Board in Brief
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
This is "Board in Brief," issued at the request of Commissioner Mitchell D. Chester to bring you up to date on Board of Elementary and Secondary Education matters. This is a report on the special meeting held on Monday evening, October 26, 2009 and the regular meeting held on Tuesday, October 27, 2009 at the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in Malden.
Special Meeting
Vice Chair Harneen Chernow, who was presiding in Chair Banta's absence, welcomed Board members to a special meeting on the state's preparations related to its planned application for federal Race to the Top funding. Commissioner Chester provided an overview of the process, the state's support from the Gates Foundation, and the development of a comprehensive plan to address four key "assurance" areas that must be a component of each application: standards and assessments, data systems to support instruction, great teachers and leaders, and turning around struggling schools. An additional priority area that states may choose to address is STEM (science technology, engineering, and mathematics), and Massachusetts is doing so
The commissioner said states must ensure that 50% of funds are distributed to participating districts via the Title I formula, and 50% of funds are used by the state or distributed to districts. Commissioner Chester said the state has engaged key stakeholder groups around each assurance area. The commissioner introduced the following Department senior staff to present on the teams they are leading around each assurance area: Jeff Nellhaus (Standards and Assessments), Lynda Foisy (School Turnaround), David Haselkorn (Great Teachers and Leaders), and Bob Bickerton (Data Systems). Deputy Commissioner Nellhaus also provided an overview of the state's plans to address STEM.
Standards & Assessment
Deputy Commissioner Nellhaus said the goal of the common core standards process will be for states to adopt clear and rigorous K-12 standards in math, ELA, and science. The deputy commissioner said the Department is considering how to merge our framework revision process with the common core effort. Mr. Nellhaus outlined four priority areas: (1) to make enhancements to MCAS; (2) to develop curricula and instructional supports aligned with common standards; (3) to support benchmark and formative assessments; and (4) to expand high school programs and incentives for college and career readiness.
School Turnaround
Associate Commissioner Lynda Foisy said the Department has worked over the past two years on an accountability redesign grounded in measures that are tied to appropriate, targeted assistance and intervention. The state's proposed regulations on underperforming schools are currently out for public comment. The Department's framework rests on its definition of school and district conditions that are necessary for success. Associate Commissioner Foisy described five priorities: (1) building district leadership capacity; (2) building and disseminating turnaround tools; (3) identifying and scaling up third-party supports; (4) developing a cadre of turnaround teachers and principals; and (5) identifying and incubating lead partners.
Teachers & Leaders
Associate Commissioner David Haselkorn said tonight's discussion on teachers and leaders would be recursive of the Board's discussion on educator effectiveness last month. He said the key paradigm shift is seeing the development of expertise and talent as the primary role of the educational system. Mr. Haselkorn outlined priorities to define and assess teacher and leader effectiveness via multiple measures, anchored in student achievement. Priorities include: (1) measure of effectiveness; (2) recruitment, preparation and development; (3) performance-based tiered licensure; (4) evaluation / P.D./ induction models; (5) compensation and equitable distribution; and (6) turnaround teacher and leader teams.
Data Systems
Associate Commissioner Bob Bickerton said the Department's vision for data systems has moved over the past three years from data for reports to data to support teaching and learning and continuous improvement. Mr. Bickerton said the state is pursuing longitudinal data systems as part of an effort to ensure more timely data. Mr. Bickerton said priorities in this area include: (1) designing and building a robust data systems infrastructure; (2) connecting and integrating data systems; and (3) effectively using data to inform instruction and drive decision-making.
STEM
Deputy Commissioner Nellhaus said STEM needs to be infused in each of the assurance areas, and presented an overview of priorities around STEM.
Commissioner Chester said the state is under an aggressive timetable to complete its application by the deadline, and the Department will keep the Board informed as its thinking evolves. Vice Chair Chernow thanked the commissioner and Department staff, and said the Board had a good discussion about the process, resources, and stakeholder engagement.
Regular Meeting
Comments from the Chair
Vice Chair Harneen Chernow said she was presiding for Chair Banta, who was away on business. The vice chair commended Board member Sandra Stotsky, who was named to the National Validation Committee of the Common Core Standards effort. Vice Chair Chernow asked Board member Jeff Howard to provide an update on the work of the Proficiency Gap Committee.
Vice Chair Chernow said that after the September Board meeting, she, Chair Banta, and Commissioner Chester met to discuss hiring an impartial, outside consultant to review the process related to the granting of a charter to Gloucester Community Arts Charter School and to identify (1) the range of procedural options that are consistent with state law for further action and (2) the legal standard to justify the revocation of a charter. The vice chair said a Request for Responses was issued, and the Department hopes to make an offer shortly so the individual selected may attend the November 7, 2009 meeting in Gloucester.
Comments from the Commissioner
Commissioner Chester congratulated Dr. Stotsky on her appointment to the Validation Committee for the Common Core initiative. The commissioner said he was a participant at last week's STEM summit, during which the Governor by executive order created a STEM Advisory Committee. Commissioner Chester said he visited several schools in Lowell last week, including Lowell High School where he participated in an assembly to recognize 175 students who earned an Adams Scholarship. The commissioner provided an update on the Alston case, an action challenging the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL), and the court ruling that dismissed the case. He noted that Grafton High School is the state's first school to close this year due to flu-related absences. The commissioner called attention to the data report on school enrollment trends, in the Information section of the Board materials.
Comments from the Secretary
Nicholas Martinelli, the designee for Secretary Reville, said that the Governor would make an announcement on Thursday related to new 9C budget reductions. Mr. Martinelli said the Governor has made an effort to prioritize education whenever possible. Mr. Martinelli said the Administration has announced the establishment of six readiness centers to provide professional development and disseminate resources to teachers.
Comments from the Public
Two individuals addressed the Board on Race to the Top.
College and Career Web Portal
Commissioner Chester said the development of a college and career web portal has been a joint effort of the Departments of Elementary and Secondary Education and Higher Education, the Executive Office of Education, and the Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority (MEFA). The Department's chief of staff, Heidi Guarino, provided an overview of the project, which began in 2005 as an effort to increase graduation rates and help students prepare for college and careers. Governor Patrick asked MEFA last year to take ownership of the project, to house it, and to run it. MEFA has invested $2 million in the portal, and an additional $1.7 million has come from the federal college access grant.
Tom Graf, MEFA's executive director, said that ConnectEdu was selected last year to develop the portal. He said the portal would be a one-stop location for students to plan, prepare, research, and apply to college. Mr. Graf said that all services would be free and web-based, and the portal would allow students to submit applications, transcripts, and letters of recommendation electronically. He said the portal is being designed to be simple and intuitive, with the access point being through the school. Jeff Alderson from ConnectEdu, a Boston-based company, provided an overview of the portal's development site. Mr. Alderson said the company's proprietary software will enable the portal to match students to opportunities.
Growth Model: Statewide Report
Commissioner Chester said the state's new growth model illustrates how well a school is achieving gains with the students it serves, based on students' prior achievement. The commissioner said the growth model allows for a more robust picture of the effectiveness of a school. Associate Commissioner Bob Bickerton presented an overview of the growth model and explained how this new metric compares each student to his/her academic peers, students with similar MCAS score histories. The commissioner said there is tremendous potential for districts to use this metric as a diagnostic tool.
Race to the Top
Vice Chair Chernow said the Board had a good discussion on Monday evening on the state's Race to the Top application, the timeline, potential funding, and stakeholder engagement. The vice chair said there is a lot of interest in understanding the specifics of the proposal and what the U.S. Education Department will publish as final criteria. Vice Chair Chernow said the Board is interested in continuing this discussion in November. Commissioner Chester said in November he will update the Board on the Department's latest thinking and Board members will have another opportunity for to provide feedback.
Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Budget Proposal for FY 2011
Vice Chair Chernow thanked the members of the budget committee (Maura Banta, Tom Fortmann, Ruth Kaplan, Gerald Chertavian, Jeff Howard, Michael D'Ortenzio Jr.), which met last week. Commissioner Chester said he expects the FY10 budget to be cut via the 9C process within the next couple of days, and that the prognosis for next year's budget is not good. He said there are no good options available, but the Board's obligation is to make a recommendation. The commissioner said the Board and Department's responsibility is to set expectations for performance, support schools and districts in meeting those expectations, and measure progress against those expectations. Commissioner Chester said every reduction in the budget would affect programs and students. He noted that his 2-page handout is intended to be a starting point for discussion, not a recommendation.
The vice chair said the Board would hold another budget committee meeting in early November, and that the Board will vote on a budget recommendation at its November 17th meeting.
Appointments and Reappointments to Advisory Councils to the Board
Vice Chair Chernow said the Board was given a list of proposed appointments and reappointments to the Advisory Councils at its September meeting. Commissioner Chester said the Department received advice from Board members on additional nominees. Commissioner Chester reminded Board members that the Department sent the Board the Advisory Councils' 2009 annual reports last month, including a matrix on how the work of the councils mapped to the Board's goals and priorities. The Board voted to appoint the Advisory Council members are recommended by the Commissioner.
Graduation and Dropout Prevention and Recovery Commission Report
Vice Chair Chernow said that Secretary Reville chaired the Graduation and Dropout Prevention and Recovery Commission, and that Commissioner Chester served as a co-chair. Mr. Martinelli provided an overview of the commission's purpose and work. Neil Sullivan from the Boston Private Industry Council, who served on the commission, provided context on the commission's work.
Mr. Sullivan said a Parthenon study in Boston showed that of students who left school, one quarter were English language learners, one quarter were students with disabilities, one quarter were two or more years behind academically but not ELL or SPED, and one quarter were on track academically with no risk factors at grade 9.
Mr. Martinelli reviewed the commission's recommendations around new statewide expectations, early identification, effective prevention, interventions, and recovery, and responsive reforms and budget priorities. The commission recommended that the state commit to reducing the dropout rate by half over five years and expand the Department's early warning indicator.
Commissioner Chester said that currently, districts have no obligation to serve students who are expelled, and he is interested in making that a requirement.
Next Meeting
The next meeting of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education is scheduled for Tuesday, November 17, 2009 at the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in Malden.
last updated: October 27, 2009
|
State Government · State Services 
