Commissioner's Update
March 20, 2007

Dear Superintendents, and Leaders of Charter Schools and Collaboratives:

In this Update I have two announcements and six items for your review.

Update

MCAS Performance Appeals

The spring MCAS Cohort Performance Appeals review will take place on March 22, April 19, May 3 and May 21. Appeals should be submitted one week prior to the meeting dates. The Commissioner will notify the superintendent in writing of his decisions within 10 business days after he receives the Performance Appeals Board recommendations. To review the schedule for MCAS Portfolio Performance Appeals please go to http://www.doe.mass.edu/mcasappeals/filing/portfolio/.

Education Personnel Information Management System (EPIMS)

The first mandatory statewide Education Personnel Information Management System (EPIMS) data collection period will be from October 1 - December 31, 2007. EPIMS will replace the DSSR (District School Staffing Report), which currently reports similar information on an aggregate basis. Please use the ID Maintenance application to assign individual identification numbers to staff who will be reported in the EPIMS data collection.

Four web-based ID Maintenance training sessions will be held during the last week of April, allowing participants to attend from their workplace if they have access to an Internet-enabled PC and telephone. One person from each district should attend one of these sessions. The sessions will review the data elements required for ID assignment and train participants in the assignment and maintenance of IDs. Attendance at each session will be limited to the first 100 registrants per session. Please register online: http://www.doe.mass.edu/conference/. Contact EPIMS staff with any questions at: epims@doe.mass.edu.

Items Posted at www.doe.mass.edu:

1. Opportunity to Check MCAS/AYP Student Subgroup Information for Accuracy
   
2. Spring 2007 Field Test for the Certificate of Occupational Proficiency
   
3. Guidance for the Mathematics Preparation of Teachers at the Elementary Level
   [ No longer available ]
4. FOX25 News Deadline for My High School Newscast Contest is March 28
   [ No longer available ]
5. Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) Documentary "Back to School"
   
6. Reminder - Deadline for The Marjot Foundation Grant is April 1
   

Sincerely,

David P. Driscoll
Commissioner of Education