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Student Opportunity Act

Data Advisory Commission

The Student Opportunity Act (2019) established a Data Advisory Commission for the purpose of assisting DESE in identifying, analyzing and making recommendations on high-impact, cost-effective data strategies for assessing student needs and addressing persistent disparities in achievement, including, but not limited to:

  • establishing a data collection and reporting system to:
    • track funding allocated for low-income students and students identified as English learners pursuant to chapter 71A and ensure spending is targeted to the intended populations; and
    • allow for access to school-level expenditures and data across all districts to inform the public and policymakers of high impact, cost-effective school-level interventions and investments.
  • strengthening the department's capacity to analyze and report staffing, scheduling, and financial data in ways that support strategic resource allocation decisions at the district and school levels, including a review of national best practice models that ensure greater financial transparency.
  • strengthening district capacity to use state, district- and school-level data to inform strategic resource allocation and implementation decisions; and
  • streamlining data reporting, eliminating duplicative reporting requirements, and improving data quality

Meeting Schedule

DateTimeLocation
Monday, March 25, 2024 2:00PM – 3:00PMOnline. Please contact Matthew.J.Deninger@mass.gov for login information if interested in attending.
Monday, December 4, 20233:00PM – 4:00PMOnline.
Wednesday, September 6, 202312:00PM – 1:00PMOnline
Thursday, March 30, 20232:00PM – 3:00PMOnline
Thursday, December 1, 202211:00AM – 12:00PMOnline
Friday, June 10, 20222:00PM – 3:00PMOnline

Commission Members

NameInstitution or Role
Mary BourqueMassachusetts Association of School Superintendents
Deborah BoydMassachusetts Association of Regional Schools
Joe EspositoMassachusetts Business Alliance for Education
Matt MattosMassachusetts School Administrators Association
Mercy NunezParent
Pola AndrewsMassachusetts Association of School Business Officials
Mark ReillyMassachusetts Executive Office of Education (EOE), Designee of the Secretary of Education
Paul SchlichtmanMassachusetts Association of School Committees
Steve SharekMassachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators
To be appointedTeacher
To be appointedAt-large
To be appointedAt-large

DESE Staff Contacts

Matt Deninger: Chief Strategy and Research Officer, Chairperson of the Commission as designated by the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education

Annual Report

Last Updated: March 25, 2024

Four students

Contact Us

General Inquiries
SOAplans@mass.gov

 
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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