District/School Administration Administration
BOARD IN BRIEF

Thursday July 22, 1999

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 monthly meeting on Tuesday, July 20, 1999, at the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, in Malden.

Comments from the Chairman

Chairman James Peyser advised the Board that he and Commissioner David Driscoll are working on the plans for the Board for the upcoming year. Additionally, Chairman Peyser advised the Board that an Educator Recertification Forum has been planned for the morning of August 31, the date that had been set aside for a Board meeting, if needed. The forum will take place in the Boston area.

Comments from the Commissioner

Commissioner Driscoll reported that the state education budget for FY 2000 has still not been passed and that he will keep the Board informed on the progress of passing the budget. Commissioner Driscoll also released the results of the 1999 Iowa Test of Basic Skills. He said the results showed a 10% increase in the "Advanced Reader" level (the highest level of reading), but also showed a drop at the "Proficient" level. The results also showed that 25% of students performed in the lowest two levels. Commissioner Driscoll said this is a problem that must be addressed immediately by state and local officials and educators to ensure that all students have the ability to read well.

Proposed Amendment to Special Education Regulations

The Board voted unanimously to postpone until March 2000 action on repealing paragraph 205 of the special education regulations (603 CMR 28.00 ¦ 205) regarding publicly-funded special education services for students in private schools, which would have brought the state in line with the new federal special education regulations. Commissioner Driscoll said, "It is quite clear, the federal law has changed, therefore the state regulations should reflect the new language in the federal law." Chairman Peyser and the Board members acknowledged the need to repeal the paragraph to bring the state regulations in line with the federal statute, but decided to postpone a vote. Commissioner Driscoll will issue a directive to superintendents and principals, to clarify districts' obligations to provide service to special needs students in private schools.

Options on Curriculum and Assessment in High School Science and Technology/Engineering and in Mathematics

The Board voted unanimously to send out the revised Science Technology/Engineering framework for public comment. The Board heard from Dr. Penny Noyce, chair of the Science Technology/Engineering framework review panel, along with Dr. Sandra Stotsky, Deputy Commissioner for Academic Affairs, Thomas Noonan, State Director for Mathematics and Science, and Jeffrey Nellhaus, State Director of Standards. Board members discussed whether there should be a shift in the assessment of high school science to reflect specific tests for each strand of science, or if there should be one common test of core subjects. Chairman Peyser said that in seeking public comment on the curriculum, assessment would also be addressed, and the Board should wait until the public comment period to finalize decisions on assessment. Board member Dr. Edwin Delattre complimented Dr. Noyce on the improvements made to the learning standards in the current science framework, which will be released for public comment in August. The Board will review the mathematics curriculum framework in September.

Revisions to Chapter 70: School Finance

The Board heard a report from Jeffrey Wulfson, Chief Financial Officer for the Department, and Roger Hatch, Administrator for School Finance, on issues related to Chapter 70 and options for legislative changes to the formula, going into its seventh and final year of funding. Chapter 70, established in 1993, is the major program of state aid to public schools. In addition to providing state aid to support school operations, it also establishes minimum spending requirements for each school district and minimum requirements for each municipality's share of school costs. The Board will continue reviewing the Chapter 70 funding formula.

Other Business

The Board set meeting dates for 2000. The dates are: January 25, February 23, March 28, April 25, May 23, June 27, July 25, August 22, September 26, October 24, November 28 and December 20.

The Board voted to authorize Commissioner Driscoll, in consultation with Chairman Peyser, to approve grants and any other matters, including School Building Assistance approvals, that require action between July 20 and the next regular Board meeting in September, in anticipation of the state budget being signed in July. The Commissioner shall report to the Board in September on grants and any other matters that have been approved.

Next Meeting

The next Board meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 28, 1999 at the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in Malden.