Massachusetts HD 6321: A communication from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (see item 7061-9607 of Section 2 of Chapter 140 of the Acts of 2024) submitting the Recovery High Schools legislative report for fiscal year 2025

Summary

This bill requires the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to submit a report detailing how many students attend each of the state's five Recovery High Schools and what outcomes are being measured for those students. The report affects Recovery High School students—adolescents in recovery from substance use disorders who attend specialized public high schools designed to support their recovery while they earn their diplomas, as well as the school administrators and staff who run these programs.

Bill Text

Recovery High Schools Legislative Report –
Fiscal Year 2025
This report is submitted pursuant to Chapter 140 of Acts of 2024, line item 7061-9607. The
report outlines “(i) the numbers of youths served per high school; and (ii) outcomes
measured for youths.”

February 2025

This document was prepared by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary
Education
Russell D. Johnston, Acting Commissioner

Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Members
Ms. Katherine Craven, Chair, Brookline
Mr. Matt Hills, Vice-Chair, Newton
Dr. Ericka Fisher, Worcester
Mr. Ioannis Asikis, Brookline, Student Member
Ms. Dálida Rocha, Worcester
Ms. Farzana Mohamed, Newton
Mr. Michael Moriarty, Holyoke
Ms. Mary Ann Stewart, Lexington
Dr. Patrick Tutwiler, Secretary of Education, Andover
Dr. Martin West, Newton

Russell D. Johnston, Acting Commissioner
Secretary to the Board

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, an affirmative action
employer, is committed to ensuring that all of its programs and facilities are accessible to all
members of the public.
We do not discriminate on the basis of age, color, disability, national origin, race, religion, sex,
gender identity, or sexual orientation.

Inquiries regarding the Department’s compliance with Title IX and other civil rights laws may be
directed to the Human Resources Director, 135 Santilli Highway, Everett, MA 02149. Phone: 781-
338-6105.

© 2024 Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Permission is hereby granted to copy any or all parts of this document for non-commercial
educational purposes. Please credit the “Massachusetts Department of Elementary and
Secondary Education.”

This document printed on recycled paper

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
135 Santilli Highway, Everett, MA 02149
Phone 781-338-3000 TTY: N.E.T. Relay 800-439-2370
www.doe.mass.edu

February 2025
Dear Members of the General Court:

I am pleased to submit this Report to the Legislature: Recovery High School Programs
Legislative Report – Fiscal Year 2025. As required by the statute, the enclosed report
includes: “(i) the number of youths served per high school; and (ii) outcomes measured for
youths.” The data provided in this report was compiled from information submitted by
schools to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
(Department).

For adolescents in recovery from a substance use disorder, school is a setting that may
result in interactions with peer groups who are actively using alcohol or other drugs.
Unfortunately, after treatment, these students may encounter multiple risk factors when
returning to the setting where their substance use problems originated. Recovery High
School programs play an important role for these students by offering them another option
for a school setting – one in which they can feel supported in their recovery while still
working towards a high school diploma.

If you have any questions about this report, please feel free to contact Rachelle Engler
Bennett, Associate Commissioner, Student and Family Support, via
[email protected].

Sincerely,

Russell D. Johnston
Acting Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education

Table of Contents

Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1
The Number of Students Served Per High School.......................................................................... 2
Table 1: October 2024 Student Enrollment, by Recovery High School ..................................... 2
Table 2: October 2024 Student Enrollment, by Recovery High School and Grade Level ......... 3
Outcomes Measured for Students ................................................................................................... 3
Table 3: Student Group Percentages at Recovery High Schools Compared with All Districts .. 3

1

Introduction
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (Department or DESE)
respectfully submits the Report to the Legislature: Recovery High Schools Legislative
Report – Fiscal Year 2025, pursuant to Chapter 140 of the Acts of 2024, line item 7061-
9607, that reads in part:

“For ...recovery high schools... provided further, that not later than April 1, 2025, the
department shall submit a report to the house and senate committees on ways and
means that shall include, but not be limited to: (i) the number of youths served per
high school; and (ii) outcomes measured for the youths...”

Recovery High Schools (RHS) are public programs, operated by a school district or an
educational collaborative, that serve as an educational option for students in recovery
from a substance use disorder or dependency. They support students in their recovery
while the students are concurrently working towards their high school degrees.
Recovery High School programs were initially established in Massachusetts in 2006
through a