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

EQA Report - Randolph Public Schools

Dr. Joseph Rappa, Executive Director of the Office of Educational Quality and Accountability (EQA), will present key findings resulting from the review that EQA conducted in the Randolph Public Schools in November 2006. The Educational Management Audit Council (EMAC) has referred the EQA report on Randolph to us with a recommendation that the Commissioner and Board of Education consider a determination of district underperformance. The report presents EQA's findings on various factors affecting student performance in the district. The Board received a copy of the EQA report last month. Another copy is enclosed for your information. Board members will have the opportunity at this month's meeting to discuss the EQA findings with Dr. Rappa.

The conclusion of the EQA report (pages 20-21 in the enclosed copy) summarizes factors that appear to have contributed to low student performance in the district's schools. Further, the Board heard last month from Randolph Superintendent Richard Silverman and others about fiscal constraints and other issues that are limiting the school system's ability to provide adequate educational opportunities for its students.

I recommend that the Board determine the Randolph Public Schools to be underperforming. The Board may choose to vote on the recommendation this month or defer action on it. If the Board so votes, I would further recommend that the Board direct the Department to begin the leadership review stage of our fact-finding process, to assess whether the school district has the capacity to address the problems that have been identified and to improve significantly the quality of educational services being delivered to students. This review will help us to determine whether state collaboration with the current district leadership and support for district improvement initiatives will be sufficient to achieve the needed improvements in the district and its schools. It will inform the Board's consideration of possible next steps.

In accordance with our Regulations on Underperforming Schools and Districts, we have invited Superintendent Silverman and the Randolph School Committee chairperson to this month's Meeting, to be heard in response to my recommendation. Associate Commissioner Juliane Dow and Lynda Foisy will be present to respond to questions about the Department's role in underperforming school districts.

Enclosed are the EQA report on Randolph along with the transmittal letter; a summary of the statute and regulations on district underperformance; the text of the statute (M.G.L. Chapter 69, Section 1K) and regulations (603 CMR 2.04); and a motion.

Enclosures: