Commissioner's Update
June 30, 2009

Dear Superintendents, and Leaders of Charter Schools and Collaboratives:

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

Charter School Dissemination Website and Guide

The Department has created a new, easy-to-use Charter School Best Practices website, and has published a Best Practices and Dissemination Activity Guide. The website allows you to search by school, topic or keyword for innovative best practices shared by charter schools and district partners. Profiles provide summary information about the practice or activity, web-based and other resources to support implementation, and contact information. The Best Practices and Dissemination Activity Guide, available for download on the website, features five of these practices.

We hope that showcasing these practices and partnerships can further the important dialogue that is necessary between educators in all types of public schools to support achievement at the highest levels for all students in the Commonwealth. Please visit the new website at: http://www.doe.mass.edu/charter/bestpractices/.

1. College and Career Web Portal
2. Growth Model Release
3. Update Information about the 2009 - 2010 MCAS and MEPA Test Administration Schedules
4. MCAS Alternate Assessment 2009 Guidelines for Scoring Student Portfolios   

Sincerely,

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