This is the Take Action page for two bills to help dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline: An Act addressing school exclusion policies to remedy disparities in educational achievement (H.730 Rep. Ultrino/S.376 Sen. Jehlen) and An Act requiring accountability for inequities in suspension and expulsion, or RAISE Act (H.731 Rep. Ultrino/S.380 Sen. Jehlen).
Latest Updates (10/30/25):
Hello friends and supporters of H.730 and H.731,
H.730/S.376, An Act addressing school exclusion policies to remedy disparities in educational achievement, and H.731/S.380, An Act requiring accountability for inequities in suspension and expulsion (“RAISE Act”), have both been reported favorably by the Joint Committee on Education and are now before the House Committee on Ways and Means. So what do we do now?
We need you to call and email the House chairs and committee members!
We want the House Committee on Ways and Means to favorably report both bills and send it to the floor for a vote, so get ready to make your voices heard! Check out this page for who to call and what you can say to help ensure these critical bills get passed.
House Committee on Ways and Means:
Chair Aaron Michelwitz: Aaron.M.Michlewitz@mahouse.gov
Vice Chair Ann-Margaret Ferrante: Ann-Margaret.Ferrante@mahouse.gov
Staff to CC: Tim.Sheridan@mahouse.gov, Kerry.Rugenstein@mahouse.gov
Link to all House Committee on Ways and Means members
If you are a constituent of any member on the House Committee on Ways and Means, PLEASE mention that (and include your address) in your email or call to their office – they always want to hear from constituents.
Not sure who your Representative is? You can enter your address to check here!
Type in your address into the link above to find out who represents you
If none of your legislators sit on the House Committee on Ways and Means, your voice can still make an impact! Reach out to the Chairs! See the template below for an example of how to email the two chairs of the Committee:
Email Template House Committee on Ways and Means
Template Email:
Dear [Insert Chair Michelwitz, Vice Chair Ferrante, or your Representative if they’re on Ways and Means]:
My name is [insert your name] and I am asking you to support and help advance two bills to help dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline: H.730/S.376 and H.731/S.380 both of which are sponsored by Rep. Steven Ultrino and Sen. Patricia Jehlen. {If you are a constituent of the person you are writing to, say so! I live in [insert city or town] and I am your constituent.}
H.730/S.376, An Act addressing school exclusion policies to remedy disparities in educational achievement, narrows the definition of “assault” and “deadly weapon,” aligns the level of discipline to the safety risk posed, and ensures procedural protections for students facing serious allegations. Finally, H.731/S.380, An Act requiring accountability for inequities in suspension and expulsion, or RAISE Act, would ensure that when schools work to address disparities in achievement, they take into account disparities in rates of suspension and expulsion.
Right now, [insert what you are observing in your personal and/or professional life that relates to the bill(s) you are reaching out about/need for the bill outlined in the fact sheet]. These bills address these issues by ensuring that students are not excluded from the classroom for minor infractions and that disparities in discipline rates are shared widely and kept in consideration in all discussions that could impact students’ learning.
H.730/S.376 and H.731/S.380 have been reported favorably by the Joint Committee on Education and are now before the House Committee on Ways and Means. As you know, now more than ever, is it important that these bills pass, which is why I am reaching out to strongly urge you to release H.730/S.376 and H.731/S.380 and send it to the floor for a vote.
Thank you for taking action to help ensure that schools are a place for learning. I’ve attached a fact sheet and please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions.
In community,
[Insert name]