District/School Administration Administration
Board in Brief

This is "Board in Brief," issued at the request of Commissioner David Driscoll to bring you up to date on Board of Education matters. This is a report on the special meeting on Monday, November 27, 2000, and the regular meeting on Tuesday, November 28, 2000, both held at the new Fitchburg High School.

Special Meeting - Monday, November 27

The Board held a special meeting on November 27th to discuss the draft revisions to the curriculum framework in Science and Technology/Engineering, and plans for student assessment in Science and Technology/Engineering at the high school level. Science and technology teachers from several school districts who helped to develop the revised framework spoke to the Board about how it will clarify standards and improve teaching and learning at all levels. Consistent with the changes in the framework, the Department plans to offer schools two options for high school student assessment: either an integrated science test in the spring of grade 10, or end-of-course assessments in science disciplines for students who have taken a year-long course such as introductory physics or biology. The Board is scheduled to vote on adoption of the revised curriculum framework in Science and Technology/Engineering at its December 20th meeting.

Regular Meeting - Tuesday, November 28, 2000

Board Chairman James A. Peyser opened the meeting with comments about the MCAS. He said, "Since our last meeting, the 2000 MCAS scores have been released and the political debate over high-stakes testing has intensified, yet again. Even though the scores are not yet meeting our expectations and the controversy continues, I remain convinced that we are on the right course. Over the past three years, there is a pattern of modest, consistent improvement across the grades in both English and math. Since 1998, with the exception of 10th grade English, failure rates are down and scaled scores are up.

"For now, as important as the data, is the mounting evidence on the ground that standards-based reform is working. In most districts, MCAS--including the consequences that are attached for students and adults--is causing schools to broaden and elevate their curriculum for all students. It is giving effective school leaders the information and leverage they need to drive change and improve the quality of instruction. It is helping school districts confront the structural barriers to reform that for years have stood in the way of educational excellence."

Commissioner Driscoll congratulated Board member Bill Irwin, who has been selected to serve on the Governmental Affairs Committee of the National Association of State Boards of Education. He also updated the Board on the selection of ALEKS (Assessment and Learning Knowledge Space Theory) Corporation to conduct the diagnostic assessment in mathematics for certain teachers in Massachusetts schools designated as low-performing in mathematics. ALEKS is a web-based interactive software system for assessment and learning. Pilot testing will begin after contract negotiations are completed.

Commissioner Driscoll also reported on the success of the School Council E-vent, the Department's first web-based conference, which was held on November 15th. The School Council E-vent connected more then 250 school committee members, school council members and school administrators with knowledgeable moderators from the Department for an online forum about school councils and school improvement planning.

FY 2002 Budget Proposal

The Board voted to approve its FY 2002 education budget request. The Board is proposing a total budget increase of $217 million, most of which is for Chapter 70, School Building Assistance and other non-discretionary state aid programs. The budget request includes increases in discretionary spending in several areas, including an additional $5 million for remediation efforts related to academic achievement and MCAS performance; $4 million for student assessment, including the costs of the proposed re-testing program; $1.2 million for stipends to recipients of the Stanley Z. Koplik Certificate of Mastery; and $5 million to allow earlier implementation of the new special education assistance program (the so-called "circuit breaker" program). Chairman Peyser noted that the Board also proposes that $6.6 million be added to Chapter 70 to support and strengthen the Parent Information Centers that had been funded under the Chapter 636 program. The Department will now transmit the Board's budget request to the Governor and the Legislature for their consideration.

Revised Curriculum Framework in English Language Arts

The Board approved the revised English Language Arts curriculum framework. Commissioner Driscoll said the revisions make the very good 1997 framework even better by clarifying and providing more guidance on the standards for each grade cluster. The framework emphasizes reading and writing skills across all grade levels. The grade 9-10 standards have been maintained in order to keep expectations consistent for the grade 10 English Language Arts assessment. The Board thanked the local educators and professional organizations that worked with Department staff to produce the revised framework. After final copy-editing, the Department will distribute the framework widely.

Regulations on Educator Certification/Licensure (603 CMR 7.00)

The Board voted unanimously to adopt the Educator Licensure and Preparation Program Approval Regulations. These regulations, which will become effective on October 1, 2001, reflect fundamental changes in the preparation and licensure of educators. Major changes include strengthening and clarifying the subject matter knowledge requirements for all teacher licenses, strengthening the requirements for the teaching of reading, and establishing and clarifying alternate routes to initial licensure of educators.

Chairman Peyser said, "Reform of the educator certification regulations is one of the last major pieces of education reform to be put in place. The document before you today is a dramatic improvement over the status quo. The Commissioner and I are both committed to fully engaging the knowledge and experience of practicing educators as we move into the all-important implementation phase."

Commissioner Driscoll said, "These regulations are the first step. They represent an improvement over the existing regulations, and I am committed to working with the field to implement these changes." The Commissioner added that he will be meeting with stakeholders in the educator certification process over the next 120 days, and will report back to the Board in March with further detail about how the new regulations will be implemented.

The Board also voted to adopt four amendments to the certification regulations that take effect immediately, including standards for the temporary certificate, for renewal of the provisional certificate with advanced standing and for determination of critical shortage, and provisions on suspension, revocation or limitation of certificates.

Charter Schools

The Board approved renewal of the charter for the Chelmsford Murdoch Middle Charter School, and approved requests to amend charters for the Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter High School and the Francis W. Parker Charter School. The Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter High School will expand its enrollment to 300 students and grade levels served by the school to grades 7-12. The Francis W. Parker Charter School has been granted regional charter school status. The Board also received a progress report on the Atlantis Charter School.

Update on the School Performance Assessment Process

The Board received an update on the Department's implementation of the school performance review process under the statewide School and District Accountability System that the Board adopted in 1999. Schools declared under-performing must submit an improvement plan to the Commissioner and the Board of Education for approval, within six months after the finding of under-performance. In December the Commissioner expects to receive improvement plans from the Arlington School in Lawrence and the Lynch School in Holyoke.

Also in December, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will issue the first End-of-Cycle School Performance Rating Reports to all Massachusetts public schools. Schools' performance and improvement on MCAS from 1998-2000 will be assessed. This year, for the first time, the Department will use the School Performance Rating Process to identify candidates for a new Exemplary Schools Program. The Department will identify schools that have successfully implemented replicable strategies for improving students' academic performance, and will invite these schools to serve as demonstration sites and/or participate in networking and training events to showcase effective improvement strategies.

Proposed Regulations on Use of Physical Restraint for Students (603 CMR 46.00 and Amendments to 603 CMR 18.00)

The Board voted to solicit public comment on proposed Regulations on the Use of Physical Restraint for Students. A recent amendment to General Laws Chapter 71, § 37G, which prohibits corporal punishment of students in Massachusetts public schools, directs the Board to promulgate regulations on the use of physical restraint for students in public education programs. The public comment period will extend through January 31, 2001. The Commissioner expects to bring the regulations to the Board for a final vote at the February meeting.

Approval of Grants and Other Matters

The Board approved $2.3 million in grants under four state and federal programs: two Adult Basic Education curriculum and professional development grant programs, the Charter School Dissemination grant program and the Parent-Child Home program, which is a home-based early literacy program. The Board also approved a waiver of the School Building Assistance cost standards for construction of the Edgerly Early Childhood Center in Somerville, and the appointment of ten additional members to the Board's advisory councils.

Next Meeting

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Education will be held on Wednesday, December 20th at the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in Malden.