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Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE)

Racial Imbalance Advisory Council

Racial Imbalance Advisory Council Meeting
Monday, November 18, 2024
9:30 – 11:00 a.m.
Online Remote Participation (Zoom)

Council Chair: Monica Roberts
Council Members: Matt Brunell, J.D.; Jorge Fanjul, M.P.M., M.A.; Lateefah Franck, M.Ed.; Renée Heywood, Ph.D.; Laurie Hunter, M.Ed., Ed.D.; Julia Jarquin; Josephine M. Kim, Ph.D., LMHC, NCC; José Lugo, M.A.; Lamikco T. Magee, M.Ed., J.D., Ph.D.; Cleonie Mainvielle, MSW; Marieme Ngom; Monica Roberts; Darlene Spencer

Agenda

Time	Agenda Item
9:30	Arrival
9:35 – 9:40	General Council Business Approve October 2024 Meeting Minutes
9:40 – 10:15	Overview of States with Racial Imbalance Laws & Member Support with Next Steps Review at a high level how other state departments of education addressing regarding racial imbalance in public schools through policies, programs, and practices to mitigate imbalance and/or address educational inequities. Identified States: Minnesota, New Jersey, Connecticut, Washington Identify members to support outreach and information gathering: RIAC will engage with the identified state departments of education to more deeply understand effectiveness of their racial imbalance laws and efforts; inter agency and/or entity collaboration to mitigate racial imbalance; evidence of effectiveness; strategies for educator diversity and retention as well as incentives for school and district efforts to increase racial balance. Given the current sociopolitical context, what are some inter- and intra-related elements of racial imbalance that fall within DESE's purview, and can be leveraged as a proxy for racial imbalance?
10:15 – 10:55	Educational Vision Presentation & Overview of DESE Efforts Related to FY 23-24 RIAC Recommendations Carrying Over to FY24-25 Understand MA DESE's Educational vision Understand the specific efforts and strategies that DESE is using to address the 2023-2024 RIAC annual report recommendations that will carry forward to this year with a priority on recommendations 4 and 6. As it relates to 6, including a focus on teacher diversity, pipeline development, and retention efforts. DESE, BESE, and local districts must come into compliance with racial imbalance laws. DESE and BESE should seek to clarify and strengthen their oversight responsibilities. DESE should collect more detailed data which may reveal even more disparities. DESE should use widely available tools to make its data more accessible to the public. DESE should require local districts to inform families of the right to transfer provision. Identify pathways to robust, sustained outcomes in segregated non-white schools. Roadblocks to School Integration: Funding, Politics, and Implementation Hurdles
10:55	Closing Public Comment Members of the public may address the RIAC for no longer than 3 minutes. Should the comment exceed this allotted time, the individual should attend a following meeting and/or submit written material (of any length) to the DESE liaison to share with council members. The Council will not provide an immediate response but may address the comment in a future meeting. Announcements Next Meeting: Monday, 1/13 from 9:30 – 11:00am Next Steps
11:00	Meeting Adjournment

Last Updated: November 18, 2024

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