Twenty-First Century Education Advisory Council

The Student Opportunity Act (2019) provided for a Twenty-First Century Education Advisory Council (Advisory Council), as well as a Twenty-First Century Education Trust Fund and the Twenty-First Century Education Program (Education Program) for the purpose of:

• addressing persistent disparities in achievement among student subgroups,
• improving educational opportunities for all students,
• sharing best practices for improving classroom learning, and
• supporting efficiencies within and across schools.

The Commissioner of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), in consultation with the Advisory Council, administers the Twenty-First Century Education Trust Fund to support the Education Program and provide recommendations and input on the implementation of the Education Program. To accomplish that goal, the Council:

• Makes recommendations on the improvement of the design, oversight, or implementation of the Education Program;
• May receive and consider reports and input from expert individuals, educators, school administrators, parents, community-based organizations, voluntary education organizations and other relevant public and private organizations recognized as having appropriate expertise

The Advisory Council consists of 6 members, 4 of whom are appointed by the governor; 1 of whom is appointed by the president of the senate; and 1 of whom is appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives. The members of the advisory council bring diverse expertise with demonstrated success in at least 1 of the following areas:

1. (i) addressing disparities in achievement among student subgroups;
2. (ii) serving as educator or administrator in a school with a high percentage of low-income students;
3. (iii) improving educational outcomes through implementation of nontraditional programming in classrooms;
4. (iv) replicating effective, evidence-based practices for ensuring student academic success; or (v) evaluating the success of educational approaches designed to address disparities in achievement among student subgroups.

2023-2024 Meeting Schedule

Council Members

DESE Staff Contacts

Erica Champagne, Director of Office of Effective Practices

Moira Connolly, Liaison to the Council

Rebecca Shor, Acting Senior Director, Statewide System of Support

Meeting Materials and Minutes

• 21^st Century Education Advisory Council Meeting Presentation January 29, 2024

• 21^st Century Education Advisory Council Meeting Notes January 29, 2024

• 21^st Century Education Advisory Council Meeting Presentation May 23, 2023

Last Updated: May 10, 2024