The Innovation Schools Statute (M.G.L., c. 71, § 92), requires superintendents in districts with innovation schools and/or academies to evaluate these schools at least annually. The purpose of the evaluation is to determine whether the school and/or academy has met the annual goals articulated in its approved innovation plan and to assess the implementation of the innovation plan. These annual evaluations must be submitted to the local School Committee as well as to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (Department) by July 30, 2021.
In an effort to assist superintendents with completing the evaluation of each innovation school or academy, the Department requests that superintendents use the updated innovation schools annual evaluation template posted on the Department's innovation schools website. The updated template requires superintendents to describe how innovation schools/academies monitor and assess the experience and performance of its students and teachers. The updated template asks superintendents to describe how innovation schools/academies respond to or address any observed disparities in outcomes or access. Additionally, with the absence of Next Generation MCAS scores for the 2020 school year, the template provides a list of alternative ways the school and/or academy may evaluate their academic performance.
Use of this template is strongly encouraged since its revisions provide clear and easy-to-use tables to input school and/or academy data, information, and responses. If superintendents wish to use another format, please be sure to provide the Department with the required information, which can be found within the template itself.
Districts must submit an evaluation for each of its innovation schools and academies that have been in operation for at least one full academic year in FY2021 (school year 2020-2021) via email to Brenton Stewart by July 30, 2021.
The Department will use the evaluations to inform decisions about how best to support innovation schools in the future, as well as to inform the required annual report to the legislature about innovation schools.
If innovation status has ended for any schools and/or academies in your district, please complete all the applicable sections of the annual evaluation. Be sure to include the date innovation status ended as well as any other relevant updates (such as school committee minutes of when the vote occurred to end innovation status) within the final section of the evaluation template.
Please contact Brenton Stewart , Coordinator of School Redesign and Impact at brenton.stewart@mass.gov or (781) 338-3214 if you wish to open an innovation school or academy, have questions about the Annual Evaluation process, or to notify us if any innovation schools or academies have recently been created or closed (in FY2021 or prior to FY2021).
Last Updated: July 1, 2021
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 135 Santilli Highway, Everett, MA 02149
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