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The Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education

FY 2013 Appointments to Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Advisory Councils;
FY 2012 Annual Reports from Advisory Councils

To:
Members of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education
From:
Mitchell D. Chester, Ed.D., Commissioner
Date:
September 14, 2012

Appointments

As I mentioned at the May 2012 Board meeting, since we did a significant recruitment last year for all 17 advisory councils to the Board, we anticipated needing only a limited number of new members. I said that once we determined which of the councils, if any, needed additional members, we would notify Board members so you could nominate candidates if you wished to do so.

I notified you in August 2012 that our review of council membership indicated that we needed an additional new member for only one council: the School and District Accountability and Assistance Advisory Council (AAAC), which advises the Board on matters pertaining to our school and district accountability and assistance system. The statute requires that this council be comprised of 15 members, 7 of whom represent identified stakeholder groups and 8 of whom are "at-large" members with a demonstrated record of achievement or academic expertise in areas related to accountability and assistance. You will find a description of the council's role and a list of the 2011-12 members at BESE Advisory Councils webpage.

Due to a recent resignation, this council has one "at-large" vacancy for a three-year term beginning in September 2012. When I wrote to you in August, we had anticipated having two vacancies but ended up with only one. I am pleased to inform you that I used my delegation authority to appoint Dr. David Riley to the AAAC. Dr. Riley has had a long and distinguished career working on matters related to the education of students with disabilities. He is currently the Executive Director of the Urban Special Education Leadership Collaborative, which is located at the Education Development Center in Newton, MA. The Collaborative is a national network of education administrators responsible for policy, procedural, and programmatic decision-making affecting students with disabilities in urban school districts. His advice will be valuable as we seek to close the persistent proficiency gap of students with disabilities.

In addition, I used the delegation authority to reappoint members from the AAAC and other councils who are eligible to serve another three-year term and to fill vacancies for seats designated for specific groups or agencies that may have occurred, so that those councils would have members in place by the beginning of the school year. Enclosed is the list of advisory council members for the 2012-13 school year.

Annual Reports

Enclosed for your information are the FY 2012 annual reports, which include recommendations, from each of the 17 advisory councils to the Board.

Should you have questions or wish further information, please contact me.

Enclosures:

2011-2012 Advisory Council Annual Report
Download PDF Document
2012-2013 Advisory Council Members