Local state Sen. Sonia Chang-Diáz held a hearing Oct. 8 on a bill she is sponsoring to prevent students from dropping out of school, according to a press release.
Boston mayoral candidate John Connolly, among others, testified in support of the bill. Connolly, an at-large city councilor, has made education a focal point of his campaign. His rival, state Rep. Marty Walsh, was unable to attend the hearing.
Chang-Diáz’s bill, which is named “An Act relative to dropout prevention and recovery” (S. 208), would create an initiative that would match at-risk students with adults who would help guide them to success in high school, improve identifying at-risk students and focus on family engagement.
“We simply can’t close the achievement gap until we invest in an effective, statewide plan to keep all of our students in school. This bill provides those solutions and we know they work,” said Chang-Diáz.
The bill is currently under review by the Education Committee.