Commissioner's Update
February 28, 2007
Dear Superintendents, and Leaders of Charter Schools and Collaboratives:
In this Update I have four announcements and eight items for your review.
Update
Massachusetts State Performance Plan for Special Education (MA SPP) for FFY 2005-2010 and Annual Performance Report (MA APR) for FFY 2005
A revised version of the Massachusetts State Performance Plan for Special Education (MA SPP) for FFY 2005-2010 and the recently submitted Massachusetts Annual Performance Report (MA APR) for FFY 2005 are now available at http://www.doe.mass.edu/sped/spp/. The MA SPP is a six-year strategic plan required by the federal Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) that outlines the state's efforts in working towards improved outcomes for student with disabilities. The MA SPP includes baseline data, targets, and improvement activities for 20 indicators identified by OSEP, including graduation and dropout rates, assessment results and other performance and compliance based indicators. The MA APR contains progress data for FFY 2005 in 12 of the indicator areas. Data from the MA SPP and MA APR will be reported publicly at the LEA level for several indicators by this spring.
High School MCAS Science and Technology/Engineering
An additional MCAS High School Science and Technology/Engineering teleconference has been scheduled. Information can be found at www.doe.mass.edu/news/news.asp?id=3266.
"High School MCAS Science and Technology/Engineering Resources and Frequently Asked Questions" is posted on the Department's Web site at www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/science/.
Recruiting professional development providers for Summer 2007 Professional Development Institute Program
I am pleased to announce that this summer the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will be offering Professional Development Institutes, an enhanced version of the Content Institutes we have offered in prior years. This year's Institutes will focus on effective standards-based teaching skills as well as strengthening teachers' content knowledge. The Department is seeking professional development providers to successfully design and deliver one or more Institute courses. More detailed information about becoming a provider is available at: http://www.doe.mass.edu/frameworks/cinstitute/.
Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority Sponsoring Financial Aid Email Service
MEFA has developed an email service to help parents of high school seniors through each major step of the college financial aid process. Parents of younger students can also register for emails on the college search and admissions process. Sign up online at: https://www.mefa.org/financialaid/passignupform.aspx.
Items Posted at www.doe.mass.edu:
- Approved Bilingual Dictionaries for Use on MCAS Tests by Students with Limited English Proficiency
 
- MCAS Guide to History and Social Science Assessments
- Memo "Draft of Matching Licenses"
- Preserve America History Teacher of the Year
- Distinguished Secondary Educators
- The Advanced Placement Exam Fee Subsidy Program
- Community Service-Learning (CSL) Leader Award Nominations Sought
- Reminder - Deadline for OJJDP 5th Grade Poster Contest is March 1, 2007
Sincerely,
David P. Driscoll
Commissioner of Education
|
State Government · State Services 
