District/School Administration Administration
The Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education

Board in Brief
Tuesday, January 22, 2008

This is " Board in Brief," issued at the request of Acting Commissioner Jeffrey Nellhaus to bring you up to date on Board of Education matters. This is a report on the regular meeting held on Tuesday, January 22, 2008 at the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in Malden.

Comments from the Chairman

Chairman Paul Reville extended his appreciation to the entire Board for the hard work and collaboration that was evident throughout the process to select the new commissioner of education, Mitchell Dan Chester. The chairman noted that he has begun negotiations with Dr. Chester on his starting date.

Comments from the Acting Commissioner

Acting Commissioner Nellhaus commended the Board on its choice of Mitchell Dan Chester, adding that he has come to know Dr. Chester through their work on various national committees. The chairman thanked Acting Commissioner Nellhaus for his continuing service to the Board and the Commonwealth.

The chairman presented a citation from the Board in honor of Carline Gele, who as Assistant to the Commissioner has worked closely with Board members and Department staff over the past 14 years. The chairman said all Board members wish Carline well as she pursues new endeavors in Florida.

Support for Students

The chairman welcomed Dr. Mary Walsh, the Daniel E. Kearns Professor of Education and Innovative Leadership of Boston College, as part of a continuing discussion on how the Board and the Department can contribute to a more coherent and effective system of support for students. Dr. Walsh presented on her work with Boston Connects, an innovative school-community-university partnership that supports healthy learning for all students. Boston Connects currently works with students and families in 14 schools across two neighborhoods in Boston. The program works to identify and provide each student with the targeted supports, services, and resources s/he needs to be academically successful, healthy, and socially competent, and to build a comprehensive, coordinated, and systemic web of services in active collaboration with community agencies and schools. Dr. Walsh said the cost per school is $108,000 without health services, or roughly $145,000 with health services. For more information on the program, see the Boston Connects website at: http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/avp/soe/bostonconnects/.

Changes to 2008 Accountability Reporting

Acting Commissioner Nellhaus presented proposed changes to the Department's accountability system for 2008 relating to the state's graduation rate standard and some technical revisions. The Board voted to adopt the following standard as the 2008 Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) graduation target for the state's high schools: a four-year graduation rate of 60 percent, OR a five-year graduation rate of 65 percent, OR a two percentage point increase in the four-year graduation rate compared to the four-year graduation rate for the previous year. The inclusion of a five-year rate and an improvement rate reflect the work of the Board's Graduation Rate Taskforce. The Acting Commissioner also noted that the Department plans to include a measure of growth in individual student performance in the 2008 accountability reporting for each of the Commonwealth's public schools and districts.

Current Fiscal Conditions in Massachusetts School Districts

Acting Commissioner Nellhaus presented the Department's preliminary report on current fiscal conditions in Massachusetts school districts. The Acting Commissioner said the Department found that: (1) Academic expectations and challenges have risen, but spending on instructional services has not kept pace; (2) On average, districts spend 18 percent more than their foundation budget; (3) Chapter 70 aid increases did not keep up with inflation between 2003 and 2006; (4) Despite the Chapter 70 aid cutbacks, many districts were able to maintain their overall spending levels, but only by increasing local funding; (5) A number of districts have experienced enrollment declines, which can have both a positive and negative fiscal impact; and (6) Districts have employed a variety of strategies to maintain services for students despite constraints in their instructional budgets. Chairman Reville thanked the Acting Commissioner and Department staff for their work, and said he would share the report with the Administration and the Legislature.

Charter School Renewals and Information on Charter Applicants

The Board voted to renew the charters for the following seven charter schools: Boston Collegiate Charter School; Boston Day and Evening Academy Charter School; Excel Academy Charter School; Four Rivers Charter Public School; Health Careers Academy Charter School; Rising Tide Charter Public School; and Smith Leadership Academy Charter Public School. Associate Commissioner Jeff Wulfson also provided information on five proposals for new charter schools. The Acting Commissioner will make recommendations on the five charter applicants at the Board's regular meeting in February, at which time the Board will vote on the granting of new charters.

Regional School District Regulations

Acting Commissioner Nellhaus said that by statute, the Department was required to " assume operation" of the Southern Berkshire Regional School District because the district did not have a budget adopted as of December 1, 2007. In October 2007, the Board voted to amend the Regional School District Regulations (603 CMR 41.00) on an emergency basis to establish procedures to be followed in these cases. The Department solicited and received public comment on the regulations, as required by the Administrative Procedures Act. The Board voted this month to make the regulations permanent.

Approval of Grants and Appointments to State Review Panel

The Board approved state and federal grants totaling $2,914,147 under the following programs: System for Adult Basic Education: Program and Staff Development ($75,000 increase - federal funds); Community Adult Learning Centers ($14,147 increase - state funds); Perkins IV Leadership Academy ($20,000 - federal funds); and Transition to Full-Day Kindergarten ($2,805,000 - state funds). The Board also approved the Acting Commissioner's list of 18 nominees for appointment to the State Review Panel. The panel participates in the review of school improvement plans and the evaluation of district improvement activities, and provides advice and assistance to the Commissioner and Board.

Next Meeting

The next regular meeting of the Board of Education will be held on Tuesday, February 26, 2008 at a location to be determined.