District/School Administration Administration
Education Laws and Regulations

Notice of Public Comment for Proposed Amendment to 603 CMR 2.00, Under-Performing Schools and School Districts Regulations

Pursuant to its authority under M.G.L. c. 69, §§ 1B, 1J and 1K, and c. 71, § 38G, and in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act, M.G.L. c.30A, § 3, the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education is soliciting public comment on proposed amendments to 603 CMR 2.00, Under-Performing Schools and School Districts Regulations.

The proposed amendments would replace the Under-Performing Schools and School Districts Regulations, retaining some provisions and revising others. The proposed new regulations, titled Accountability and Assistance for Schools and School Districts, are based on current state law, including amendments that took effect in 2008, and reflect the redesigned accountability and assistance framework that has been developed in collaboration with key stakeholders and the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. Of the five sections in the current regulations,

• 2.01 (Authority, Scope and Purpose) and 2.02 (Definitions), have been revised and expanded.
• 2.03 (School Accountability) and 2.04 (Underperforming School Districts) have largely been replaced, except for 2.03(1) on the accountability system (now in revised form at 2.03(1)-(5)), and 2.04(1) on district improvement planning, now in revised form at 2.04(4).
• 2.05 (Low-Performing Mathematics Programs), is maintained in revised form, covering all schools rather than middle and high schools only, in the proposed regulations at 2.08.

The proposed regulations define roles and responsibilities for improving student achievement for schools and districts at all five levels of the accountability and assistance framework. For a more detailed overview of the proposed regulations, please see the memo posted at: http://www.doe.mass.edu/boe/docs/0909/item5a.html. The current regulations, which the proposed amendments would update and replace, are found at: http://www.doe.mass.edu/lawsregs/603cmr2.html.

Copies of the proposed amendments are available on the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's website at http://www.doe.mass.edu/lawsregs/, or by calling 781-338-3509. Written comments on the proposed amendments may be submitted via regular mail to Catherine Sullivan, Center for School and District Accountability, Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, 75 Pleasant Street., Malden, MA 02148; by fax to 781-338-3318; or by e-mail to csullivan@doe.mass.edu. The deadline for submission of public comment is Friday, November 6, 2009. The Board is expected to vote on the proposed amendments at its regular monthly meeting scheduled for December 15, 2009.

  

Proposed Amendment to 603 CMR 2.00, Under-Performing Schools and School Districts Regulations