Commissioner's Update
May 23, 2007

Dear Superintendents, and Leaders of Charter Schools and Collaboratives:

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

Update Advisory on CORI Law

In cooperation with the Criminal History Systems Board, I am providing you with an updated advisory on the CORI (criminal offender record information) law and your responsibilities to conduct criminal background checks on employees, volunteers, contractors, transportation providers, and others who may have direct and unmonitored contact with children. The advisory contains updated information from the Criminal History Systems Board (CHSB) about renewing your certification with that agency and using its new Web CORI system, and the authority to conduct background checks on bus drivers. It also describes changes in the CHSB's regulations regarding the paperwork agencies need to complete before requesting CORI, and what a hiring authority needs to do before making an adverse hiring decision on the basis of a person's CORI. I want to thank the Criminal History Systems Board for its help in drafting this advisory. I hope this information will be helpful to schools and districts as you continue to carry out your legal obligations relating to criminal background checks and school safety.

Charter School Information Sessions

Information sessions on how to apply for a public school charter in Massachusetts will be held on May 31 and June 13, 2007 via web conference and on June 7 at the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, 350 Main Street, Malden, 2nd floor. Register online at www.doe.mass.edu/conference/?ConferenceID=314; by phone: 781-338-3227, or by email: charterschools@doe.mass.edu.

Items Posted at www.doe.mass.edu:

1. Accountability and Technical Assistance in the Area of Special Education
2. Early Childhood Mental Health Survey
3. The Mathematics and Science Teachers Scholarship Program
4. Release of Spring 2007 MEPA Results
5. June Release of Multiple-Choice Results: Grade 3 Reading and Grade 10 ELA and Math
6. Release of Spring 2007 IDEA Proficiency Test (IPT) Results for English Language Learners in Grades K-2 in Title III Districts
7. Public School Operated Before- and/or After-School Programs
8. U.S.-China Principal Exchange Opportunity
   [ No longer available ]

Sincerely,

David P. Driscoll
Commissioner of Education