DESE Update: June 7th, 2019
1. Dual Language Program Training: The Department is sponsoring two identical two-day trainings for district and school leaders who are considering establishing a dual language program in their district or school. The first training will be June 24 and 25 at Bridgewater State University, and the second will June 26 and 27 at Hudson High School. […]
DESE Update: April 5th, 2019
1. Message from Commissioner Riley about the 10th Grade English Language Arts MCAS: The Department heard from Boston Public Schools administrators on Friday, March 29, that some students had raised concerns about an essay prompt that was near the end of the 10th grade English language arts MCAS test. On Sunday, March 31, I decided […]
DESE Update: March 1st, 2019
1. Safe and Supportive Schools Statewide Conference: Please save the date for a statewide conference on March 27, Safe and Supportive Learning Environments: Using an Equity Lens to Support All Students. Participants will learn about equitable and inclusive practices that support healthy social, emotional, and physical well-being. Teams and individuals from early childhood, elementary, middle, […]
DESE Update: February 1st, 2019
1. School Choice Reporting Requirement for the 2019-2020 School Year: The inter-district school choice law (G.L. c.76, s.12B) requires all districts to accept incoming school choice students unless the school committee votes not to participate or votes to limit the number of incoming students in particular grades. School committees must take the required vote annually […]
DESE Update: January 18th, 2019
1. Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Meetings: The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education held a special meeting on January 14. Commissioner Riley announced that he, New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell, and Alma del Mar Charter School Executive Director Will Gardner had reached a proposed compromise on Alma del Mar’s expansion request. The Board […]
DESE Update: December 14th, 2018
1. Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to Meet: The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education will meet from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 18 in Malden. The agenda includes a discussion highlighting the roles of teacher leaders in supporting learning standards and instruction, updates from the receivers of three chronically underperforming schools, […]
DESE Update: October 26, 2018
Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to Meet: The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education will meet from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, October 30, 2018 in Malden. The meeting will be streamed online at https://livestream.com/accounts/22459134. Agenda items include a discussion with a panel of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) educators, a review […]
April 13, 2018
Massachusetts NAEP Scores Lead the Nation (Again!): On April 10, 2018, the National Center for Education Statistics released the 2017 results of the National Assessment of Educational Progress, also known as NAEP or the Nation’s Report Card. For the seventh consecutive NAEP administration, Massachusetts fourth and eighth graders scored first or statistically tied for first on the NAEP math and […]
March 30, 2018
A Message from the Acting Commissioner: This is the last Commissioner’s Weekly Update that will be published over my signature. Next Thursday, Jeff Riley will be sworn in as our new commissioner by Governor Baker during our “Leading the Nation” celebration at the State House. At that event, we will look back at our successes since […]
February 9, 2018
Rural Schools Report: In January, ESE issued a legislative report on Fiscal Conditions in Rural School Districts (download). The report examines enrollment, staffing, and spending trends as well as local aid, school choice, and charter school tuitions to understand the challenges facing rural districts. The report documents the significant enrollment declines that have occurred over the last […]