Commissioner's Update
February 3, 2009

Dear Superintendents and Leaders of Charter Schools and Collaboratives:

In this Update I have one announcement and four items for your review.

Announcement of Contract Award for the Certificate of Occupational Proficiency

ESE has recently contracted with Castle Worldwide, Inc., a company with a national reputation for excellence in the design, development, and administration of competency-based examinations. Castle will provide technical assistance to the Department in the development of the assessment design and implementation plan for the Certificate. Please direct any questions to the Student Assessment Services Unit at 781-338-3625.

Items Posted at www.doe.mass.edu

1. Head Start Reauthorization and Memorandum of Understanding
2. Portfolio Review Sessions for the 2009 MCAS-Alternate Assessment
   [ No longer available ]
3. Districts in North Central Massachusetts Severely Affected by Extensive School Closings Due to December 2008 Ice Storms
4. Special Education Circuit Breaker Extraordinary Relief Claims

Sincerely,

Mitchell D. Chester, Ed.D.
Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education