Board Documents — October 2024

Special Meeting

Monday, October 28, 2024, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
The meeting will be held virtually
BESE live stream link: livestream

Posted: 10/23/2024 10:25 a.m.

Agenda Item:

1. Call meeting to order

2. Career Technical Education (CTE) Admissions Study Session: Session 1 — Discussion

3. Adjourn

Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Members

• Ms. Katherine Craven, Chair, Brookline
• Mr. Matt Hills, Vice-Chair, Newton
• Mr. Ioannis Asikis, Student Member, Brookline
• Dr. Ericka Fisher, Worcester
• Ms. Farzana Mohamed, Newton
• Mr. Michael Moriarty, Holyoke
• Ms. Dálida Rocha, Worcester
• Ms. Mary Ann Stewart, Lexington
• Dr. Patrick A. Tutwiler, Secretary of Education, Andover
• Dr. Martin West, Newton

Russell D. Johnston, Acting Commissioner
Secretary to the Board

Regular Meeting

Board of Elementary and Secondary Education
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
135 Santilli Highway
Everett, Massachusetts 02149
Tuesday, October 29, 2024, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Posted: 10/23/2024 10:25 a.m.

Statements from the Public

Comments from the Chair

Comments from the Secretary

• Massachusetts STEM Week 2024, STEM starts Now!
• Release of the Advisory Council to Advance Representation in Education's report
• Question 2 — Elimination of MCAS as High School Graduation Requirement

Comments from the Acting Commissioner

• Review of the Board's Special Meeting on October 28, 2024 (Career Technical Education Admissions Study Session: Session 1)
• STEM Week
• Commonwealth of Massachusetts Virtual Schools (CMVS) Tuition Rate
• Resources Relative to Antisemitism and Societal Bias

Briefing

Routine Business:

Approval of the Minutes of the September 23, 2024 Special Meeting, the September 24, 2024 Regular Meeting, and the June 20, 2024 Joint Meeting of the Board of Higher Education and Board of Elementary and Secondary Education

Agenda Items:

1. Update on Commissioner Search Process

2. District and School Accountability Decisions Relating to the Following: Holyoke Public Schools, John Avery Parker (New Bedford), Van Sickle Academy (Springfield), High School of Commerce (Springfield), Oliver Middle School (Lawrence) — Discussion

3. Educational Vision and Advancing Student Learning Update
   
   1. Curriculum Data Dashboard — Discussion
   2. Accelerated Literacy Reviews in Educator Preparation and Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Program — Discussion
   3. Continuation of DESE's Strategy to Advance Student Learning, Including Potential New Initiatives — Discussion
   
   

Other Items for Information:

4. Report on Grants Approved by the Commissioner

5. Chronically Underperforming Schools: Quarter 1 Reports

6. Annual Reports from 2023-2024 Advisory Councils to the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education

7. Charter Authorizing Overview and Anticipated Schedule for 2024-2025
   Attachments:
   • Charter School Fact Sheet
   • Schedule of Charter School Items, September 2024–June 2025
   
   

8. Report on Student Learning Time Waivers for Innovative Programs

Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Members

• Ms. Katherine Craven, Chair, Brookline
• Mr. Matt Hills, Vice-Chair, Newton
• Mr. Ioannis Asikis, Student Member, Brookline
• Dr. Ericka Fisher, Worcester
• Ms. Farzana Mohamed, Newton
• Mr. Michael Moriarty, Holyoke
• Ms. Dálida Rocha, Worcester
• Ms. Mary Ann Stewart, Lexington
• Dr. Patrick A. Tutwiler, Secretary of Education, Andover
• Dr. Martin West, Newton

Russell D. Johnston, Acting Commissioner
Secretary to the Board

The 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 3^rd floor and provide a valid photo ID. Consistent with this policy, members of the public who wish to attend a Board meeting in person must sign-in at the reception desk with a valid photo ID.

Last Updated: October 24, 2024