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

Briefing for the January 22, 2008 Regular Meeting of the Board of Education

The next regular meeting of the Board of Education will be on Tuesday, January 22, 2008, at the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in Malden, starting at 9:00 a.m. Coffee will be available at 8:30 a.m. The regular business meeting will adjourn by 12:00 noon. After a lunch recess, the Board will reconvene from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. for review and discussion of the school and district accountability system. If you need overnight accommodations or any additional information about the schedule, please call Belinda Wilson at (781) 338-3118.

Overview

The first item on our business agenda is a presentation by Prof. Mary Walsh of Boston College about an innovative school-community-university partnership providing support for students in Boston. We will also discuss the Department's preliminary report on "Current Fiscal Conditions in Massachusetts School Districts." Action items on the agenda include a vote on proposed changes to the school and district accountability system relating to the minimum graduation rate standard; charter school renewals; final amendments to the regional school district regulations; grants; and appointments. In the afternoon, from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m., we will have an extended seminar-type discussion on the school and district accountability system.

Regular Meeting

Comments from the Chairman

The Chairman will present an update on current issues.

Comments from the Commissioner

1. Reports to the Legislature. The Department has filed two reports with the Legislature this month, in response to directives included in budget language. Professional Development Expenditures details school district spending activity in the areas of professional development leadership, teacher/instructional staff professional days, substitute salaries and professional development stipends, providers, and expenses. Kindergarten Development Grants reports on Transition Planning for Full-Day Kindergarten Grants and Quality Full-Day Kindergarten Grants and progress toward universal full-day kindergarten opportunities throughout the Commonwealth. The reports will be posted on the Department's Office of Strategic Planning, Research, and Evaluation website: http://www.doe.mass.edu/research/reports/legislative.html

2. Governor's Education Reorganization Proposal. Board members have received information on the Article 87 reorganization plan that Governor Patrick submitted to the Legislature on January 10th. It maintains the three existing education boards, including the Board of Education (to be renamed the Board [and Department] of Elementary and Secondary Education), expands the size of our Board and staggers the terms, and creates an executive office of education, headed by a cabinet secretary, to coordinate statewide education policy. We will keep you posted as the plan moves through the Legislature. The Governors' press release outlining the plan is posted at: http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=pressreleases&agId=Agov3&prModName=gov3pressrelease&prFile=080110_Secretary_Education.xml

3. Carline Gele. Carline Gele, who as Assistant to the Commissioner has worked closely with Board members as well as with the Commissioner and Department staff for 14 years, is leaving at the end of January to move to Florida and pursue new endeavors. We have all appreciated and benefited from Carline's professionalism, grace, and humor. We thank Carline for all of her contributions to our work and wish her happiness and success in the future.

Items for Discussion and Action

1. Support for Students - Continuing Discussion

   In September 2007 the Board heard a presentation by Dr. Rick Weissbourd of the Harvard Graduate School of Education on ways to assist schools and districts in providing the various kinds of emotional, social, physical and mental health support that students need in order to be successful in school. As part of our continuing consideration of this important topic, we have invited Dr. Mary Walsh, the Daniel E. Kearns Professor of Education and Innovative Leadership at Boston College, to talk with the Board this month about "Boston Connects," an innovative school-community-university partnership that serves children and families in Boston.

2. Proposed Changes to 2008 Accountability Reporting: Graduation Rate, Growth Measures, and Technical Revisions - Discussion and Vote

   This month I will present proposed changes to our accountability system for 2008 relating to the graduation rate standard and some technical revisions. I will also brief the Board on our preliminary plan to include a measure of growth in individual student performance in our 2008 school and district assessment reporting. After approval by the Board, we will submit our annual "State Consolidated Accountability Workbook" to the U.S. Department of Education.

   In February 2007, the Board voted to set a graduation rate standard for purposes of calculating Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) for high schools under the federal No Child Left Behind Act. The Board also established a task force, chaired by Board member Harneen Chernow, to review additional data related to the graduation rate and consider strategies to increase the percentage of students who graduate from high school. The task force report, which is included in your materials along with a memo outlining our approach, has helped to define our next steps. The Department is continuing to review data relating to the graduation rate.

   I will send relevant data along with my recommendation on the updated graduation rate standard to Board members on January 18th.

3. Preliminary Report on Current Fiscal Conditions in Massachusetts School Districts - Discussion

   Over the past several months the Board and Department have grown increasingly concerned about financial difficulties that may be compromising the ability of some school districts to provide quality educational services. At the Board's direction, the Department, through our Office of Strategic Planning, Research, and Evaluation and Office of School Finance, has conducted an initial investigation. At this month's meeting we will present our preliminary report, "Current Fiscal Conditions of Massachusetts School Districts." The report, along with a memo summarizing key findings, is in your materials under Tab 3. I will present the report along with Associate Commissioner Jeff Wulfson and Carrie Conaway, our Director of Strategic Planning, Research, and Evaluation.

4. Charter Schools:

   • Charter Renewals for Seven Schools: Boston Collegiate, Boston Day & Evening Academy, Excel Academy, Four Rivers, Health Careers Academy, Rising Tide, and Smith Leadership Academy - Discussion and Possible Vote

     I recommend that the Board renew the charters for the seven charter schools listed above. For each school, we have provided a memo outlining the Department's findings based on our evaluation of the school, as well as a more detailed Summary of Review. Associate Commissioner Jeff Wulfson and Mary Street, Director of Charter Schools, will explain how the Department reviews charter schools for renewal and respond to questions you may have about the review process. Along with representatives from the schools, they will also respond to questions about these seven schools. Following the discussion, the Board may choose to waive its bylaw that calls for discussion at one meeting and a vote at a subsequent meeting, in order to vote on these recommended renewals this month. We have enclosed a motion for each school, should the Board wish to vote on any or all of them.

   • Information on New Charter Applicants - Initial Discussion

     Under the charter school statute, the Board votes each February on new charter applicants. This year five groups have applied for new charters. Enclosed you will find summaries of the five charter applications.

5. Amendments to Regional School District Regulations (603 CMR 41.00): Commissioner's Operation of Regional Districts in Emergency Circumstances - Discussion and Vote to Adopt Final Regulations

   State law directs the Commissioner to "assume operation" of a regional school district if the member towns have not adopted a budget by December 1st. For the first time in many years, we have had to invoke this statute; Southern Berkshire Regional School District did not have a budget adopted as of December 1, 2007. In October 2007, the Board voted to amend the regulations on regional school districts on an emergency basis to establish procedures to be followed in these cases. As required by the Administrative Procedures Act, we have solicited public comment on the regulations. I recommend that the Board vote this month to make the amendments permanent. Associate Commissioner Jeff Wulfson and Deputy General Counsel Kristin McIntosh will be present to answer questions you may have about the regulations.

6. Approval of Grants and Appointments to State Review Panel - Vote

   Presented for your approval this month are 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)
   • Transition to Full-Day Kindergarten ($2,805,000 - state funds)

   I recommend that the Board approve the grants as presented. If you have questions about any of the grants, we will be pleased to respond.

   Also included under Tab 6 for your approval is a list of nominees for appointment to the State Review Panel. Our regulations on underperforming schools and school districts call for the Board to appoint members to the State Review Panel to conduct or participate in the review of school improvement plans and the evaluation of district improvement activities, and to provide advice and assistance to the Commissioner and Board. I am pleased to present this initial list of 18 distinguished nominees to the Board for approval. We would welcome additional nominations from Board members at any time.

Other Items for Information

7. Education-Related News Clippings

   Enclosed for your information are several recent newspaper articles about education.

8. Directions to the Meeting

Afternoon Discussion: School and District Accountability System

1. Overview of State and Federal Accountability Standards
2. Strategies and Options for Low Performing Schools

Chairman Reville will lead this seminar-type discussion on school and district accountability; Associate Commissioner Juliane Dow and other Department staff members will participate. At the chairman's initiative, we have set aside three hours so that Board members can have an in-depth discussion about the accountability standards and our strategies and options for assisting low performing schools, ask questions, address concerns, and plan next steps. These are very challenging issues for Massachusetts and for every state that takes seriously its responsibility to provide a high quality education for all students.

Materials for the Tuesday afternoon discussion will be distributed at the meeting.

If you have questions about any agenda items, please call me. I look forward to seeing you in Malden on January 22nd.