Board in Brief
Tuesday, January 28, 2003
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 regular meeting held on Tuesday, January 28, 2003 at the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in Malden.
Commissioner Driscoll opened the meeting by reporting on the Department's recent public hearings on proposed amendments to the Regulations on Vocational-Technical Education and on proposed new charter schools. The Commissioner noted that the Department has received a significant amount of comment on both issues, and thanked the staff for their hard work. The Commissioner also reported on the current fiscal situation, and said the Department would have more information on education funding after the Governor's address on January 29th.
Report on the Commissioner's Performance Review
The Board voted unanimously to approve an overall "outstanding" rating for the Commissioner's performance review for 2002. Members rated Commissioner Driscoll on his effectiveness in supporting the Board's work, building external support for Board policies, managing the Department and raising student performance. Chairman James Peyser said, "While progress in improving student performance is not as rapid as we would like and we have more work to do, I am deeply impressed by the work of this Commissioner. Massachusetts is recognized nationally as a leader in accountability and education reform." Vice Chairman Henry Thomas III added, "The Commissioner's leadership and integrity are extraordinary. He is an excellent internal and external communicator." Due to fiscal constraints, the Board voted to delay action on increasing the Commissioner's salary based on his performance review. The Board will revisit the possibility of a salary increase in June. Commissioner Driscoll thanked the Board and the Department for a successful team effort in support of students.
Amendments to Regulations on Educator Licensure (603 CMR 7.00)
The Board voted to approve amendments to the Regulations on Educator Licensure that were adopted in November 2000. Since then the Department has been converting its licensure records and application forms to an on-line system, and institutions of higher education have been changing programs and procedures to address the new regulations and the federal Title II requirements. As a result, some gaps and unintended obstacles in the regulations were identified, especially in relation to adding new fields and levels, matching the right subject matter test to the relevant license, facilitating support for new teachers, enlarging the potential pool of administrators, and eliminating individual transcript review. With the Board's vote to amend the regulations, Commissioner Driscoll pledged to work with the professional associations, representatives of higher education, school districts and others to assist them in using the regulations to provide highly qualified teachers and administrators for all students.
School Improvement Plans for Academy Middle School, Fitchburg and Mt. Pleasant Elementary School, New Bedford
The Board voted unanimously to accept the plans for improving student performance submitted by Academy Middle School in Fitchburg and Mt. Pleasant Elementary School in New Bedford. Under the Regulations on Under-Performing Schools and School Districts, schools that have been declared under-performing must submit plans for improving student achievement to the Board. The Department evaluates each plan based on a rubric developed for this purpose as well as the detailed fact-finding report that identifies the school's areas of strength and weakness. The Commissioner then makes a recommendation to the Board as to whether to accept the plan.
Associate Commissioner Juliane Dow introduced the school superintendent and principal from each of the two districts and other members of their planning teams. They presented their plans to the Board and responded to questions. Fitchburg Supt. Thomas Lamey said the performance improvement mapping process was so instructive that the district is now using it in all schools to analyze student data, establish benchmarks and devise action plans. New Bedford Supt. Michael Longo said New Bedford has taken the same approach. He thanked the Department for its technical assistance. Chairman Peyser said he is pleased the process is driving improvement in all the schools in these districts, not just those that have been declared under-performing.
Charter Schools
The Board voted unanimously to renew the charters for South Boston Academy Charter School, Champion Charter School of Brockton, and Boston Evening Academy Charter School. The first is a Commonwealth charter school; the others are Horace Mann charter schools. The three charter school renewals were initially discussed at the December 17th Board meeting.
The Board discussed the proposed renewal of charters for Rising Tide Charter School, SABIS Foxborough Regional Charter School, New Leadership Charter School, Health Careers Academy Charter School, and Abby Kelley Foster Regional Charter School. The Board will vote on the renewal of these five charters at the February 25th Board meeting.
The Board also received information about the eleven applicants for new charters this year. Chairman Peyser said the Board awards charters based on whether the proposals meet the high standards specified in the charter school law, acting within the numerical and funding caps set by the statute. The Governor is currently reviewing how the Commonwealth funds all public schools, including charter schools. The Commissioner acknowledged the fiscal strain some school districts are experiencing because the state no longer funds charter school reimbursements, and said he expects to have more information on the funding situation by time the Board votes on the award of new charters at the February 25th Board meeting.
School Building Assistance: Annual Report
Associate Commissioner for School Finance Jeff Wulfson presented a draft of the School Building Assistance Annual Report. Based on comments from the Board, the Department will revise the report and the Board will vote on it next month. The report will be sent to the Governor and the Legislature after it is approved.
Amendment to Recertification Regulations Regarding Fees
The Board voted unanimously to approve an amendment to the Recertification Regulations that repeals section 44.09(3). This section, which was never implemented, proposed to reduce by 50% the recertification application fee for individuals who file their professional development plans on line. The fee reduction requires approval from Administration & Finance, which is unlikely in the current budget situation. It also is inconsistent with the legislation the Board has filed to establish a retained revenue account to support educator certification/licensure. With the Board's vote, the fees for recertification will be uniformly set by Administration & Finance.
No Child Left Behind Act: Update on Supplemental Educational Services
The Commissioner reported briefly on the provision in the No Child Left Behind Act that requires state education agencies to create and maintain a list of approved providers of supplemental educational services such as tutoring. Schools that receive Title I funding and are in their second year of school improvement must make arrangements so that eligible students from low-income families may receive supplemental educational services from a provider selected by the parent/guardian from the approved list. To date the Department has approved thirteen providers. Information is posted on the Department's website at www.doe.mass.edu/ses/.
Proposed Amendment to Special Education Regulations
The Board voted unanimously to solicit public comment on a proposed amendment to the Special Education Regulations, relating to meetings to explain to parents the benefits of mediation to resolve special education disputes. The U.S. Office of Special Education Programs identified the existing state regulation as one that must be amended to ensure compliance with the federal special education regulations. After the public comment period, the Commissioner will bring the proposed amendment back to the Board in April for a final vote.
Appointments and Federal Grants
The Board voted to appoint two people to fill vacancies on the Parent and Community Education/Involvement Advisory Council. The Board also voted to approve grants under two federal programs: Collaboration: Project Playgroup Support to support the transition of young children with disabilities into early care and education programs ($180,000), and Perkins Vocational/Technical Education Act: English Language Learners Support ($67,393).
Next Meeting
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Education will be held on Tuesday, February 25, 2003 at the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
last updated: January 28, 2003
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