Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Lawrence High School - Performing Arts Center 70-71 N Parish Road Lawrence, MA 01843 Tuesday, November 17, 2026, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Posted: 11/13/2026 8:45 a.m.
Approval of the Minutes of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Special Meeting on October 13, 2026 and the Regular Meeting, October 27, 2026.
Welcome from the Lawrence Public Schools — Discussion
FY2028 Budget Proposal and Report from the Board’s Budget Committee — Discuss
Charter Schools: Delegation of Authority to Commissioner to Amend the Charter Region of Phoenix Academy Public Charter High School, Springfield — Discussion and Vote
Report from the Commissioner's Performance Evaluation Committee — Discussion and Vote
Report on Scheduling of Comprehensive District Reviews
School Year 2025-2026 Advisory Council Reports
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 Lawrence High School must sign-in at the entrance with a valid photo ID.
Last Updated: November 13, 2026