Commissioner's Update
February 27, 2008

Dear Superintendents, and Leaders of Charter Schools and Collaboratives:

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

Massachusetts State Performance Plan for Special Education (MA SPP) for FFY 2005-2010 and Annual Performance Report (MA APR) for FFY 2006

A revised version of the Massachusetts State Performance Plan for Special Education (MA SPP) for FFY 2005-2010 and the recently submitted Massachusetts Annual Performance Report (MA APR) for FFY 2006 are now available at http://www.doe.mass.edu/sped/spp/. The MA SPP is a six-year strategic plan required by the federal Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) that outlines the state's efforts in working towards improved outcomes for student with disabilities. The MA SPP includes baseline data, targets, and improvement activities for 20 indicators identified by OSEP, including graduation and dropout rates, assessment results and other performance and compliance based indicators. The MA APR contains progress data for FFY2006 in 17 of the indicator areas. Data related to the MA SPP and MA APR are currently reported publicly at the LEA level for several indicators at http://profiles.doe.mass.edu/special_ed.aspx. These data will be updated this spring and data for additional indicators will be added.

Massachusetts Mathematics Curriculum Framework Review

At the September 27, 2007 Board of Education meeting, the Board adopted a schedule to revise all seven Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks. The review process for the 2000 Massachusetts Mathematics Curriculum Framework and the 2004 Grades 3, 5, and 7 Grade Level Standards Supplement will begin in late February 2008 with the recruitment of members for the review panel. Application information and forms are posted online at the http://www.doe.mass.edu/news/news.asp?id=3934. Deadline for applications is: Wednesday, March 19, 2008. Applicants selected for appointment to the panel will be notified in early April 2008. We are seeking representation on the panel from mathematics faculty, educators, and school leaders serving all grade levels as well as ELL and special education specialists and community representatives.

Items Posted at www.doe.mass.edu:

1. Special Education Circuit Breaker Extraordinary Relief Claims Due by Friday, February 29, 2008
2. Opportunity to Review Student Demographic Information to Be Used for 2008 MCAS|AYP Subgroup Reports
3. Mathematics Curriculum Framework Review Panel
4. English Language Arts Curriculum Framework Discussion Meetings
5. April Regional College Readiness Workshops

Sincerely,

Jeffrey Nellhaus
Acting Commissioner of Education