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

Advisory Council Membership: Reapppointments and New Appointments

Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 15, Section 1G directs the Board to establish advisory councils in a number of different areas. In the 2008-2009 school year there will be 17 advisory councils to the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, including the newly established advisory council on school and district accountability and assistance. The continuing councils are: 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 management skills, mathematics and science education, parent and community education and involvement, racial imbalance, special education, technology/engineering education, and vocational technical education.

The purpose of the advisory councils is to advise the Commissioner and the Board on matters pertinent to the implementation of Education Reform in the Commonwealth and to provide programmatic recommendations, as councils deem necessary, to accomplish the goals and priorities established by the Board and the Department or to meet federal or state requirements. The councils have a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 25 members with the number determined by the Department, unless specified in law. Members are appointed for a term of three years and may be appointed for a second consecutive three-year term. The members serving on councils may be school committee members, school superintendents, professional educators, parents or students. The statute calls for councils to have a reasonable balance of members representing business, labor, civic, educational, parental and professional groups, striving for diversity and geographic balance. The Commissioner appoints the chairperson or co-chairs for each council.

A Department administrator and liaison work with each council chairperson in scheduling the council meetings, generally four to ten per year, depending on the needs and business of the council. The meetings are open to the public and are posted on the Department's advisory council website. Each council submits an annual report to the Commissioner on current issues that are relevant to the goals and objectives of the Board and Department. I am including the compilation of the 2007-2008 Advisory Councils Annual Reports in the appendix.

Invitations to apply for appointment to a 2008-2009 advisory council were posted in the Commissioner's update and disseminated by Department administrators and advisory council liaisons through council activities. Applications were encouraged from educators, parents, students, community members, school committee members, higher education personnel, and business leaders who have demonstrated interest in and commitment to educational improvement as well as the knowledge, skills, and experience in the subject matter of the advisory council of interest. The Department received more than 100 applications by the July 31st deadline. All applications have been reviewed by advisory council administrators and liaisons and senior staff.

I am submitting the attached list of recommendations for your consideration. I recommend that the Board vote to appoint or reappoint the nominees as indicated. The categories represent the stage of membership:

• "Maintains" - members who are in years 1 to 3 of either their first or second term or are designated members by statute - provided for informational purposes
• "Reappoints" - applicants recommended to serve a second three year term
• "Recommends" - applicants nominated to serve their first three year term

Following the vote of the Board, I have scheduled an All Advisory Councils meeting on Monday, November 3, 2008 at the Hogan Campus Center at Holy Cross College in Worcester. Maura Banta, Chairwoman to the Board, and I will meet with advisory council chairs, provide a new member orientation, give the Commissioner's address and charge to the councils, and recognize council members who have completed their service. Board members are welcome to attend. There will be time for individual advisory councils to meet following a buffet luncheon. More details will follow.

   2008-2009 Candidates for Appointment to the Massachusetts Board of Education Advisory Councils

   Advisory Councils to the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, Annual Report