Board Documents — March 2026

Special Meeting: Board Retreat

Board of Elementary and Secondary Education
Babson College
231 Forest Street, Olin Hall, Capozzi Room, Babson Park, MA 02457
Tuesday, March 17, 2026, 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Posted: 3/12/2026 3:05 p.m.

Agenda Items:

1. Welcoming Remarks and Team Building

2. Discussion of Agency Priorities

3. Break

4. Discussion of Board Functions and Roles

5. Reflections

Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Members

• Ms. Katherine Craven, Chair, Brookline
• Mr. Matt Hills, Vice-Chair, Newton
• Ms. Isabella Chamberlain, Student Member, Hudson
• Dr. Ericka Fisher, Worcester
• Dr. Christina Grant, Cambridge
• Ms. Amy Kershaw, Acting Secretary of Education, Boston
• Ms. Farzana Mohamed, Newton
• Ms. Dálida Rocha, Worcester
• Ms. Kristen Smidy, Westfield
• Ms. Mary Ann Stewart, Lexington
• Dr. Martin West, Newton

Pedro Martinez, Commissioner
Secretary to the Board

Regular Meeting

Board of Elementary and Secondary Education
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
135 Santilli Highway
Everett, Massachusetts 02149
Tuesday, March 24, 2026, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Posted: 3/18/2026 7:06 p.m.

Statements from the Public*

Chair Opening Comments

Comments from the Secretary

Comments from the Commissioner

• Commissioner's Visits Around the Commonwealth
• Update on Fall River Public Schools
• Update on the K–12 Statewide Graduation Council
• MCAS Reminders

Routine Business:

Approval of the Minutes of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Regular Meeting, February 24, 2026

Agenda Items:

1. 2026 School Counselor of the Year — Discussion

2. State Student Advisory Council Mid-Year Report — Discussion
   SSAC Mid-Year Report (2025-26)

3. Proposed Amendments to Regulations on Educator Licensure and Preparation Program Approval, 603 CMR 7.00 — Discussion and Possible Vote
   Amendments to Educator Licensure and Preparation and Program Approval Regulations, 603 CMR 7.00
   Attachments:
   • Summary of Public Comment
   • Proposed Final Regulations
   • Motion: 603 CMR 7.00
4. Commonwealth Virtual Schools Renewal Applications and Report on Conditions — Discussion and Vote
   Attachments:
   • Tab A: GCVS Term of Certificate
   • Tab B: TECCA Term of Certificate
   • Motions

Other Items for Information:

5. Report on Grants Approved by Commissioner

6. Charter Schools: Report on February Renewal and Condition Decisions by the Commissioner
   Attachments:
   • Renewal of Charters — Notification of Intended Actions for Alma del Mar Charter School; Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School; Boston Green Academy Horace Mann Charter School; Bridge Boston Charter School; Codman Academy Charter Public School; Innovation Academy Charter School; Learning First Charter Public School; Martha's Vineyard Public Charter School; Martin Luther King, Jr. Charter School of Excellence; New Heights Charter School of Brockton; Phoenix Academy Charter Public High School, Chelsea; Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter Public School; and Prospect Hill Academy Charter School (February 18, 2026)
   • Charter School Conditions — Notification of Intended Actions for Marblehead Community Charter Public School, Pioneer Charter School of Science II, and Roxbury Preparatory Charter School (February 18, 2026)

7. Chronically Underperforming Schools: Quarter 3 Report

Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Members

• Ms. Katherine Craven, Chair, Brookline
• Mr. Matt Hills, Vice-Chair, Newton
• Ms. Isabella Chamberlain, Student Member, Hudson
• Dr. Ericka Fisher, Worcester
• Dr. Christina Grant, Cambridge
• Amy Kershaw, Acting Secretary of Education, Boston
• Ms. Farzana Mohamed, Newton
• Ms. Dálida Rocha, Worcester
• Ms. Kristen Smidy, Westfield
• Ms. Mary Ann Stewart, Lexington
• Dr. Martin West, Newton

Pedro Martinez, Commissioner
Secretary to the Board

The BESE meeting will be livestreamed and recorded .

*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, 135 Santilli Highway, Everett, MA 02149, 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.

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education requires all visitors to its office at 135 Santilli Highway to sign-in at the reception desk on the 3^rd floor and provide a valid photo ID. Consistent with this policy, members of the public who wish to attend a Board meeting in person must sign-in at the reception desk with a valid photo ID.

Last Updated: March 24, 2026