BOSTON — Senator Sal DiDomenico testified in support of his Healthy Youth Act bill before the Joint Committee on Education. This fall, the state's Board of Elementary and Secondary Education unanimously adopted a new health education framework that includes comprehensive standards for sex education. While this was welcome news, Senator DiDomenico emphasized that we still need to pass the Healthy Youth Act to deliver lasting progress for students in the Commonwealth.

“It was inspiring to highlight the importance of my Healthy Youth Act bill alongside passionate parents, students, educators, health care providers, and advocates from across our state,” said Senator Sal DiDomenico, lead sponsor of the Senate bill. “This common-sense proposal is popular throughout Massachusetts and will ensure our children can access medically accurate and age-appropriate sex and relationship education.”

Passage of the Healthy Youth Act will strengthen the impact of the new health education framework that the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education approved in September by:

1) Ensuring that if sex and relationship education is taught in Massachusetts public schools, it is taught using a comprehensive curriculum that adheres to the framework. 

2) Requiring the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to collect data on sex education taught in public schools.

3) Requiring DESE to review and update the framework at least every ten years to ensure the sex education guidelines remain comprehensive and are meeting the needs of students.

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BOSTON — Latinos for Education presented Senator Sal DiDomenico with their annual Educator Diversity Champion Award at the State of Latino Education event. The Educator Diversity Champion Award honors two legislators, one Representative, and one Senator, who has shown unwavering commitment to ensuring every student sees themselves represented in the classroom and to promoting equitable education policy. Dr. Almi G. Abeyta, Superintendent of Chelsea Schools, presented the award to Senator DiDomenico and shared her appreciation for his leadership on this issue and for students throughout his district.

Senator DiDomenico also presented citations to celebrate three outstanding educators in his district, Camilo Machado, Obed Morales, and Jeanette Velez.

DiDomenico has long been a champion for supporting teachers of all backgrounds and fighting for more educator diversity in our schools:

• DiDomenico was proud to support and fight for the Student Opportunity Act which invested $1.5 billion into high quality education for all children regardless of income or zip code. The Senator successfully pushed to include targeted investments for lower income student populations to be included in this legislation.

• He filed a bill this session (S267, An Act fulfilling the promise of education reform) which will create a Commission tasked with studying all matters concerning education in the 21st Century, including but not limited to educator pipeline (including recruitment, career development, and retention), educator diversity and more. This will lay out a blueprint for our schools to attract and support educators of all races and backgrounds in our schools.

• Senator DiDomenico helped get permanent funding for Universal School Meals in this year’s state budget after advocating for this program as lead Senate sponsor of the Universal School Meals bill for years. Free breakfast and lunch for all will now ensure no student has to deal with the discomfort and distraction from hunger and can focus on getting the most out of their class time and time with friends.

“I am honored to receive this award from an organization of advocates that are tirelessly working to support our youngest generation,” said Senator Sal DiDomenico, Assistant Majority Leader of the Massachusetts Senate. “As State Senator to one of the most diverse districts in the Commonwealth, I strive to increase diversity in the ranks of our educators, so they reflect the students they teach. I will continue to fight for more funding and legislation that creates a pipeline for teachers of all backgrounds and supports the talented and diverse educators we already have in our schools.”

The 2023 State of Latino Education brings together educators, non-profit leaders, and state leaders to celebrate Latino excellence and leadership in the education sector. The organization honored Latino educators, as well as legislators for their commitment to Latino students and highlighting the policy and practice solutions needed to continue furthering educational equity.

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Bill to enable access to basic services by removing financial and documentation barriers

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Senate unanimously passed An Act to provide identification to youth and adults experiencing homelessness, to establish a process allowing an adult or youth experiencing homelessness to apply for a free Massachusetts identification card. Identification cards enable access to basic services in the Commonwealth that are often unreachable for those without identification. 

“I am proud to support this bill because it provides crucial support to people experiencing incredibly challenging circumstances and it will work to address our housing crisis,” said Senator Sal DiDomenico, Assistant Majority Leader of the Massachusetts Senate. “All Massachusetts residents deserve access to food, healthcare, and housing, and providing proper identification will take a step toward expanding that right to every person. I want to thank Senate President Spilka, Senator Robyn Kennedy, and all my colleagues for fighting for people experiencing homelessness, and I hope to see this bill signed into law soon.”

People experiencing homelessness currently face prohibitive fees and documentation requirements that can be barriers to acquiring identification. This legislation removes those barriers by eliminating fees and only requiring that applicants present documentation showing that they are currently receiving services provided by the Commonwealth, a homeless service provider, or another service provider.

Having a state identification is a prerequisite for accessing many basic services, including applying for a job, enrolling in school, interacting with law enforcement, accessing government buildings, and opening bank accounts, among others. The struggles of homelessness are compounded by an inability to access these basic services, and often contribute to a cycle of poverty.

This is the fourth consecutive session during which the Senate has adopted similar legislation.

The bill now heads to the Massachusetts House of Representatives for consideration.

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