Select language, current language English
Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE)

Board Documents — October 2026

Special Meeting

Board of Elementary and Secondary Education
Tuesday, October 13, 2026, 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
To be held virtually

The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education BESE meeting will be livestreamed and recorded .

Posted: 10/7/2026 10:30 a.m.

Agenda Item:

  1. An Act Relative to Teacher Preparation and Student Literacy: Background and Proposed New Regulations and Amendments to Current Regulations — 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
Anne T. Dunphy School
1 Petticoat Hill Rd, Williamsburg, MA 01096
Tuesday, October 27, 2026, 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Posted: 10/22/2026 6:10 p.m.

Statements from the Public*

Chair Opening Comments
  • Literacy Task Force

Comments from the Secretary

Comments from the Commissioner
  • Commissioner in the Commonwealth

Routine Business:

Approval of the Minutes of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Regular Meeting, September 22, 2026.

Agenda Items:

  1. Welcome from Anne T. Dunphy Principal and Superintendent — Discussion

  2. State Student Advisory Council: 2026–2027 Goals — Discussion
    State Student Advisory Council 2026-2027

  3. K–12 Statewide Graduation Standards: Foundational Coursework and Postsecondary Planning — Discussion
    Graduation Framework: Foundational Coursework + Postsecondary Planning
    Attachment:
  4. Student Literacy Act: Proposed Regulatory Action — Discussion and Vote to Solicit Public Comment
    An Act Relative to Teacher Preparation and Student Literacy: Background and Proposed New Regulations and Amendments to Current Regulations 
    1. Proposed New Regulations on Early Literacy, 603 Code of Massachusetts Regulations CMR 58.00
    2. Proposed Amendments to Educator Licensure and Preparation Program Approval Regulations, 603 Code of Massachusetts Regulations CMR 7.00
    3. Proposed Amendments to Special Education Regulations, 603 Code of Massachusetts Regulations CMR 28.00
    4. Proposed Amendments to Student Opportunity Act Plans Regulations, 603 Code of Massachusetts Regulations CMR 55.00
    5. Student Literacy Act: Background and Proposed Amendments to Regulations
  5. Commissioner's Performance Evaluation: 2025–2026 — Discussion and Vote

  6. Waiver of Reporting Date in Regulation Requiring Charter School Submission of Annual Audit by November 1 — Discussion and Vote

Other Items for Information:

  1. Report on Student Learning Time Waivers for Innovative Programs

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 Board of Elementary and Secondary Education 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 this Board meeting in person at the Anne T. Dunphy School must sign-in at the entrance with a valid photo ID.

Last Updated: October 28, 2026

This link will take you to an external website which may or may not be accessible and WCAG 2.1 compliant
Top