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Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE)

Board Documents — December 2023

Regular Meeting — Cancelled: 12/18/2023 10:00 a.m.

Board of Elementary and Secondary Education
John W. McCormack Building*
1 Ashburton Place, 21st Floor,
Conference Room 1 and 2
Boston, MA 02108
Tuesday, December 19, 2023, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Posted: 12/15/2023 8:45 a.m.

Statements from the Public**
Comments from the Chair
Comments from the Secretary
Comments from the Commissioner

Routine Business:

Approval of the Minutes of the November 1, 2023 Special Meeting and the November 21, 2023 Regular Meeting

Agenda Items:

  1. Boston Public Schools — Report and Discussion

  2. Chronic Absenteeism and Proposed Changes to 2024 District and School Accountability Reporting — Continuing Discussion and Vote to Solicit Public Comment

Other Items for Information:

  1. Report on Grants Approved by the Commissioner

  2. SOA Data Advisory Commission Report

Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Members

  • Ms. Katherine Craven, Chair, Brookline
  • Mr. Matt Hills, Vice-Chair, Newton
  • Dr. Ericka Fisher, Worcester
  • Ms. Ela Gardiner, Wellesley, Student Member
  • Ms. Farzana Mohamed, Newton
  • Mr. Michael Moriarty, Holyoke
  • Mr. Paymon Rouhanifard, Brookline
  • Ms. Mary Ann Stewart, Lexington
  • Dr. Patrick A. Tutwiler, Secretary of Education, Andover
  • Dr. Martin West, Newton

Jeffrey C. Riley, Commissioner
Secretary to the Board

All BESE regular meetings will be livestreamed and recorded.

*Please note the following information regarding entering the McCormack Building.
All visitors entering the McCormack Building are asked to present photo identification and to identify their destination in the building. The Security Officer will enter the information into the visitor management system and produce a temporary Visitor ID badge. Visitors must display their Visitor ID badge on their outer garment at chest level while in the building. Visitors will also be required to successfully complete the visitor screening process which includes the use of X-Ray machines and Magnetometers. (Additional detail is available at McCormack Building - Visitor Access Information.)

**The Board welcomes public comment on matters within its purview. Accordingly, the Board makes available a maximum 30-minute period at its regular meetings for persons in the audience to address the Board for no longer than 3 minutes. Written material of any length may be submitted. Preference will be given to persons who seek to address the Board on specific agenda items for the upcoming Board meeting. Agendas for upcoming Board meetings are generally posted 5 days prior to the meeting on the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education's website. Persons wishing to speak are strongly encouraged to submit their request before the day of the meeting; contact information is provided below. Preference will be given to those who submit requests by 5:00 p.m. on the Thursday preceding the regular Tuesday meeting. If time permits, the Chair will allow members of the public who have not contacted the Department in advance to speak in the public comment period; those individuals must sign in prior to the start of the meeting. The Chair may limit the number of speakers due to time constraints and may increase or reduce the time allocated per speaker. While there is no requirement to submit comments in writing, a speaker who elects to do so should submit 15 copies of their comments prior to or at the meeting for distribution to Board members. Requests to address the Board, written comments, and other inquiries may be transmitted by mail, e-mail, fax, or telephone to: Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, 75 Pleasant Street, Malden, MA 02148, Phone: 781-338-3112, Fax: 781-338-3770, Email: BoardofEducation@mass.gov . Please make any requests for special accommodations or interpretation services at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled meeting.

Last Updated: December 18, 2023

 
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Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
135 Santilli Highway, Everett, MA 02149

Voice: (781) 338-3000
TTY: (800) 439-2370

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