Welcome to the
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

My name is Mitchell D. Chester, and as Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education it is my pleasure to welcome you to our website. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is charged with the responsibility of ensuring improved teaching and learning in all of the Commonwealth's public schools.

We are guided by this mission…

"To improve the quality of the public education system so that students are adequately prepared for higher education, rewarding employment, continued education, and responsible citizenship. We carry out our mission in partnership with Massachusetts school districts and other organizations that provide educational programs and services. Students, parents, teachers and other educators, elected officials, business and community leaders, and the public all are stakeholders in the work of the Department to improve schools and raise student achievement."

And by these goals…

1. Qualified educators for every public school and classroom
2. High standards for what all students should know and be able to do in the core subjects
3. Adequate resources and support services, used well by schools, districts, and communities
4. Valid, reliable assessment and accountability systems for students, educators, schools, and districts
5. Timely, useful information to stakeholders, and
6. Efficient agency management.

Our website offers a great deal of information related to our mission and goals. Whether you are a student, teacher, parent, school leader or an interested person you can find an interesting webpage. We update our information continuously, so I hope that you will visit us often. Thank you for joining us.