MassVoter.com← All 2017–2018 votesSenate roll call #74 · 2017–2018 session · July 27, 2017
Relative to language opportunity for our kids
An email when new quizzes are added for your town, voting reminders, and from November a monthly email on how its local boards and state legislators voted.
What they voted on
Add a proposed change (amendment) to the bill
Official wording: S.2125, Question on adoption of the amendment #3 (offered by Tarr)
Official amendment title: Teaching of Civics (amendment #3, filed by Tarr, Bruce E.) · amendments on malegislature.gov
Who filed S.2125
Sponsor Senate Committee on Ways and Means
Committees often rewrite bills. The legislators who filed the original versions are listed on malegislature.gov.
Amendment adopted
Every member's vote
Voted yes (39)
- Michael J. Barrett Third Middlesex · Democrat
- Joseph A. Boncore First Suffolk and Middlesex · Democrat
- Michael D. Brady Second Plymouth and Bristol · Democrat
- William N. Brownsberger Second Suffolk and Middlesex · Democrat
- Harriette L. Chandler First Worcester · Democrat
- Sonia Chang-Diaz Second Suffolk · Democrat
- Cynthia Stone Creem First Middlesex and Norfolk · Democrat
- Julian Cyr Cape and Islands · Democrat
- Viriato M. deMacedo Plymouth and Barnstable · Republican
- Sal N. DiDomenico Middlesex and Suffolk · Democrat
- Eileen M. Donoghue First Middlesex · Democrat
- James B. Eldridge Middlesex and Worcester · Democrat
- Ryan C. Fattman Worcester and Norfolk · Republican
- Jennifer L. Flanagan Worcester and Middlesex · Democrat
- Linda Dorcena Forry First Suffolk · Democrat
- Cindy F. Friedman Fourth Middlesex · Democrat
- Anne M. Gobi Worcester, Hampden, Hampshire and Middlesex · Democrat
- Adam G. Hinds Berkshire, Hampshire, Franklin and Hampden · Democrat
- Donald F. Humason, Jr. Second Hampden and Hampshire · Republican
- Kathleen O'Connor Ives First Essex · Democrat
- Patricia D. Jehlen Second Middlesex · Democrat
- John F. Keenan Norfolk and Plymouth · Democrat
- Barbara A. L'Italien Second Essex and Middlesex · Democrat
- Eric P. Lesser First Hampden and Hampshire · Democrat
- Jason M. Lewis Fifth Middlesex · Democrat
- Joan B. Lovely Second Essex · Democrat
- Thomas M. McGee Third Essex · Democrat
- Mark C. Montigny Second Bristol and Plymouth · Democrat
- Michael O. Moore Second Worcester · Democrat
- Patrick M. O'Connor Plymouth and Norfolk · Republican
- Marc R. Pacheco First Plymouth and Bristol · Democrat
- Michael J. Rodrigues First Bristol and Plymouth · Democrat
- Stanley C. Rosenberg Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester · Democrat
- Richard J. Ross Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex · Republican
- Michael F. Rush Norfolk and Suffolk · Democrat
- Karen E. Spilka Second Middlesex and Norfolk · Democrat
- Bruce E. Tarr First Essex and Middlesex · Republican
- Walter F. Timilty Norfolk, Bristol and Plymouth · Democrat
- James T. Welch Hampden · Democrat
What it means
This Senate Ways and Means version of the language opportunity bill rewrites the state law on how public schools, including charter schools, teach English learners. It says programs may include sheltered English immersion, dual language, transitional bilingual or other research-based programs and are not limited to one model, and lets parents choose among available programs or request a new one. It requires each district with an English learner to employ at least 1 licensed English as a second language teacher, sets reporting and state review of programs at least once every 6 years, and creates a state seal of biliteracy for graduates.
Source: official text and history of S.2125 on malegislature.gov. This describes the bill text posted there; amendments may have changed the version that was voted on.
Your Nov 3 ballot: a short quiz for every race in your town, about a minute each.
Find my ballot →How your legislators voted
District lines were different in 2017–2018, so looking up by town isn't available for this session yet. Find your senator in the list below.
Source: S.2125 on malegislature.gov · official roll call. MassVoter never grades or scores legislators. How to read this