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Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE)

Board Documents — September 2026

Special Meeting: Board Retreat

Board of Elementary and Secondary Education
Thursday, September 10, 2026, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
This meeting will be held virtually over Zoom
and the public may join via this link: Zoom

Posted: 9/8/2026 8:30 a.m.

Agenda Item:

  1. Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Draft Strategic Plan Proposals — Discussion

Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Members

  • Ms. Katherine Craven, Chair, Brookline
  • Mr. Matt Hills, Vice-Chair, Newton
  • Dr. Ericka Fisher, Worcester
  • Dr. Christina Grant, Cambridge
  • Ms. Sara Khan, Student Member, Milton
  • Ms. Farzana Mohamed, Newton
  • Ms. Dálida Rocha, Worcester
  • Ms. Kristen Smidy, Westfield
  • Ms. Mary Ann Stewart, Lexington
  • Dr. Steve Zrike, Secretary of Education, Andover
  • Dr. Martin West, Newton

Pedro Martinez, Commissioner
Secretary to the Board

Please make any requests for special accommodations or interpretation services at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled meeting 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 .

Regular Meeting

Board of Elementary and Secondary Education
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
135 Santilli Highway
Everett, Massachusetts 02149
Tuesday, September 22, 2026, 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Posted: 9/16/2026 6:45 p.m.; Updated: 9/18/2026 10:20 a.m.

Statements from the Public*

Chair Opening Comments
  • Welcome Student Member Sara Khan
  • MA Early Literacy Bill and Student Achievement
Comments from the Secretary
  • School Visits
  • PROTECT Act
  • Governor Appointments to foundation budget review commission
Comments from the Commissioner
  • Welcome Student Member Sara Khan
  • Commissioner in the Commonwealth

Routine Business:

Approval of the Minutes of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Special Meeting, June 22, 2026, and Regular Meeting, June 23, 2026.

Agenda Items:

  1. Election of Board Vice-Chair — Discussion and Vote

  2. Appointment of Board Committees — Discussion

  3. Assessment and Accountability
    1. Schools of Recognition Panel — Discussion
    2. 2026 Assessment and Accountability Results — Discussion
      2026 MCAS and Accountability Results
  4. Early Literacy: Mass Early Literacy Law — Discussion
    Evidence-Based Early Literacy Updates

  5. DESE's Strategic Plan Update — Discussion

  6. Salary Adjustment Consistent with State Law — Discussion and Vote

Other Items for Information:

  1. Charter School and Virtual School Authorizing Overview and Anticipated Schedule 2026-2027

    1. Charter Schools — Authorizing Overview for 2026-27
      Attachment:
    2. Commonwealth of Massachusetts Virtual Schools — Authorizing Overview for 2026-27
      Attachment:
  2. Grant Packages for the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (September)

Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Members

  • Ms. Katherine Craven, Chair, Brookline
  • Mr. Matt Hills, Vice-Chair, Newton
  • Dr. Ericka Fisher, Worcester
  • Dr. Christina Grant, Cambridge
  • Ms. Sara Khan, Student Member, Milton
  • Ms. Farzana Mohamed, Newton
  • Ms. Dálida Rocha, Worcester
  • Ms. Kristen Smidy, Westfield
  • Ms. Mary Ann Stewart, Lexington
  • Dr. Steve Zrike, Secretary of Education, Andover
  • 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 3rd 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.

Special Meeting

Board of Elementary and Secondary Education
Monday, September 28, 2026, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
To be held virtually

The BESE meeting will be livestreamed and recorded .

Posted: 9/24/2026 3:45 p.m.

Agenda Item:

  1. DESE's Strategic Plan Update — Discussion

Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Members

  • Ms. Katherine Craven, Chair, Brookline
  • Mr. Matt Hills, Vice-Chair, Newton
  • Dr. Ericka Fisher, Worcester
  • Dr. Christina Grant, Cambridge
  • Ms. Sara Khan, Student Member, Milton
  • Ms. Farzana Mohamed, Newton
  • Ms. Dálida Rocha, Worcester
  • Ms. Kristen Smidy, Westfield
  • Ms. Mary Ann Stewart, Lexington
  • Dr. Steve Zrike, Secretary of Education, Andover
  • Dr. Martin West, Newton

Pedro Martinez, Commissioner
Secretary to the Board

Please make any requests for special accommodations or interpretation services at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled meeting 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 .

Last Updated: September 25, 2026

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