District/School Administration Administration
Commissioner's Updates - Archive

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2006

December 19, 2006  

1. Guidelines for Commonwealth Pilot School Option (Working Draft)
2. New Competency Determination Requirement Beginning With The Class of 2010
3. 2007 MCAS/MEPA Administration Workshops
4. MCAS Alternate Assessment (MCAS-Alt) Portfolios-In-Progress
   
5. National Missing Children's Day Poster Contest For 5th Graders

December 6, 2006  

1. Microsoft Statewide Donation
2. Spring 2006 MCAS ELA Student Compositions
3. MEPA District Reports

November 20, 2006  

1. Organizational Changes at the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
2. Elementary Teachers 1-6 or K-6 Teacher License

November 1, 2006  

1. Board of Education Votes
2. November 2006 MCAS Retest Update
3. Extension of FY2006 Funds into FY2007
4. 2007-2008 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year Program
5. 2007 Presidential Awards for Mathematics and Science Teaching
6. Conference on Gifted Education in Western Massachusetts
7. The Advanced Placement Exam Fee Subsidy Program

October 18, 2006  

1. Update to the NCLB Highly Qualified Teacher (HQT) Requirements and District Action Steps for the Coming Year
2. New Mercury Legislation Will Affect Schools
3. Resource Guide to the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks for Students with Disabilities (Fall 2006)
4. Fall 2006 MEPA Administration Updates

October 2, 2006  

1. Update on Flu Pandemic Planning
2. November is Family Literacy Month

September 19, 2006  

1. Amendments to Student Records Regulations on Access by Non-Custodial Parents
2. MCAS Assessment Development Committee (ADC) Recruitment
3. Ordering Test Material for the November 2006 MCAS Retest
4. 2007 Educator Manual for MCAS Alternate Assessment (MCAS-Alt)
5. Arrival of John and Abigail Adams Scholarship Letters
6. Fall 2006 Statistical Reports
7. Graduation Rates
8. Gifted and Talented Services RFP
9. College Funding Grants

September 7, 2006  

1. Outreach on Educational Options and Academic Support Opportunities - Required Notices Regarding Students who Leave High School Without Graduating
2. 2007 MCAS Alternate Assessment Training Opportunities
3. Ordering Test Materials for the Fall 2006 MEPA-R/W Administration
4. Acts of 2005 Relative to Public Education
5. Acts of 2006 Relative to Public Education
6. Supporting the Children of Guard and Reserve Institute

August 21, 2006  

1. Legal Holidays; Accommodation for Religious Observances
2. Legislative Action on Behalf of students with Disabilities, Summer 2006
3. Important MCAS Notice: Change in November 2006 Retest Schedule
4. Reporting Discrepancies in Spring 2006 MCAS Results
5. 2007-2008 MCAS and MEPA Test Administration Schedule
6. MCAS High School Science and Technology/Engineering (STE) Competency Determination: Test Participation and Administration Requirements
7. 2007 Davidson Fellow Scholarships
8. Constitution Day and Citizenship Day: September 17

August 8, 2006  

1. Reviews of First Year Waivers
2. Expanded Learning Time Planning Grants
3. High School of the Future II Conference Call for Presenters

July 25, 2006  

1. Principals of Public and Private Schools Required to Report Incidents of Fire
2. MCAS High School Science and Technology/Engineering (STE) Competency Determination: Test Participation and Administration Requirements
3. Memo: Schedule for Reporting of 2006 MCAS and AYP Results for Schools and Districts and Reporting MCAS and AYP Data Discrepancies
4. 2006 MCAS and AYP Data Review Schedule
5. 2006 MCAS and AYP Data Reporting Schedule
6. Accountability System Update - 2006 End-of-Cycle IV
7. Service-Learning in Massachusetts

July 11, 2006  

1. Regulations Available for Public Comment
   1. Regulations on Competency Determination and Certificate of Mastery (603 CMR 30.00 and 31.00)
   2. Regional School District Regulations (603 CMR 41.00)
   3. Regulations on Under-Performing Schools and School Districts (603 CMR 2.00)
   4. MCAS Performance Appeals Regulations (603 CMR 30.05)
2. Academic Support Technical Assistance Session, July 21, 2006 in Shrewsbury - 8:30-2:30
3. Public Safety Issue - Rental of Inflatable Devices

June 26, 2006  

1. Preliminary 2006 MCAS Grade 10 Multiple-Choice Results
2. Technology Professional Development Opportunity
3. Final FY06 Charter School Tuition and Reimbursements
4. FY06 School Choice Tuition, June 2006

June 14, 2006  

1. Federal "Highly Qualified" Teacher June 30th Deadline
2. MCAS-Alt: 2006 Guidelines for Scoring Student Portfolios
3. MCAS-Alt: Spring 2004 and Spring 2005 State Summary of Participation and Performance
4. Notice of Public Comment, Proposed Amendments to Student Records Regulations, 603 CMR 23.00
5. 2005 NAEP Science Test: Summary of Results for Massachusetts

June 2, 2006  

1. Summer 2006 MCAS Retest: Test Administration Schedule and Reminder about June 9 Deadlines
2. Release of Spring 2006 Student, School and District MEPA Results: Friday, June 9
3. National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard (NIMAS) Additional Assurance Required for IDEA Part B Grant
4. Revised May 31, 2006: Diplomas for Eligible Veterans
5. Revised May 26, 2006: Recruitment for Board of Education Advisory Councils
6. Notice of Public Comment, Proposed Amendments to Educator Licensure and Preparation Program Approval Regulations, 603 CMR 7.00
7. Notice of Public Comment, Proposed Amendments to School Finance Regulations, 603 CMR 10.00
8. Science and Technology/Engineering Education Forum Information

May 22, 2006  

1. MCAS Updates
2. Veteran's Diplomas
3. Recruitment for Board of Education Advisory Councils
4. Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented Education Course
5. High Schools of the Future II Conference Call for Presenters
6. Technology Enhancement Competitive Grants
7. College and Career Outreach Contest Information
   1. Additional Information
   2. Flyer Attention Students: Help Us Spread the Word
   3. Contest Rules
   4. Entry Form

May 2, 2006  

1. Summer 2006 MCAS Retest Opportunity
   1. Summer 2006 MCAS Retest Administration Test Administrator Application
   2. Advisory on Test Accommodations for the Summer 2006 MCAS Retest
   3. Question and Answer Flyer Summer 2006 MCAS Retest Opportunity
2. Invitation to Serve on MCAS Standard-Setting Panels in July and August
   Deadline to Respond: Friday, May 19, 2006
   1. 2006 Standard-Setting Panel Application for Educators
   2. 2006 Standard-Setting Panel Application for Higher Education Personnel, Member of the Business Community, Members of Community Organizations, and the General Public
3. History & Social Science Forums at the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

April 18, 2006  

1. Proposed Amendments to 603 CMR 4.00, Vocational Technical Education Regulations
2. Notice of Public Comment on Proposed Amendments to 603 CMR 4.00, Vocational Technical Education Regulations
3. MCAS Updates: Sample Mathematics Test Items for Grade 3 and Announcement of Upcoming MCAS Standard-Setting Professional Development Opportunity
4. School Committee Vote on 2006-2007 School Choice Status
5. Waivers to Employ Unlicensed Personnel
6. Summer 2006 Content Institutes for Educators
7. Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Report, "Technology in Massachusetts Schools 2004-2005"
8. University of Massachusetts Medical School Conference, "Breathing Lessons: How to Approach Asthma, Athletes, Allergies and Sleep Disorders in School."

April 4, 2006  

1. Submitting Spring 2006 MELA-O Scores for LEP Students in Grades K-2
2. 2006 MCAS-Alt Summer Scoring Institute: Scorer Application
3. Public Forums on a New Educator Preparation and Licensure System
4. IDEA 2004 OSEP Guidance on Parentally Placed Private School Students

March 21, 2006  

1. Spring 2006 School Choice Enrollment Update
2. Update on FY06 Charter Tuition Calculations
3. Partnership for Technology Professional Development
4. Reducing Trauma as a Barrier to Learning - State Conference
5. Supporting the Children of Guard and Reserve Institute Training
6. National Library Week and Week of the Young Child from April 2-8, 2006

March 9, 2006  

1. Sheltered English Immersion Professional Development, "Training of Trainers" Opportunities - Summer 2006
2. NCLB/Highly Qualified Teachers and Paraprofessionals Update
3. SIMS Student Subgroup Information, Opportunity to Check for Accuracy
4. 2006-2007 Schedule for MCAS and MEPA Testing
5. "Getting All Students to the Finish Line - Enhancing Alternative Education" Statewide Conference
6. Education Technology Conference
7. High School Essay Contest for 2006, Sponsored by the Supreme Judicial Court and the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
8. High School Financial Literacy Program Offered by the Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs
9. Supporting the Children of Guard and Reserve Institute Training
10. "District Efforts to Increase Family Involvement, 2005"
11. Distinguished Elementary Educators, 2006-2007
12. Service-Learning Leader Award Nominations
13. Funding Sources Available for Arts Education

February 22, 2006  

1. Resources for the MCAS Spring 2006 Test Administrations Available Online
2. Spring 2006 MCAS School Closure (Snow Day Policy)
3. November 2005 MCAS Retest Composition CD
4. Updated Database for Qualified MELA-O Administrators and Trainers (QMAs/QMTS)
5. Additional MCAS/MEPA Workshop Session
6. Educational Data Warehouse and Reporting System

February 6, 2006  

1. Special Education Circuit Breaker Extraordinary Relief Claims
2. Registration Information for the Spring MCAS/MEPA Administration Workshops
3. Portfolio Review Sessions for the 2006 MCAS Alternate Assessment
4. Revised High School Science and Technology/Engineering Learning Standards
5. Preserve America History Teacher of the Year
6. Foreign Language Teachers and Programs
7. Louisiana Graduation Exit Examination (GEE) Online for Hurricane Evacuees

January 25, 2006  

1. Requirements for the Participation of Students with Disabilities in MCAS
2. Requirements for Participation of Students with Limited English Proficiency in MCAS and MEPA
3. Updates for the Spring 2006 MCAS Test Administration
4. Announcement of Spring 2006 MCAS/MEPA Administration Workshop
5. Performance Review Program For Initial Licensure (PRPIL)
6. Request for Proposals: Content Institutes for 2006
7. Announcement of George Washington Teachers' Institute
8. Louisiana Diplomas for Displaced Students

January 9, 2006  

1. Preliminary Charter School FY06 Tuition and Enrollment
2. Update on Spring 2006 High School Science and Technology/Engineering MCAS Test Administration
3. Ordering Test Materials for the MCAS March Retest, Spring MCAS (Grades 3-10), and MEPA-R/W (Grades 3-12) Administrations
4. College Board Online Demonstration of AP Potential Program
5. Call for Conference Presenters: Enhancing Alternative Education - State Conference