Skills such as navigating a bus route, cooking a meal, and managing a budget will become much easier for students with disabilities to learn under legislation passed unanimously Thursday by the Massachusetts State Senate.

The bill, sponsored by Representative Tom Sannicandro (D-Ashland), strengthens the transition to post-educational life for special needs students by allowing special education teachers and rehabilitation counselors to obtain a credential in transition services from the Department of Education.

Due to redistricting last year, for the upcoming 2012 election the 7th Middlesex District will look like it does below. I will continue serving the residents of the current 7th Middlesex District through my office with any constituent concerns. Tweet This Post

(February 8—STATE HOUSE) Representative Tom Sannicandro joined his House colleagues Wednesday in passing a bill that protects students who enroll in for-profit occupational schools by expanding oversight of the industry, which has seen exponential growth in enrollment and profits in the last several years.

Speaker DeLeo, myself, and members of the Committee on Higher Education had a chance to tour UMass-Lowell on Tuesday. The university is doing extraordinary things in terms of medical technology and engineering, and it’s a big driver of industry and innovation in our state. Check out the video below for more.

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(JANUARY 24—STATEHOUSE) Representative Tom Sannicandro (D-Ashland) and House colleagues unanimously passed legislation Tuesday that will eliminate fraud and waste of taxpayer dollars at education collaboratives. Calls for greater oversight were sparked earlier this year after an incident at one such collaborative — where $11.5 million in public funding was allegedly diverted for pay to top executives — highlighted weaknesses in the current law.

As tax season approaches, make sure to know if you’re eligible for deductions. This document describes some tax tips and credits that certain seniors and retirees may be eligible for.

Tax Tips for Seniors and Retirees

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On Thursday I hosted a panel discussion with Senator Karen Spilka, Rep. Jason Lewis, and members of the Ashland Board of Selectman and School Committee. We discussed ways the formula has changed over the years to improve funding for Ashland public schools and how it should be changed moving forward.

Thank you to everyone who came. You can watch the panel discussion on WACA public access in Ashland.

I recently sat down with Rep. Jason Lewis, sponsor of a bill that calls for a new adequacy study be conducted on K-12 education in the Commonwealth.