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The Department has moved to 135 Santilli Highway in Everett. The Department's office and Licensure Welcome Center are open. The new location has free parking and is a short walk from the Wellington station on the MBTA's Orange Line.
Administration and Finance

Regional School District Organization

Laws and Regulations:

Advisories and Guidance

Reports:

Professional Organizations:

Formation and Amendments:

MGL c.71, s.14B outlines the process for establishing and amending a regional school district agreement. All regional school district agreements and amendments to those agreements must be approved by the Commissioner of Education in accordance with the law and regulation noted above. Communities interested in forming a regional school district or regional school districts interested in amending their regional school district agreement or admitting a new member should contact Christine M. Lynch by e-mail at clynch@doe.mass.edu or by phone at 781-338-6520.

Amendment Process:

  • A complete copy of the latest approved agreement and any proposed amendment must be submitted to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for review prior to receiving local approval

  • Final approval by the Commissioner will be subject to legal approval and receipt of all authorized local votes

  • A new or amended agreement must be approved by DESE and member communities prior to December 31 of any given year in order for the agreement to be in effect on July 1 of the following fiscal year

Budget Process:

Information and Statistics:

Superintendency Unions

Massachusetts General Laws allows the school committees of two or more towns to join together to form a union school committee. The organization of the union school committee is governed by statute, as are its powers, which are limited to the authority to employ a superintendent of schools, school physicians, school nurses, clerical and secretarial personnel, special teachers, and supervisors. All other powers and responsibilities are retained by the local school committees of the member towns. There are 15 superintendency unions in Massachusetts, comprised of 48 member towns. Currently 32 of the municipal districts participating in superintendency unions also are members of regional school districts that hire the same superintendent and central office staff. In 2020, 15 superintendents and 62 school committee serve 48 municipalities and 14 regional school districts in 84 schools serving 30,164 students. For information on superintendency unions, contact Christine M. Lynch at 781-338-6520 or at clynch@doe.mass.edu .

Tuitioning Arrangements

In accordance with provisions of Chapter 71, sections 1, 4 and 6, the following school districts are permitted by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education not to maintain school serving selected grade levels and to tuition their students to other school districts for the school year 2019-2020.

Last Updated: February 23, 2024

 
Contact Us

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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