Commissioner's Update
October 1, 2007

Dear Superintendents, and Leaders of Charter Schools and Collaboratives:

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

New FY2008 Transition to Full-Day Kindergarten Grant RFP Application Released

As many of you know, the state offers $6 million in competitive grants to encourage the voluntary expansion of high-quality, full-day kindergarten across Massachusetts. This grant is intended for districts ready to implement full-day kindergarten (FDK) classes in September of 2008.

The larger purpose of the state-funded Kindergarten Development Grant program is to enhance the educational experience of children by: increasing the number of full-day kindergarten classrooms; improving overall quality and curriculum; increasing inclusion; promoting continuity of curriculum from preschool (PreK) to third grade; and developing other program components. The program will help to achieve the goal of preventing the achievement gap from starting.

Letters of Intent to Apply are due Friday, September 28, 2007 and all proposals must be received by 5 p.m. on Monday, October 22, 2007. For more details, review http://finance1.doe.mass.edu/Grants/grants08/rfp/702.html or contact Nermina Peric, Office of Elementary School Services, nperic@doe.mass.edu or 781-338-6353.

MCAS Updates

November Retest

Information about the MCAS November retest is posted on the Department's Website at www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/2007/news/0912f07retest.html. Please note that new for this administration, adults may participate in testing at their previous high schools or at a regional test site. The five regional retest sites are located in Boston, Lowell, New Bedford, Springfield, and Worcester. The deadline for registration at the regional retest sites is Friday, October 5.

Reporting of MCAS Results

On Friday, September 28 superintendents will receive electronic access to student, school, and district grade 3-8 and 10 results for all content areas except high school Science and Technology/Engineering. Principals will receive electronic access to test results on Saturday, September 29. High school Science and Technology/Engineering results will available electronically at the district level on October 5 and at the school level on October 6. Districts are scheduled to receive Parent/Guardian Reports for grades 3-8 on October 9 and for high schools on October 12.

Threshold Scores for High School Science and Technology/Engineering

The threshold scores for the 2007 MCAS tests have been updated to include high school Science and Technology/Engineering. The updated memorandum and raw to scaled score conversion table may be viewed at www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/2007/results/threshscore.html.

Items Posted at www.doe.mass.edu:

1. Updated Advisory: MCAS Test Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
   
2. Massachusetts English Language Arts Curriculum Framework Panel
   
3. Current Trends in School Finance
     

Sincerely,

Jeffrey Nellhaus
Acting Commissioner of Education