Twin Legislation Bill for Massachusetts

We, the undersigned, petition Massachusetts State Senators and Representatives to pass legislation in the state of Massachusetts similar to that of Minnesotas Twin Bill S. F. 180, sponsored by Senator Dennis Frederickson and signed into law by Governor Tim Pawlenty on May 5, 2005. This Bill gives parents/guardians of multiple birth children the ability to decide whether to separate their children into different classrooms or to keep them together in the same classroom. Recently, the state of Illinois and the Oklahoma House of Representatives passed resolutions that also recommend school districts to take into account parents requests. We believe that arbitrarily separating all twins and higher order multiples based solely upon their multiplicity and the past practices of The Department of Education is discriminatory and, therefore, unacceptable. Multiplicity is a birthright and the decision to separate or keep the children together within the classroom should be made on a case-by-case basis, based upon the childrens individual needs.

Renowned twins researchers, Dr. Nancy Segal, Dr. John Mascazine and the International Society for Twin Studies as well as support groups like the National Organization of Mothers of Twins Clubs, Inc. all advocate a flexible classroom placement policy. We also believe that parents/guardians of multiples should have the primary voice in any classroom placement decision for their children, as they know best their individual, psychological, emotional and social needs. With the increase of multiple birth children continuing to rise, this is an issue that will only gain more exposure and validity. We ask that Massachusetts introduce and pass legislation to reflect these parental rights and be among these early states in protecting equality for multiple birth children and their parents.