Board Documents — March 2025

Special Meeting

Board of Elementary and Secondary Education
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
135 Santilli Highway
Everett, Massachusetts 02149
Monday, March 10, 2025, 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Posted: 3/6/2025 4:45 p.m.

Statements from the Public*

Chair Opening Comments

Secretary Opening Comments

Commissioner Opening Comments

Agenda Items:

1. 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
   Career Technical Education: Proposed Amendments to Regulations on Vocational Technical Education, 603 CMR 4.00 (Recruitment and Admissions) — Portuguese
   Career Technical Education: Proposed Amendments to Regulations on Vocational Technical Education, 603 CMR 4.00 (Recruitment and Admissions) — Spanish

   Attachments:
   • 603 CMR 4.00 Strikethrough version of relevant portion of regulations showing amendments
   • 603 CMR 4.00 Strikethrough version of relevant portion of regulations showing amendments — Portuguese
   • 603 CMR 4.00 Strikethrough version of relevant portion of regulations showing amendments — Spanish
   • Motion: 603 CMR 4.00
   
   

2. Transition and Appointment of Interim Commissioner — Discussion and Vote

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 is making available a maximum 30-minute period at this meeting 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. 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 1:00 p.m. on Friday, March 7, 2025. 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.

Regular Meeting

Board of Elementary and Secondary Education
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
135 Santilli Highway
Everett, Massachusetts 02149
Tuesday, March 25, 2025, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Posted: 3/17/2025 4:00 p.m.

Statements from the Public*

Chair Opening Comments

Secretary Opening Comments:

• Conclusion of the Higher Education Financial Aid Road Show
• First Statewide Graduation Council Meeting
• Acting Commissioner Johnston

Commissioner Opening Comments:

• Power of Presence Initiative
• Update on Boston Public Schools Systemic Improvement Plan
• Information on Upcoming Board Meetings

Briefing

Routine Business:

Approval of the Minutes of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Regular Meeting, February 25, 2025 , Minutes of the Special Meeting, February 24, 2025 , Minutes of the Special Meeting, March 10, 2025

Agenda Items:

1. Update on Commissioner Search Process

2. School Counselor of the Year — Discussion

3. State Student Advisory Council Mid-Year Report — Discussion

4. Educational Vision and Advancing Student Learning Update — Discussion
   DESE's Educational Vision and Advancing Student Learning

5. Proposed Amendments to 603 CMR 46.00 and 603 CMR 18.00 (Use of Time-Out Practices) — Discussion and Vote to Solicit Public Comment
   Proposed Amendments to 603 CMR 46.00 and 603 CMR 18.00 (Use of Time-Out Practices) — Portuguese
   Proposed Amendments to 603 CMR 46.00 and 603 CMR 18.00 (Use of Time-Out Practices) — Spanish
   Proposed Amendments to 603 CMR 46.00 and 603 CMR 18.00: Use of Time-out Practices
   Attachments:
   • 603 CMR 46.00 Strikethrough version of the regulations showing proposed amendments
   • 603 CMR 46.00 Strikethrough version of the regulations showing proposed amendments — Portuguese
   • 603 CMR 46.00 Strikethrough version of the regulations showing proposed amendments — Spanish
   • 603 CMR 18.00 Strikethrough version of the regulations showing proposed amendments
   • 603 CMR 18.00 Strikethrough version of the regulations showing proposed amendments — Portuguese
   • 603 CMR 18.00 Strikethrough version of the regulations showing proposed amendments — Spanish
   • Motion
   
   

6. Commonwealth Virtual Schools Report on Conditions — Discussion and Vote

7. Proposed Contract with Management Organization for Roxbury Preparatory Charter School — Discussion and Vote
   Attachments:
   The memo attachments are public records and are available upon request.**

8. College Access: Update on ACARE and Increasing FAFSA and MASFA Completion — Discussion

Other Items for Information:

9. Chronically Underperforming Schools — Quarter 3 Report

10. Charter Schools: Report on Charters Renewed and Actions Taken on Conditions
    Attachments:
    • Renewal of Charters — Notification of Intended Actions for Advanced Math and Science Academy Charter School, Atlantis Charter School, Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School, Boston Renaissance Charter Public School, Cape Cod Lighthouse Charter School, Community Charter School of Cambridge, Community Day Charter Public School, Francis W. Parker Charter Essential School, Hilltown Cooperative Charter Public School, Holyoke Community Charter School, Lawrence Family Development Charter School, Lowell Community Charter Public School, Lowell Middlesex Academy Charter School, Marblehead Community Charter Public School, Match Charter Public School, Neighborhood House Charter School, South Shore Charter Public School, Springfield International Charter School, and Springfield Preparatory Charter School (February 19, 2025)
    • Charter Schools — Notification of Intended Actions and Report on Conditions for Argosy Collegiate Charter School, Boston Green Academy Horace Mann Charter School, Codman Academy Charter Public School, Dudley Street Neighborhood Charter School, and UP Academy Charter School of Dorchester (February 19, 2025)
    
    

11. Charter Schools: Report on Approval of Management Contracts

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 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.

**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: March 28, 2025