Board in Brief
Tuesday, April 29, 2003
This is "Board in Brief," issued at the request of Commissioner David P. Driscoll to bring you up to date on Board of Education matters. This is a report on the regular meeting held on Tuesday, April 29, 2003 at the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in Malden.
Chairman James Peyser opened the meeting by commenting on the recent decision by the U.S. Department of Education denying the Department's request to allow the Certificate of Attainment to qualify students for federal financial aid for postsecondary education. Chairman Peyser noted that the FY 04 budget proposals filed by the Governor and the House Ways and Means Committee both earmark $3 million for students who have not yet earned the competency determination to participate in remedial and developmental coursework at community colleges and workplace sites at no cost to the students. He said, "It is our intention that all of the students in the Class of 2003 who wish to pursue a high school diploma and higher education will be able to do so." Commissioner Driscoll added that the U.S. Department of Education has not closed the door on this issue; the federal agency stated that these students could qualify for financial aid through an approved ability-to-benefit test, and also that Massachusetts could renew its request in the future, based on additional data.
Commissioner Driscoll highlighted the steady progress in student achievement in the Commonwealth, as demonstrated by trends in SAT scores, the TIMMS report, and MCAS results. He said one of the reasons for this success has been the continuity and predictability of education funding. The Commissioner asked Board members to consider long-term strategies to ensure that funding for public education remains as stable as possible.
The Commissioner also congratulated Janice Snaith, a member of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education who has been awarded the David Cronin Award by the Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators. He also introduced Cheryl Rappaport Liebling, who will be heading up the Department's work on the federal Reading First initiative.
Amendments to Regulations on Vocational-Technical Education (603 CMR 4.00)
The Board voted unanimously to adopt the Amendments to the Regulations on Vocational-Technical Education. The Vocational-Technical Education Regulations had not been amended substantively since the Education Reform Act was enacted in 1993. The amendments increase and strengthen the academic and technical skills that students will acquire as well as the standards of preparation and professional development that vocational technical education teachers must meet. Programs will be linked with national program standards, occupational clusters and postsecondary education and training in order to increase the options for vocational technical education program graduates.
The Board also voted to set the initial positive placement standard for Outcome III at 70%. Outcome III is the percentage of vocational-technical graduates who are employed in a field related to their program of study, in a military program related to their program of study, or who are enrolled in postsecondary education or advanced training twelve months after graduation. The amended regulations require school districts to report program outcomes to the Department, and authorize the Board to set minimum outcome standards every three years.
Programs for English Language Education
The Board voted to adopt the Regulations Governing the Education of English Learners (603 CMR 14.00). These regulations implement G.L. Chapter 71A, as amended by Question 2, and replace the current Transitional Bilingual Education Regulations.
The Board also voted to solicit public comment on a proposed new regulation, 603 CMR 14.06, to implement the section of Question 2 relating to parents' right to enforce the law. After the public comment period, the Commissioner will bring the regulation back to the Board in June for a final vote.
In addition, the Board voted to adopt amendments to the Regulations for Educator Licensure and Preparation Program Approval concerning the English Language Learners license. To prepare teachers who can effectively implement the statutory requirements of Question 2 and who can be considered "highly qualified" according to No Child Left Behind requirements, the amended regulations define one basic license for teachers of English Language Learners (ELL). Starting in 2004, this ELL license will replace both the current English as a Second Language (ESL) license and the current Transitional Bilingual Education (TBE) license. Teachers who are currently licensed in ESL or TBE may continue teaching what their licenses allow them to teach without obtaining other licenses or adding the new ELL license, and they may renew their ESL or TBE licenses.
Student Assessment and Competency Determination
The Board voted to solicit public comment on a proposed amendment to the Regulation on the Competency Determination (603 CMR 30.03). The Board adopted the regulation on the competency determination standard for high school graduation in January 2000. The regulation was drafted to focus on the graduating class of 2003, although it is widely understood to apply to students in succeeding graduating classes as well. The proposed amendment clarifies that the regulation applies beyond the class of 2003 and that the Board may in the future add subjects to the competency determination besides English language arts and mathematics. After the public comment period, the Commissioner will bring the regulation back to the Board in June for a final vote.
The Board also discussed the proposed schedule for implementing the high school MCAS tests in science & technology/engineering and U.S. history. According to the proposed schedule, the science & technology/engineering test would become operational in 2006, and the U.S. history test would become operational in 2008. The Commissioner noted that the schedule for phasing in the additional tests is subject to appropriation, and that there will be a great deal more discussion before decisions are made about raising the standard for the competency determination or adding subjects to it.
Early Childhood Program Standards and Learning Guidelines
The Board voted to approve the proposed Early Childhood Program Standards and Learning Guidelines. The Early Childhood Program Standards are intended to guide ongoing development, evaluation, and improvement of early childhood center-based programs funded through the Community Partnerships for Children (CPC) program, which provides funding for public schools, Head Start, and child care programs serving three- and four-year old children.
Part I of the standards will replace the existing Early Childhood Standards for Programs for Three- and Four-Year Olds adopted by the Board in 1988. Part II of the document is the Guidelines for Preschool Learning Experiences Based on the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks, which are designed to help early childhood practitioners interpret the frameworks in the context of appropriate experiences for three- and four-year olds. Commissioner Driscoll said, "The Early Childhood Program Standards and Guidelines for Preschool Learning Experiences should enhance the quality of preschool programs throughout the Commonwealth and help early care and education practitioners build strong foundations for learning." After some final editing, the Department will publish the standards and disseminate them widely.
Proposed Amendments to Charters for Holyoke Community Charter School and Barnstable Horace Mann Charter School
The Board tabled action on a proposed charter amendment presented by the Board of Trustees of the Holyoke Community Charter School. The proposed amendment would address changes in the school's educational program as a result of its management contract shifting from Edison Schools Inc. to Springfield Education Management, LLC and SABIS Educational Systems. The charter school has been scheduled to open in September 2003. Board members expressed concerns about the trustees' plans for a school building, recruiting a new principal, and the fit between the school's mission and the philosophy of the educational management company. The charter school's Board of Trustees may bring the proposed amendment back to the Board.
The Board voted to approve an amendment to the charter of the Barnstable Grade 5 Horace Mann Charter School. The amendment adds grade 6 to the charter school and changes the school's name to the Barnstable Horace Mann Charter School.
Amendment to Special Education Regulations (603 CMR 28.08(4))
The Board voted to amend a provision in the Special Education Regulations, 603 CMR 28.08(4), concerning meetings for parents to explain the benefits of mediation to resolve special education disputes. The Commissioner proposed the amendment to ensure consistency with the federal special education regulations. As amended, the regulation permits school districts, if they choose, to require parents to attend a meeting that explains the benefits of mediation.
Approval of Federal Grants
The Board approved a federal grant of about $20,000 to add another graduate level mathematics course to the 2003 Content Institutes for educators that are being funded with $627,000 that was approved by the Board in March.
Next Meeting
The next meeting of the Board of Education will be held on Tuesday, May 27, 2003 at the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in Malden.
last updated: May 6, 2003
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