Commissioner of Education Seeks Candidates for Board of Education Advisory Councils

Commissioner Driscoll said, "The Board and I are committed to establishing advisory councils that will work actively to help improve public education programs and advance student achievement. We encourage applications from educators, parents, students and other community members who have an interest in and commitment to education reform."

Members of the councils are appointed for a three-year term and serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for expenses incurred. Each council meets 4-6 times a year at times and locations determined by its members.

Letters of intent and resumes are due to the Department of Education by October 1, 1999. After reviewing the applications, Commissioner Driscoll will make recommendations to the Board for appointment at the October 26, 1999 Board meeting.

Three or more slots are available on the following councils.

• Adult Basic Education- adult educators, students, business/union and civic-minded representatives particularly from central and western Massachusetts
• Arts Education- candidates from all areas and levels of arts education (particularly drama and dance) as well as parents, students, practicing artists and representatives from community arts organizations
• Bilingual Education- parents of bilingual students and students themselves from all regions of the state
• Early Childhood Education- Head Start directors, candidates from central and western Massachusetts, representatives from various state human service agencies, teachers, parents, private child care providers, and representatives from business, labor and government
• Gifted and Talented Education- school administrators, representatives from higher education and parents, students, and teachers from northeastern and western Massachusetts
• Global Education- teachers, parents, students, and community representatives with expertise or developed interest in issues such as economics, world cultures and environmental science
• Interdisciplinary Health Education and Human Services- candidates from central and western Massachusetts with expertise working in or with public schools to provide health education and services to students and their families
• Life Management Skills and Home Economics- parents, students, business/civic representatives, school committee members, superintendents and educators
• Mathematics and Science Education- mathematics educators as well as parent, student, and community representatives
• Parent and Community Education and Involvement- student representatives and parents of children in grades K-12 from all regions of the state
• Racial Imbalance- student representatives and parents of children in grades K-12 from all regions of the state
• Special Education- additional parent and student representatives, and a representative of an institution of higher education
• Technology/Engineering Education- candidates from Greater Boston and western Massachusetts.

For more information on the Board of Education Advisory Councils call the Department of Education at 781-388-3300, ext. 639, visit the Department of Education website at http://www.doe.mass.edu/, or e-mail kdecoster@doe.mass.edu