Commissioner's Update
June 19, 2007

Dear Superintendents, and Leaders of Charter Schools and Collaboratives:

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

New Information and Tools from Charter School Dissemination Projects Now Available

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has funded Charter School Dissemination Grant projects through a federal award for more than 8 years. These competitively awarded projects support the sharing of innovations from successful charter schools as required by Massachusetts law.

Information about the 2006-2007 round of Massachusetts Charter School Dissemination Grant projects is now available at http://www.doe.mass.edu/charter/dissemination/default.asp. Projects include the continuation of governance trainings by Sturgis Charter Public School and the "Making Learning Visible" Collaboration by Conservatory Lab Charter School. In addition, new projects underway are:

• Exponential Growth: High-Impact Practices to Raise Mathematics Achievement, a project by Prospect Hill Academy Charter School to share its successes in high school math instruction with the Somerville Public Schools and other districts;
• A project by North Central Charter Essential School to share its grades 7 - 12, inquiry based, "Essential Science" program; and
• A collaboration led by Boston Day and Evening Academy to create tools to evaluate school impact on student development for at-risk youth.

In addition, final products, tools, and results from the 2005-2006 round of this grant program-including a high school literacy project by Codman Academy Charter Public School and a differentiated learning project by Martha's Vineyard Public Charter School are now posted at http://www.doe.mass.edu/charter/dissemination/default.asp?section=7.

Water Safety Reminder

As the warm weather season begins, please be mindful of children swimming in pools, beaches and lakes. It is important that everyone - especially parents, guardians and recreational leaders - take extra measures to ensure all children are safe when they are in or near water. Swimming is an excellent way to cool off, great exercise and a lot of fun, but if children are not properly supervised tragic accidents can occur. For specific tips on water safety, please check this link on the Department of Public Health's website: http://www.mass.gov/dph/fch/injury/watersafe03.htm.

Advisory on School Nurses and Eligibility for Professional Teacher Status

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's legal staff has prepared an advisory addressing questions we have received about Chapter 267 of the Acts of 2006, An Act Granting School Nurses Eligibility for Professional Teacher Status. The advisory is posted on the Laws and Regulations page of our website under Advisory Opinions at: http://www.doe.mass.edu/lawsregs/advisories.html. We hope you will find it helpful.

Items Posted at www.doe.mass.edu:

1. March 2007 MCAS Retest ELA Student Compositions
2. 2008-2009 Statewide MCAS and MEPA Test Administration Schedule

Congratulations to you all on another successful school year. Thank you again for the great work that you do for the children of the Commonwealth.

Sincerely,

David P. Driscoll
Commissioner of Education