District/School Administration Administration
Commissioner's Updates - Archive

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1999

December 27, 1999  

1. Information on the School Performance Rating System
2. Consolidated Grants Package for competitive and non-competitive opportunities
3. Proposed Routes to Educator Licensure - public comment invited
4. Request for Proposals for Summer Content Institutes
5. A booklet, "A Matter of Quality, a Strategy for Assuring the High Caliber of America's Teachers," by Lowell Milken, co-founder of the Milken Family Foundation
6. Call for Nominations for the Massachusetts Teacher of the Year and Christa McAuliffe Fellowship programs
7. A booklet on "Early Childhood Classroom Observation," from the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Please forward this document to your early childhood education coordinator.

December 3, 1999  

1. Request for public comment on the passing level for the Competency Determination
2. "Board in Brief," a summary of the November special and regular meetings of the Board of Education
3. FY 2000 School Building Assistance Priority List and Funding Authorization List
4. FY 2000 "Pothole" Reserve Program information
5. Information on the Dual Enrollment program
6. Information on reduction of fees for qualified students to take the AP exams
7. Guidelines for instruction on preventing teen dating violence
8. A "Kids' Guide to Consumer Affairs," and a "Holiday Hints Campaign," from Jennifer Davis Carey, State Director of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation

November 16, 1999  

1. The Annual Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Publication on Per-Pupil Expenditures for 1998
2. Guidelines for Alternative MCAS Assessment for Students with Special Needs
3. A request from Secretary of Education Richard Riley urging local action to identify and insure children through the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
4. A memo on the review process for the Massachusetts History/Social Science and English Language Arts Curriculum Frameworks
5. Announcement by the Department of Fire Safety about upcoming classes on response to bomb threats in the schools
6. Teacher of the Year information - a memo announcing the availability of the "Massachusetts Teacher of the Year 2000" to conduct local educational workshops, and a call for nominations for the Teacher of the Year 2001
7. A call for nominations for the Massachusetts Christa McAuliffe Fellow for Year 2000
8. An informative brochure promoting the annual US Savings Bonds Student Poster Contest for students in grades 4-6
9. A booklet, "Our Irreplaceable Heritage," sponsored by the Executive Office for Environmental Affairs
10. A pamphlet from the Massachusetts Alliance for Arts Education

November 1, 1999  

1. MCAS technical report summary and press release
2. Arts Curriculum Framework
3. Invitation to a conference on character education
4. Application for the FY 2000 Massachusetts Signing Bonus Programupdated
5. Amended Recertification Regulations
6. Dual enrollment information and application for spring 2000 participation
7. Call for students to participate on the Governor's Student Fitness Advisory Council
8. Postcard announcing a new web address for the Higher Education Information Center
9. Notice of public comment on regulations governing agricultural high schools
10. Announcement of November as Massachusetts Family Literacy Month
11. Draft policy on physical restraint of students and request for public comment
12. "Board in Brief," a summary of the October meeting of the Board of Education

October 19, 1999  

1. The draft mathematics curriculum framework
2. A notice of a PALMS middle and high school conference, "Success for All"
3. A request for written comment on renewal of charters for four charter schools
4. The Technology Literacy Challenge Grant, and application for Project MEETUpdated
5. An RFR on Case Study Seminars for Beginning Teachers

October 1, 1999  

1. A memo on the projected schedule of release of MCAS data
2. A brochure announcing a conference on character education
3. A memo regarding certification for school nurses
4. "Board in Brief", a summary of the September 28th Board of Education meeting
5. An update on the Shigella outbreak in Hampden County

September 17, 1999  

1. Grant Opportunities for School Breakfast programs
2. Request for updating school district educational technology profiles
3. A Short Guide to the Collection and Maintenance of Student Records in Massachusetts
4. The 1998 Dropout Report
5. Plans of High School Graduates, Class of 1998
6. Announcement of a public meeting on residential placements for special needs students
7. Memo on preliminary 1999 MCAS test item analysis, and the test questions

September 1, 1999  

1. Update on the reporting schedule for MCAS
2. Update on school finance issues
3. Revised curriculum framework for foreign languages
4. Advisory on the student records/non-custodial parents law
5. Sabbatical opportunity for one math and one science teacher
6. Recruitment call for new members on statewide advisory councils
7. FY 2000 reimbursement rates for school meals and milk program
8. Memo on an outbreak of shigellosis in Hampden County
9. Notice of the Governor's annual "Exercise Across Massachusetts" fitness program

August 17, 1999  

1. Recruitment call for members to serve on assessment development committees
2. A memo on teacher quality programs and options for districts
3. School choice end-of-year tuition figures
4. FY 99 state ward payments
5. Announcement of school building assistance planning workshops
6. Memo on Chapter 766 Regulations
7. Revised "Question and Answer Guide to the Regulations on Student Learning Time"
8. Application for new Horace Mann public school charters and schedule of information sessions (superintendents, charter school and collaborative directors only)
9. Revised Draft of the science and technology/engineering curriculum framework, and comment form
10. Memo on failure to obtain recertification
11. Extension of public comment period on changes to the recertification regulation
12. Memo on DSS "Bridge" homes for children
13. Letter from the Secretary of the Commonwealth
14. Poster and flyer on "Spread the Word" K-3 book collection program
15. "U.S. Senate Scholarship" program opportunity for high school students
16. Higher Education Information Centers
17. "Education Factsheets 1999", on selected topics in public education

July 8, 1999  

1. Proposed School and District Accountability System and Proposed Amendments to the Regulations on Under-Performing Schools and Districts
   • School and District Accountability System (Proposed) || APPROVED SEPTEMBER 28, 1999
   • School and District Accountability System and Amendments to Regulation 603 CMR 2.00 for Under-Performing Schools (Proposed) || APPROVED SEPTEMBER 28, 1999
   The Board approved these in June to be released for public comment. These are critical matters that will have a strong and lasting impact on school and district operations. I urge you to give them a careful and thorough review, and to submit your comments to me.
2. Proposed Amendments to the Recertification Regulations
   The Board approved these in June to be released for public comment. Of special interest are five issues related to the proposed changes: the definitions of "advanced academic studies" and "topic;" criteria related to the term "advanced academic studies;" an optional test of subject mastery or performance assessment in lieu of earning some PDP's; a test upon completion of individual courses as a condition for receiving some PDP's; and PDP's earned for submitting recertification applications online.
3. The 1999 Iowa Grade Three Reading Test District Results
   This is a pre-publication copy of the district results of the Iowa Grade 3 Reading Test. The individual school results will be included with district results on our website as of July 16, (www.doe.mass.edu)
4. A Memo Regarding Policies on the Re-Use and Renovation of Existing School Buildings
   We have been asked to explain the policies of the Department's school building assistance program, regarding the re-use and renovation of existing school buildings. This memo addresses those issues.
5. "Board in Brief"
   This is a summary of the June 29th meeting of the Board of Education.

June 17, 1999  

1. The Federal Class Size Reduction Grant Program Application Package
2. Collection of State Student Registration System (SSRS) Data Elements
3. The Massachusetts Guide to Choosing and Using Curricular Materials on Genocide and Human Rights Issues
4. Hidden Hunger, Fragile Future, a Project Bread report on child hunger
5. Commissioner's Memorandum on FY99 Charter School Pupils and Tuition

June 2, 1999  

1. MCAS Update
2. End-of-year statistical reporting information
3. End-of-year reporting workshops schedule
4. Invitation to register for summer mentor training institutes
5. Public comment requested on recertification hardship regulation
6. Lighthouse Technology Workshops June-August schedule
7. Massachusetts Computers for Schools Program
8. MassEd.Net Frequently Asked Questions guidebook
9. Board-in-Brief summary of May 25 State Board of Education meeting
10. Press release announcing appointment of two Deputy Commissioners

May 10, 1999  

1. Competitive federal grant opportunities
2. Continuation grants for early childhood programs
3. May 18 forum in Boston on school and district accountability system
4. Final update and advisory on educator recertification
5. Class size reduction federal grant information
6. Grandparents resource guide from Executive Office of Elder Affairs
7. "Future Trends in Early Childhood Education" book
8. Board in Brief summary of April 26-27 State Board of Education meetings
9. MCET May 25 broadcast of interest to students grades 5-12, in History/Arts/Literature classes, on the Shaw Memorial

April 15, 1999  

1. Coordinated Grants Package
2. 1999 Summer Content Institutes Programs
3. Invitation to Educators to Seek National Board
4. Certification/Schedule of Information Sessions
5. Lighthouse Technology Workshops Schedule
6. School Choice Participation Vote Reminder
7. Exclusions Report, by District

April 1, 1999  

1. Request for Responses for Summer Mentor Training Institutes
   This RFR will provide an opportunity for 1000 veteran teachers to be trained as mentors; this is a major component of our Teacher Quality Enhancement law, Chapter 260 of the Acts of 1998, and represents an important piece of our commitment to strengthen our processes to attract, train and retain high quality teachers.
2. Memorandum re: Veteran educators encouraged to pursue National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification.
   This is the initiative in Chapter 260 which is now called the $50,000 bonus program for veteran teachers. We will be supporting many more candidates who seek to apply for national certification. The first recipients of the $5,000 annual bonus will be awarded on April 12.
3. Summer course offered to train teachers in developing technology programs (Youth Tech Entrepreneurs)
4. Draft of the revised curriculum framework for the Arts
5. Materials about MCET broadcasts concerning the Holocaust
6. FY '98 Per pupil expenditures
7. Per pupil administrative cost averages
8. Chapter 74 tuition rates
9. Special education regulations reform -- public comment requested
10. Charter school renewal process -- public comment requested
11. Board-in-brief summary of March 30 Board of Education meeting
12. Dual Enrollment materials
13. Legal holidays state memo for 1999-2001

March 19, 1999  

1. 1999 MCAS Administration informational memorandum
2. 1999 Grade 3 reading test information
3. Draft of Health Education Framework for comment
4. School building maintenance spending requirements memorandum
5. PALMS "Effective Strategies" session April 16
6. Title I Conference materials
7. April Technology Lighthouse workshops schedule
8. Exemplary secondary educators - request for nominees

March 2, 1999  

1. Statewide content specialist opportunities.
   We will hire 16 content specialists to serve two year sabbatical terms at the Department, expanding our ability to address district and school needs in crucial curriculum areas. Applications need to be sent by April 16.
2. Charter school report.
   This is our second official report on the state's charter schools. The staff of our charter school office will answer any questions you may have. You can contact Edward Kirby, the Acting Director of the office, or Jose Afonso, at 617-727-0075.
3. School construction, school finance and accountability regulations.
   Comments are due by April 2.
4. Massachusetts Work-Based Learning Plan.
5. Violence Prevention Month (May 1999)--Materials for distribution.

February 3, 1999  

1. MCAS Spring Schedule
   Please review this closely. We have taken steps to reduce testing time, given the constraint of adding the History/Social Science test at grade 4. I have also enclosed a sample daily schedule for you to consider.
2. MCAS Spring Workshops-What Does Proficient Work Look Like?
   There are six workshops scheduled for the spring, to help teachers understand the criteria underlying the MCAS performance standards. These sessions will be very useful in helping educators translate MCAS performance expectations into classroom practice. This is the kind of professional development which will make a difference in student achievement.
3. Mass Ed.Net superintendent's checklist
   Please note that registration requests need to be sent to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in Malden, not to the former address in Hopkinton
4. Schedule of Lighthouse Technology workshops
5. Emergency Immigrant Assistance Program information
6. Blue Ribbon Schools application information
7. Board-in-Brief summary of January 25-26 state Board of Education meetings

January 5, 1999  

1. Reminder about competitive grant opportunity for academic support services - deadline is January 19.
   As you recall, in October we issued the competitive grant package. This is the opportunity for you to obtain funds targeted for those students who performed in the lowest levels on the MCAS tests. The funding is to support programs and services in the March-June 1999 period, and the summer 1999 period.
2. Flyer with dates for the Massachusetts Educator Certification Tests.
   Please note that we have listed four regular sessions for this calendar year, but we have two special unpublished sittings arranged with the testing company for candidates for the Massachusetts New Teachers Signing Bonus Program (March date) and for candidates needing to pass the test in order to take jobs this September (July date). Candidates must be first-time test takers for the test they are taking or have pending job offers, and will need to have been referred by superintendents and approved for testing by the Department.
3. Educational Technology Update.
   This document contains district-specific data, provided by districts last spring and fall, through on-line forms. Some of the data is FY 98 and some is FY 99. The report will be released publicly in a few days.
4. Lighthouse Technology Workshop schedule.
5. Estimated FY 99 School choice tuition.
6. Estimated FY 99 charter school tuitions and reimbursements.
7. FY 97 Per pupil spending report.