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

Briefing for the September 10, 2008 Regular Meeting of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education

The next regular meeting of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education will be on Wednesday, September 10, 2008, at the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in Malden. The meeting will start at 9 a.m. and adjourn by 1 p.m. If you need overnight accommodations or any additional information about the schedule, please call Belinda Wilson at (781) 338-3118.

Overview

Our business agenda includes review of the process and timelines for the FY2010 budget, a vote on amending the MCAS performance appeals regulations to make available performance appeals in Science and Technology/Engineering, discussion of advisory council appointments, presentation and discussion on the new legislation on district and school reviews, and continuing discussion of the Board's mission statement and the Department's priorities and goals for 2008-2010. Other items on our agenda are votes on charter school amendments and approvals, updates on the work of the National Mathematics Advisory Panel and the State Student Advisory Council, and grants.

Arthur Stellar, Superintendent of Schools in Taunton, will make a presentation to the Board during the public comment period on behalf of the Horace Mann League of the United States of America, on whose board of directors Dr. Stellar serves. Also, the Board is having a luncheon to honor former Board member/chair Chris Anderson immediately following the Board's regular meeting.

Regular Meeting

Comments from the Chair

Maura O. Banta, Board chair, will welcome the Board to her first regular meeting as chair. She will brief the Board on current issues and activities.

Under the Board's by-laws, the September meeting is the annual meeting of the Board, at which the vice-chair is elected. Chair Banta will call for nominations from Board members and then conduct the election. The vice-chair presides over meetings when the chair is not available.

Comments from the Commissioner

1. Massachusetts named to AAFA state honor roll.

   I am pleased to report that the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) has named Massachusetts to its first annual State Honor Roll of Asthma and Allergy Policies for Schools. The report identifies states with the most comprehensive statewide policies supporting people with asthma, food allergies, and related allergic diseases in elementary and secondary schools. Massachusetts is one of six states that the AAFA considers to be worthy of this recognition. Kudos to John Bynoe, Associate Commissioner for Student Support Programs, Katie Millett, Administrator for Nutrition, Health, and Other Programs, and their many colleagues and partners within and beyond the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. You will find more information about the AAFA state honor roll and a profile of the Massachusetts programs and initiatives at http://www.aafa.org/display.cfm?id=5&sub=105&cont=649.

2. October meetings.

   At the Board's planning retreat on August 11th, members expressed interest in setting aside time for in-depth discussions of policy issues. In keeping with that idea, we will hold a special meeting on Monday evening, October 20, 2008, focusing on the state system of accountability and assistance. Our regular meeting will take place on Tuesday morning, October 21st, in Holyoke. We will send you details on location and time of the meetings as soon as the arrangements are made.

3. Annual report.

   We are putting the finishing touches on our annual report for FY 2008. The report will include key data and major decisions and actions of the Board and the Department from July 2007- June 2008. I expect to send the report to Board members electronically in the next couple of weeks, after we add in the most recent MCAS data. Following the Board's review and acceptance of the annual report, we will distribute copies to the Governor and the Legislature and post the report on our website.

4. Teacher preparation in mathematics.

   In April 2007, the Board took a significant step to improve students' proficiency in mathematics by amending the educator licensure regulations to strengthen preparation and licensing of elementary and special education teachers to teach mathematics. As a result, the regulations now specify the subject matter knowledge requirements in mathematics, focusing on outcomes rather than coursework. These changes are reflected in the Massachusetts Tests of Educator Licensure (MTEL) by means of a revised general curriculum test with a separately scored mathematics subtest that will become operational in March 2009. The two-year period from the Board's adoption of the new regulations to the first administration of the new test has provided teacher candidates, educator preparation program faculty, and others with time to prepare for the new requirement. To assist in the preparation, our MTEL test contractor has posted a practice general curriculum mathematics subtest at: http://www.mtel.nesinc.com/PDFs/MA_FLD003_SubtestII_PRACTICE_TEST.pdf.

5. Educational leadership development.

   The Department has been collaborating with the state professional associations for school and district administrators, the Educational Personnel Advisory Council, and the University of Massachusetts Center for Education Policy to review and strengthen the professional standards for administrators. Our work received a major boost in 2007 when the Wallace Foundation awarded $6 million ($2 million/year for three years) to the Department and the Boston and Springfield Public Schools to support these efforts. We plan to present more information on the educational leadership initiatives to the Board at your October 21st meeting. In the meantime, I am pleased to announce that the Wallace Foundation has selected Boston as the site for a forum on leadership standards and assessments on November 6-7, 2008, to highlight the district-state partnership. Board members will be invited to an event on the evening of November 6th. Details will follow.

Comments from the Secretary

Secretary Paul Reville will update the Board on the work of the Executive Office of Education.

Items for Discussion and Action

1. Process and Timelines for FY2010 Budget - Discussion

   Now that we have the FY2009 state budget for the state fiscal year that began on July 1st, it is time to begin planning for the FY2010 budget. At this month's meeting we will review the anticipated calendar of the state budget cycle. In October the Board will have an initial discussion of budget priorities and program initiatives that the Board may wish to propose.

2. MCAS Performance Appeals: Proposed Amendments to Regulation 603 CMR 30.05 (Science Tests) - Discussion and Vote to Adopt Emergency Regulations

   At the June 2008 Board meeting, you received the 2008 MCAS Performance Appeals Annual Report. This month, I am recommending that the Board amend the MCAS Performance Appeals Regulations, 603 CMR 30.05, to make available a performance appeal for eligible students with respect to the high school Science and Technology/Engineering MCAS tests. This would be in addition to the performance appeal that already exists for the grade 10 English Language Arts and Mathematics MCAS tests. The memo under Tab 2 presents a summary of the current MCAS performance appeals process, the recommendations of the working group that met in July to discuss this issue (the working group included Jeff Howard, Ruth Kaplan, and AJ Fajnzylber from the Board and eight local educators), and the rationale for the approach I am proposing. I would encourage the Board to adopt the amendments as emergency regulations, so that they would take effect immediately and make the performance appeals process available to eligible students early in the school year. Deputy Commissioner Jeff Nellhaus and General Counsel Rhoda Schneider will be at the meeting to answer your questions.

3. Advisory Council Appointments and Annual Reports - Discussion

   The Massachusetts Education Reform Act of 1993 established advisory councils to advise the Commissioner and the Board on matters related to improving public education and student achievement. The advisory councils are made up of volunteers who work with us to improve public education by providing advice and comment in specific program areas such as Adult Basic Education, Arts Education, Community Service Learning, Educational Personnel, Educational Technology, English Language Learners/Bilingual Education, Gifted and Talented Education, Global Education, Interdisciplinary Health Education and Human Services, Life Skills Management, Mathematics-Science Education, Parent and Community Education and Involvement, Racial Imbalance, Special Education, and Technology-Engineering Education. This month I am presenting proposed appointments and reappointments of members to various advisory councils. If Board members would like to suggest additional names for consideration, please let me know. The Board will vote on the appointments at the October 21st meeting. Also enclosed is a compilation of the 2008 annual reports from each of the advisory councils.

4. Charter Schools: Amendments and Approvals for Phoenix Charter Academy, Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School, and SABIS International Charter School - Discussion and Vote

   Pursuant to the charter school regulations, the Board must approve major changes in the material terms of a school's charter, including changes to a school's maximum enrollment; grades served; and location of facilities, if the change involves relocating or expanding to another municipality. Also, under the charter school statute, a charter school may incur temporary debt in anticipation of receipt of funds, but it requires approval of the Board if it wishes to agree to repayment terms that exceed the duration of the school's charter. The Commonwealth has no liability for any portion of these loans.

   I recommend that the Board vote this month to approve a charter amendment request from Phoenix Charter Academy (region served and location of facility), an extended loan term requested by Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School, and an extended loan term and a charter amendment (relating to management contract) requested by SABIS International Charter School. The enclosed memos provide details.

5. District and School Reviews: New Legislation and Next Steps - Discussion

   Governor Patrick recently signed legislation assigning responsibility for district and school accountability to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, under standards to be established by the Board. The structure outlined in the new law replaces the former Office of Educational Quality and Accountability and its board, the Educational Management Audit Council. The memo under Tab 5 outlines the responsibilities that now belong to the Department and Board and includes a copy of the new law. At our meeting, Deputy Commissioner Karla Brooks Baehr and I will discuss with you the steps underway to assume these responsibilities in a manner that will accelerate and strengthen district and school improvement efforts.

6. Board Mission Statement; Revised Department Goals and Priorities - Discussion

   Following the Board's special meeting/planning retreat on August 11th, the chair circulated a proposed mission statement based on the discussion we had. Several members suggested changes to the initial draft, which are reflected in the enclosed version.

   Also, I have revised the Department's working goals and priorities for 2008-2010, taking into account suggestions from Board members at the August 11th retreat and subsequent discussion with senior staff. This is intended to be a working document that helps us to maintain focus on our most important tasks. We will revisit it periodically through the year.

7. Update on National Mathematics Advisory Panel - Discussion

   At our April 2008 meeting, the Board heard a presentation on the final report of the National Mathematics Advisory Panel from Board member Sandra Stotsky and Professor Wilfried Schmid of Harvard University, both of whom served on the national panel. At our September 10th meeting, Sandra Stotsky will update us on the work of the advisory panel. The panel's report, "Foundations for Success," is posted at: http://www.ed.gov/about/bdscomm/list/mathpanel/report/final-report.pdf.

8. Report on State Student Advisory Council Leadership Conference - Discussion

   Board member AJ Fajnzylber, chair of the State Student Advisory Council, will give a brief report on the council's summer leadership conference.

9. Report on Grants Approved by Commissioner since June 2008; Authorization to Commissioner - Vote

   The state budget takes effect on July 1st, but the Board typically does not meet in July. For that reason, in June the Board votes a standard motion to authorize the Commissioner to approve grants between the June meeting and the next regular Board meeting. Enclosed under Tab 9 is a report on the competitive grants that I approved this summer, under the authority that the Board granted to me at the June 25th meeting. I reviewed and approved 272 grants totaling $19,736,062 under 30 different state and federal competitive grant programs.

   This month I am again requesting that the Board authorize me to approve grants between the September 10th meeting and the regular meeting of the Board on October 21st. This will allow us to meet the state requirement to award $5.4 million in After-School and Out-of-School Time grants by September 30, 2008. It will also allow us to meet the federal requirement to obligate by September 30th funds that we received in July for a nutrition grant program. I will report to the Board in October on any grants that I approve. The motion is enclosed.

Other Items for Information

10. Education-Related News Clippings

    Enclosed are several recent articles about education.

11. Tentative Schedule for Release of 2008 MCAS Results and AYP Determinations

    We have posted on our website the tentative schedule for releasing 2008 MCAS results and Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) determinations for schools and districts. A copy of the schedule is enclosed for your information.

12. Process for MCAS Contract, 2010-2014

    The Department is in the process of procuring the services of a contractor to assist in all facets of the MCAS program when our current contract with Measured Progress concludes in December 2009. The memo under Tab 12 reports on the steps we are taking to rebid the contract, including our outreach to stakeholders and our exploration of options for alternative means of assessing what students know and are able to do.

13. Evaluation Report on Four Commonwealth Pilot Schools: Executive Summary

    In March 2007, the Board voted to approve Commonwealth Pilot School status for four schools - the English High School in Boston, Academy Middle School in Fitchburg, and Duggan Middle School and Putnam Vocational-Technical High School in Springfield - in lieu of a declaration of chronic underperformance. The intent of the Commonwealth Pilot School model is to promote greater school-based decision-making authority while also complying with the stricter accountability expectations that would accompany a declaration of chronic underperformance. All four schools have completed their first year under this new model of governance. Enclosed is the executive summary of a report by the Donahue Institute at the University of Massachusetts evaluating the first year of implementation.

14. College Board SAT 2008 State Profile Report for Massachusetts

    Board members received the recent press release summarizing the College Board SAT results for 2008 high school seniors. For those who are interested in more detail, we have enclosed the full College Board SAT State Profile Report for Massachusetts.

Directions to the Meeting

If you have questions about any agenda items, please call me. I look forward to seeing you in Malden on September 10th.