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Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE)

Board Documents — February 2025

Special Meeting

Board of Elementary and Secondary Education
Monday, February 10, 2025, 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

The meeting will be held virtually
BESE live stream link: livestream

Posted: 2/6/2025 2:10 p.m.

Agenda Items:

  1. Call meeting to order

  2. Competency Determination: Continued Discussion of Possible Competency Determination Regulations — 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

Dr. Russell D. Johnston, Acting Commissioner, Secretary to the Board

Special Meeting

Board of Elementary and Secondary Education
Monday, February 24, 2025, 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

The meeting will be held virtually
BESE live stream link: Vimeo: MADESEstream

Posted: 2/19/2025 3:25 p.m.

Agenda Items:

  1. Call meeting to order

  2. Update on Commissioner Search Process

  3. Educational Vision Update and Advancing Student Learning — Discussion

  4. Final Report on Pilot of Alternative Assessments for Licensure Discussion
    Alternative Assessment Pilot Evaluation, Final Report

  5. 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, February 25, 2025, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Posted: 2/19/2025 3:25 p.m.

Statements from the Public*

Chair Opening Comments:

  • Chair Craven's presentation to Special Commission on Combatting Antisemitism, February 10, 2025

Secretary Opening Comments:

  • US Department of Education Feb 14 Dear Colleague Letter
  • Financial Aid Roadshow
  • Proposed regulation changes to career technical education

Commissioner Opening Comments:

  • Milken Educator Award
  • National Assessment of Educational Progress
  • Recap of the February 24, 2025 Special Meeting

Briefing

Routine Business:

Approval of the Minutes of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Regular Meeting, January 28, 2025, and Minutes of the Special Meeting, February 10, 2025

Agenda Items:

  1. Charter Schools: Amendments to Maximum Enrollment (Advanced Math and Science Academy Charter School, Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann Charter Public School, KIPP Academy Lynn Charter School, Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School, South Shore Charter Public School) and Region (Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter Public School) Discussion and Vote
    Attachments:
    The following documents are public records and are available upon request.**
    • Advanced Math and Science Academy Charter School:
      • Correspondence from Advanced Math and Science Academy Charter School
      • Public comment
    • Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann Charter Public School:
      • Correspondence from Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann Charter Public School
      • Public comment
    • KIPP Academy Lynn Charter School:
      • Correspondence from KIPP Academy Lynn Charter School
      • Public comment
    • Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School:
      • Correspondence from Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School
      • Public comment
    • Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter Public School:
      • Correspondence from Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter Public School
      • Public comment
    • South Shore Charter Public School
      • Correspondence from South Shore Charter Public School

  2. Educator Licensure: Proposed Amendments to Regulations on Educator Licensure and Preparation Program Approval, 603 CMR 7.00 (MTEL Alternatives and Other Updates) Discussion and Vote to Solicit Public Comment
    Attachments:
  3. Career Technical Education: Proposed Amendments to Regulations on Vocational Technical Education, 603 CMR 4.00 (Recruitment and Admissions) Discussion and Vote to Solicit Public Comment
    Attachments:
  4. Competency Determination: Proposed Amendments to Regulations on MCAS and Competency Determination, 603 CMR 30.00 (Addressing Changes in Statute) Discussion and Possible Vote to Solicit Public Comment
    Attachments:
  5. Salary Adjustment for Acting Commissioner Discussion and Vote

Other Items for Information:

  1. College Going: Increasing FAFSA and MASFA Completion

  2. Update on the 193rd Legislative Session Education Related Laws

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

Dr. 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 3rd 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.

**Due to the volume of documents, limited web server space, and the Department's commitment to achieving meaningful accessibility to this online environment for all users, but most particularly for users with disabilities (we follow specific Commonwealth Enterprise Standards designed to meet the needs of our citizens with disabilities), we are unable to post these document on our webpage. Please send an email to CharterSchools@mass.gov . to request a document and we will respond promptly. Thank you.

Last Updated: February 21, 2025

 
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Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
135 Santilli Highway, Everett, MA 02149

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