity to speak in support of H 516 and S 247, an act to remodel public school athletes through social emotional learning. My name is Rebekah Roulier and I'm a licensed clinician, and I serve as the deputy director at Doc Wayne. As a nonprofit, we provide a continuum of sport-based therapy services in Massachusetts and train coaches clinicians and educators to enhance social emotional learning and mental health through sport. As you know, these Bills would require the department or allow the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to publish guidelines for the implementation of social and emotional learning curricula. In middle and high school athletics and due to our role in expanding opportunities for youth and strengthening the field of mental health, we are in full support for the following reasons. There is a great need for addressing the ongoing mental health crises in the state.
Boston Children's Hospital documented a 47% increase in hospitalizations among children due to suicidal thoughts and or attempts during the Covid-19 pandemic. Enacting legislation would promote protective factors to buffer against mental health risks such as social emotional skill development, responsive relationships, and emotionally safe environments. Implementing said guidelines would help more than 220000 Massachusetts student athletes if the schools decide to opt in. While sports participation can lead to many benefits, like reducing childhood obesity and academic and social,6251 who are conducted by the US government accountability office or the GAAP. This report also states that the positives depend primarily on this reason, implementing legislation would improve many athletic programs across6268 the state again if they implemented it. My support comes not only from my academic training, but from6276 years of personal experience. As a former athletic coach, I was approached by two of my student athletes regarding their own serious mental health challenges that they were dealing with at the time and I was someone that they respected and they trusted.
I got that typical phrase of coach, don't tell anyone, but I have to talk to you and, unfortunately, I found myself ill equipped in how to help my athletes at the time which mirrors the experience of many coaches. It was this experience that spurred me to continue my education and not only gain those skills, but to be in a position to provide them to my fellow coaches, something that I've had the pleasure of doing here at Doc Wayne for the last 10 years. And while at Doc Wayne, we are grateful for the opportunity to provide skills to coaches, youth mentors and others impacting over half a million young people, you have the opportunity to advance legislation that will do the same for those impacting more than 200000 student athletes each year if they opt into this opportunity. We encourage the legislator to pass this legislation for the future of youth across the state and as coaches and mentors, we have a duty to young people under our care to create a safe environment where they can thrive socially and emotionally and providing much needed guidance to coaches, will only contribute to the health and well-being of students across the state. Thank you.
SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you very much. Any questions from the committee?
During none, we thank6375 you for your testimony.
We wanted to move next to Larry Childs who has signed up virtual testimony. We do not see you online, Larry.
I'm going to then move to Randy Ross, who has signed up for virtual testimony.
I will then return to Larry child. If he is not present, we will close the hearing on the bill at that time. Randy Ross, please?
RANDY ROSS - SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING ALLIANCE FOR MASSACHUSETTS - SB 247 - HB 516 - Chair Garlick, Chair Lewis and members of the committee. I deeply appreciate the opportunity to speak briefly in support of6416 S 247 and H 516, an act to remodel public school athletics through6421 social emotional learning. My name is Randy Ross, I am co-chair6425 with Khari Roulhac who just6427 spoke of the board of directors of the social emotional learning alliance for Massachusetts, also known as SEL4Mass. For almost 25 years in Massachusetts and other states, I have worked on issues of bias crime, bias based bullying, harassment, and the need for equitable social emotional learning. During nine years that I worked at the federally funded New England Equity Assistance center at Brown University, I worked with Massachusetts school districts where athlete related bullying or so-called hazing incidents occurred. In one very disturbing case, teammates at a football camp, duct taped a freshman athlete to a cot and poured their bodily fluids onto him from a cup.
Only one boy came forward to support the victim's report, others were either too afraid to come forth or felt they needed to protect the perpetrators. Please consider the long-term trauma for this target and the ensuing guilt those bystanders have experienced. As Senator Creem and Representative Khan stated earlier, we are all sadly aware of recent revelations about Massachusetts school districts where racist, anti-Semitic, and homophobic behavior and language have been used on the field and in locker rooms, these events demonstrate the existence in many schools, not all, but many schools of the negative emotionally unsafe, emotionally unhealthy team cultures that this Bill addresses. It is past time to confront this problem. One specific focus of this Bill that has not been addressed is the need for curricula to empower students to speak up, intervene and report negative behaviors promoting hate and bias. Research shows that6540 as early as preschool, children literally catch biases both explicit and implicit from families and teachers. By middle and high school peer social influence, either reinforces biases and stereotypes or support standing up against them.
This Bill identifies the positive goal of athletes acting as up standards, not as passive bystanders described earlier. Consider these questions; how do young people intensely focus on developing their athletic skills and strengths, also develop the moral strength or moral character to stand up against group norms that tolerate racist anti-Semitic, homophobic language, and6579 behaviors? Also, what understanding and skills would6583 enable young athletes to develop that moral strength? The response to both questions lies in athletics focused social emotional curriculum that provides the meaning, examples, and opportunities to develop moral strength through practicing what I call empathy-based advocacy. This understanding and practice will have several outcomes. First, to nurture positive supportive and safe team cultures, and second, to help young athletes become6609 active upstanders, something they can carry into their lives in many other situations. I urge you to prioritize this important Bill, to report it out favorably and to work to ensure its passage. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Are there any questions from the committee? SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Hearing none. We thank you for your testimony. I turned back to Larry Childs. Larry Childs are you present virtually.
It mister Childs is not available to testify. I now close6649 the hearing on H516S247.
SPEAKER25 - We
SPEAKER2 - move to H499 and act concerning athletic activities of students with disabilities.
SPEAKER1 - We
SPEAKER2 - have no 1 who has signed up to testify either in person or virtually for this bill.
If nobody present, I now close the hearing on this bill, H499I
moved to H486A bills, resolving authorizing a study of starting times and schedules. There is no 1 who signed up by deadline to testify in person or virtually
hearing no 1. I closed the bill. On 8 the hearing on MA86. On H480A bill, act, and act regarding for mandatory resource time in elementary schools, There is no 1 who has signed up by deadline to testify in person or virtually I now closed the hearing on H480. On S255 and bill, an act relative to access for afterschool and out of school time programs, There is no 1 who signed up by deadline in person or virtually seeing no 1. I now closed this bill. Hearing on this bill. On S350, and act relative to physical and social recess in schools, There is no 1 who signed up by deadline in person or virtually.
Seeing no 1 I now closed the hearing on S350.
On H452, enact relative to recess for elementary6749 school children, We6751 do have a person who has signed up for actually, is representative Mindy Dome with us.
We do not see her in the chat. We do not see her available to us. I now close the hearing on H452I
did keep the hearing open on H33753
if mister Tim Wagner is with us. Mister Wagner, are you with us?
I believe I hear and see no 1. I now close the hearing on H353753.
Alright. I would now entertain a motion to adjourn.
I have a motion and a second. The hearing is now adjourned. Thank you. Thank you
SPEAKER2 - for
SPEAKER1 - go. And
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