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H8 • 2025

An Act creating an electronic backpack for foster children’s educational records

An Act creating an electronic backpack for foster children’s educational records

Children
Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Auditor of the Commonwealth
Last action
2026-03-09
Official status
Accompanied a study order, see H4918
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

An Act creating an electronic backpack for foster children’s educational records

An Act creating an electronic backpack for foster children’s educational records So much of the recommendations of the State Auditor (House, No.

What This Bill Does

  • An Act creating an electronic backpack for foster children’s educational records So much of the recommendations of the State Auditor (House, No.
  • 3) as relates to creating an electronic backpack for foster children (House, No.
  • 8).
  • Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-09 House

    Accompanied a study order, see H4918

  2. 2025-06-27 Joint

    Hearing scheduled for 07/08/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-1

  3. 2025-02-27 House

    Referred to the committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities

  4. 2025-02-27 Senate

    Senate concurred

Official Summary Text

An Act creating an electronic backpack for foster children’s educational records
So much of the recommendations of the State Auditor (House, No. 3) as relates to creating an electronic backpack for foster children (House, No. 8). Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
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Bill H.8

SECTION 1. Chapter 71 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting at the end thereof the following section:-

Section 98. (a) As used in this section, the following terms shall, unless the context requires otherwise, have the following meanings:-

“Department”, shall mean the department of elementary and secondary education..

“Foster child or youth”, shall mean a child under the care or custody of the department of children and families or a young adult who has signed a voluntary placement agreement with the department of children and families.

“Electronic backpack”, shall mean an electronic repository of a foster child or youth’s educational records.

(b) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the commissioner of the department, in consultation with the office of the child advocate and the commissioner of the department of children and families, shall develop and implement an electronic backpack system for the educational stability of foster child or youth.

(c) The department shall create an electronic backpack for each foster child or youth. The department, in conjunction with the department of children and families, shall promulgate regulations on the format and function of the electronic backpack system. Each electronic backpack system shall contain, but is not limited to, the educational records of the foster child or youth, including the names and addresses of educational providers, the name and contact of the child’s DCF case worker if applicable, the foster child or youth’s grade-level performance, transcript, the foster child or youth’s school attendance records, individual education plan if applicable, the name and contact information of the individual or individuals who are designated as the child’s educational decision makers, the name of the legal guardian with signing rights to release the child from school, visit notes from the school nurse, guidance counselor, or other administrators, detailed notes on best interest determination meetings, if applicable, and any other educational information that the department requires. The department shall maintain the electronic backpack as part of the department’s records for the foster child or youth as long as the foster child or youth remains in foster care.

(d) The department shall make the electronic backpack available to:

(i) Any person authorized by law to make educational decisions for the foster child or youth;

(ii) The teacher/teachers, school and school district that the child or youth is enrolled in;

(iii) Any person authorized to consent to medical care for the foster child or youth; and

(iv) Any provider of medical care to the foster child or youth if access to the foster child or youth’s educational information is necessary for the provision of medical care and is not prohibited by law.

(e) The department shall collaborate with the department of children and families to develop policies and procedures to ensure that the needs of foster child or youths are met in every school district.

SECTION 2. The department shall implement the electronic backpack program within one year of the passage of this act.

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