Commissioner's Update
October 22, 2007

Dear Superintendents and Leaders of Charter Schools and Collaboratives:

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

2007 National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) Results

Results from the 2007 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) tests showed that Massachusetts 4th graders outscored their counterparts in all 49 states in reading and mathematics. At grade 8, Massachusetts students were first in mathematics and tied for first in reading. Since the last state NAEP tests in 2005, scores improved for Massachusetts 4th graders in reading and mathematics and 8th graders in mathematics, while grade 8 reading scores did not change. Additional information on the 2007 NAEP results is available at http://www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/naep/.

Thanks to all the districts and schools across the state that participated in the 2007 NAEP testing.

Massachusetts English Language Arts Curriculum Framework Survey

In preparation for the upcoming review of the Massachusetts English Language Arts Curriculum Framework, the Department is seeking comments on the current framework that was adopted by the Board of Education in 2001. We invite educators who use the framework, parents, community members, and students to fill out the short survey posted at http://www.zoomerang.com/survey.zgi?p=WEB226ZDCF2BS9. The framework can be found at http://www.doe.mass.edu/frameworks/current.html and a copy of this survey is also posted at http://www.doe.mass.edu/frameworks/updates.html.

Please respond to the survey by Friday, November 16. Your responses will summarized to inform the work of the Review Panel.

Thank you for your participation in this project.

1. Process for the Extension of FY 2007 Funds into FY 2008 for Title IIA
2. Fall Statistical Reports to Public School Principals
3. Fall Statistical Reports to Superintendents and Charter School Leaders
4. Instructions for Submitting Fall 2007 MELA-O Scores for LEP Students in Grades K-2
5. MCAS Assessment Development Committee (ADC) Recruitment
6. November MCAS Retest and Fall MEPA Resources and Information
7. Advisory on Approval of Massachusetts Private Schools Pursuant to Mass. Gen. Laws c. 76, section 1
8. Character Education Partnership's State School of Character Awards Program

Sincerely,

Jeffrey Nellhaus
Acting Commissioner of Education