The Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education

Board Documents - February 2016

Special Meeting

Board of Elementary and Secondary Education
DESE, 75 Pleasant Street, Malden, MA
Monday, February 22, 2016, 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.

1. Update on Southbridge Public Schools - Discussion
2. Update on Holyoke Public Schools - Discussion
3. Executive Session to Discuss Litigation Strategy

Regular Meeting

Board of Elementary and Secondary Education
DESE, 75 Pleasant Street, Malden, MA
Tuesday, February 23, 2016, 8:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Comments from the Chair
Comments from the Commissioner
Comments from the Secretary
Statements from the Public*

Briefing

Meeting Minutes

Routine Business:

Approval of the Minutes of the January 25, 2016 Special Meeting, January 26, 2016 Joint Meeting with the Board of Higher Education, and January 26, 2016 Regular Meeting - Vote

Items for Discussion and Action:

Charter School Items:

1. Report to the Legislature on Charter Schools - Discussion
2. Recommendations for New Charter Schools (Libertas Academy Charter School, Springfield; New Heights Charter School, Brockton) - Discussion and Vote
3. Proposed Amendments to Existing Charters (Brooke Charter Schools and Neighborhood House Charter School, Boston; Pioneer Charter School of Science, Everett) - Discussion and Vote
4. Martin Luther King, Jr. Charter School of Excellence: Report on Probation and Commissioner's Recommendation on Renewal - Discussion and Vote
   

   Attachment: MLK Summary of Review with the school's response
5. Boston Green Academy Horace Mann Charter School: Report on Probation and Commissioner's Recommendation on Renewal - Discussion and Vote
   

   Attachment: BGA's Summary of Review with the school's response

Other Items for Information:

6. Greenfield Commonwealth Virtual School: Report on Probation and Commissioner's Recommendation on Renewal - Discussion and Vote
   

   Attachment B: June 18, 2013 Memorandum to the Board

   

   Attachment D: Terms of Certificate
7. Revised Definition of College and Career Readiness, Incorporating Civic Learning - Discussion and Vote
8. Governor's State Education Budget Proposal for FY2017 - Discussion
9. Update on Student Assessment - Discussion

Other Items for Information:

10. Report on Grants and Charter School Matters Approved by Commissioner

Board Members

Mr. Paul Sagan, Chair, Cambridge
Mr. James Morton, Vice Chair, Boston
Ms. Katherine Craven, Brookline
Dr. Edward Doherty, Hyde Park
Dr. Roland Fryer, Concord
Ms. Margaret McKenna, Boston
Mr. Michael Moriarty, Holyoke
Dr. Pendred Noyce, Boston
Mr. James Peyser, Secretary of Education, Milton
Ms. Mary Ann Stewart, Lexington
Mr. Donald Willyard, Chair, Student Advisory Council, Revere

Mitchell D. Chester, Commissioner
Secretary to the Board

* 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 chairman 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 chairman 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 written testimony, a speaker who elects to do so should submit 15 copies of the testimony prior to or at the meeting for distribution to Board members. Requests to address the Board, written testimony, and other inquiries may be transmitted by mail, e-mail, fax, or telephone to: Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, 75 Pleasant Street, Malden, MA 02148, Phone: 781-338-3107, Fax: 781-338-3770, E-mail: boe@doe.mass.edu.