Seven new charter schools are vying for a rose in 2019. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education received seven … More
Category: The Policy Minute
Finally. A MA Budget for FY19
Nearly three weeks into the FY19 fiscal year, the legislative conference committee charged with developing a compromise FY19 state budget … More
Micro-Credentials – Free for NEA/MTA Members!
New professional learning options from the NEA in supporting English learners, classroom management, being a cooperating teacher, leadership and organizing! … More
SEI for Voc Tech Educators
The BESE approved regulations that will require many vocational technical educators in Ch 74 programs to get the SEI Endorsement. … More
Civics Education in Massachusetts
Civics education bill moves to conference committee. On May 30, the House of Representatives passed 4545, An Act to promote … More
SMK Public Comment Open (Again!)
Public comment is open through June 29, 2018 for the Subject Matter Knowledge (SMK) requirements for educator licenses. In you … More
Accountability System – MTA Public Comments
The MTA submitted public comment on the proposed amendments to the school and district accountability regulations on May 18, 2018. … More
Rethinking School Accountability Report
Sen. Pat Jehlen releases school accountability report that highlights the lowlights of Massachusetts school and district accountability rankings. In a … More
Seal of Biliteracy – Public Comment
Public comment is open on the propose language for the Seal of Biliteracy as required under the LOOK Act. At … More
NAEP Day!
Results released for the 2017 NAEP testing! Massachusetts tops the nation again. Today is a high holiday for education policy … More
MTA Comments: Subject Matter Knowledge (SMK) Requirements
The MTA submmited comments on the proposed changes to the SMK Requirements for educators. A 30-day public comment period was … More
Professional License Renewal – Public Comment
Public comment is open on changes to Professional License Renewal related to the LOOK Act. At the March Board of … More
Bilingual Learning Endorsement & license regulations Public Comment
Public comment is open on changes to academic educator licenses related to the LOOK Act. At the March Board of … More
Vocational Tech SEI Endorsment – Public Comment
Public comment is open on changes to vocational technical educator licenses related to the LOOK Act. At the March Board … More
BESE March 2018 Agenda
It is a regulation-palooza! Accountability, English learners, Vocational Education and the Seal of Biliteracy are all on the list! The … More
Proposed Options for Digital Literacy & Computer Science License
Want to add that Digital Literacy & Computer Science license? Here is one proposed pathway from DESE. The Department of … More
Pathway to Special Education Licenses
A license with no required coursework? DESE wants your comment on proposed “Structured Guidance and Supports” pathway for some teacher … More
Report: Roadmap to Expanding Opportunity
Ten strategies for public schools are explored in a joint report from the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center and the … More
Warren & Clark Review DeVos’ First Year
For profits and against civil rights. The offices of Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Cambridge) and Congresswoman Katherine Clark (D-Melrose) released a … More
Teacher License Content Guidelines
Should teachers know more than the students’ curriculum? The February 2018 Draft Subject Matter Knowledge Guidelines are open for public … More
Ed Prep Guidelines – Round Two
Revised Pre-Practicum Guidelines are out! Public comment is open until March 4, 2018. The latest version of proposed guidelines for … More
BESE Meeting – Feb 27, 2018
BESE expected to vote for new Charter school for Lawrence/Methuen/Haverhill. The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) is scheduled … More
History & Social Science Frameworks Public Comment
Public comment is open through April 2, 2018 on the draft History and Social Science Frameworks. Don’t miss out on … More
Baker & Education Funding FY19
Early budget recommendations from Beacon Hill have cuts for education programs across the Commonwealth. On Wednesday, Governor Charlie Baker released … More
GIC Options Gutted
GIC Slashes Public Employee Health Benefits… Then Schedules Vote to Reconsider On January 18, the Group Insurance Commission (GIC) voted … More
Jeff Riley Recommended for DESE Commissioner
A nationwide search yielded the Lawrence Public Schools appointed receiver Jeff Riley as the next Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary … More
Selection of Commissioner set for January 29
Save the date for the final step in the selection of the next Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education! A … More
Teacher Shortages & Local Solutions
Teacher turnover and lack of qualified applicants for open teaching positions is hardly news in Massachusetts. The latest brief from … More
MA Ed Commissioner: Interviews & Public Feedback – Jan. 26
Public interviews are Friday, January 26 for the three finalists for Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education. Learn about the … More
BESE Meeting Jan. 23, 2018
Join from the comfort of your teacher’s room. Watch the live stream starting at 11:15am: livestream.com/accounts/22459134 The Board of Elementary and … More
The Great Commissioner Race is on!
Angélica Infante-Green, Jeffrey C. Riley and Penny Schwinn named as finalist for MA Commissioner of Education position. The search process for a … More
More on “Blizzard Bags” from DESE
DESE released updated guidelines advising careful planning for districts considering using home assignments in place of snow days. The January … More
SEI for Ch. 74 Voc- Tech Educators
DESE is ramping up SEI professional learning courses for educators in Vocational Technical programs. When the Rethinking Equity and Teaching … More
Early College Programs in MA
Expanding early access to college in Massachusetts also comes with an expanding list of questions. A joint effort of the … More
New Year, New Accountability System
Test scores, student attendance, 9th grade course passing and English language proficiency are some of indicators in the proposed redesign … More
The LOOK Act & Educator Licensing Requirements
Yes. The SEI Endorsement requirements remain in place. An Act Relative to Language Opportunity for Our Kids (LOOK) was signed into law … More
BESE Meeting – Nov 28, 2017
Join from the comfort of your teacher’s room. Watch the live stream starting at 8:30am here: livestream.com/accounts/22459134 The Board of Elementary … More
Part 2 of Re-Writing History (Frameworks)
The long-awaited proposed draft revisions to the History and Social Science Curriculum Frameworks have arrived! The November 2017 Board of Elementary … More
MA Scores High on 2015 PISA Collaborative Problem Solving Assessment
Massachusetts public schools are a top performer in the international PISA Collaborative Problem Solving Skills assessment. United States students outperformed … More
MTA Ed Prep Public Comment
Check out the MTA public comments on educator preparation programs. The Massachusetts Teachers Association submitted public comment on the draft … More
New ESL Bill for Massachusetts
The Massachusetts legislature passed an ESL bill removing roadblocks for districts to provide a variety of language acquisition programs. The … More
2017 MCAS Results
The 2017 MCAS results and accountability rankings are now public for both the “Next Generation” MCAS and “legacy” Grade 10 … More
October 2017 BESE Meeting
Wonder what BESE has to say about the MCAS results? Watch it live! The next Board of Elementary and Secondary … More
CEPP Guides for Draft SMKs
CEPP has created guides to help educators better understand the draft SMKs. UPDATE: Public comment open until November 17, 2017 … More
2017-2018 BESE Members
The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) members are posted on the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education website. … More
Draft Provisional License Validity Period Guidelines
Got thoughts on how to explain 603 CMR 7.15(14)(g)? See our post on public comment for DESE guidelines here. Provisional … More
Draft Foreign Teacher Panel Guidelines
Got thoughts on what should be required for international educators ? See our post on public comment for DESE guidelines … More
Ed Prep and Licensure Public Comment Period
In case you thought the license changes were complete…there is more work to do. Sharpen your public comment pencils! ICYMI … More
Draft Ed Prep Pre-Practicum Policies
Got thoughts on what is covered in educator preparation programs? See our post on public comment for DESE guidelines here. … More
Sesame Street Resources for Helping Kids
Educators know students needs are not captured by analyzing test score data. Since students need more than test preparation to … More
Study: Students do better in Unionized Charter Schools
We here at The Policy Minute could tell you all the benefits communities, school administrators, educators, students and families gain … More
Early Updates on Early College
The prospective partners in the Massachusetts Early College Initiative sent off their application packages and are eagerly awaiting the acceptance … More
BESE Charter School Schedule. Mark Your Calenders!
The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) has released a tentative schedule for discussion and vote on charter school … More
$516 Million Bill to Local Districts
Local school districts are picking up a larger tab for the state-authorized charter school system. The Massachusetts Department of Elementary … More
Re-Writing History (Frameworks)
The future looks busy in the world of history and social science. The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education … More
Two Charter School Proposals Advance
Earlier this year, eight proposals to open new charter schools or expand existing charters schools were submitted to the Department … More
US ED Approves DESE’s MA ESSA Plan
Bonus points for you if you knew all those acronyms. For the rest of us, the United States Department of … More
Just for New Teachers 2017
The 2017 Just for New Teachers conference registration is now open! Are you an early career teacher or aspiring educator … More
Professional Development – Approved Providers
Educators seeking professional learning opportunities to earn Professional Development Points (PDPs) for renewing a Professional License can check the Department … More
DESE Special Education Professional Development
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has posted a number of professional development opportunities related to topics in special … More
New English Language Arts & Literacy Curriculum Frameworks
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education published the final form of the updated English Language Arts and Literacy curriculum … More
New Mathematics Curriculum Frameworks
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education published the final form of the updated Mathematics curriculum frameworks in late June. … More
2017 Charter School Applications & Expansion Requests
Tis the Season for new charter school proposals and expansion requests! The Class of 2017 includes four applications for new … More
DESE Guidance on License Changes
The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is slowly releasing guidance and updates related to the changes to … More
DESE’s School & District Profiles – Feedback Wanted
Have you ever checked the DESE School and District Profiles pages for information on your school? DESE publishes public data … More
Licensure Changes Approved by BESE
In a short meeting on Tuesday, June 27, 2017, the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education approved the proposed amendments … More
2017 MTA Summer Conference
Calling all Summer Conference veterans, rookies and interested parties! The workshop list is UP and registration is OPEN. MTA Summer … More
Status Check: Licensure Regulations
Public comment on the proposed amendments to the regulations guiding educator licensure and licensure renewal closed on Monday, May 1, … More
Help Wanted! Your thoughts on Educator License Changes
In February 2017, a set of proposed changes to educator licensure was released by DESE. Public comments are open until … More
Comments due March 9 on ESSA draft plan!
Public comment on the Massachusetts draft state plan for ESSA closes on March 9, 2017 Please submit feedback through this … More
Public Comment 101
Rules governing amending regulations are similar for all agencies. Let’s focus on how to comment on regulatory changes proposed by the … More
Charter School Votes – 2017
On February 27, 2017, the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) voted on proposals for new charter schools and … More
Freezing School Levels for 2017
Commissioner Mitchell Chester is proposing to freeze school and district accountability for level 1-3 for 2017-2018. A proposed change to … More
Licensure: Public Comment is Open til May 1
Changes to educator licensure are open for public comment. The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education voted to solicit comment … More
February 2017 BESE Meeting
Can’t make it? Watch it live on Livestream at https://livestream.com/accounts/22459134. From the Commissioner’s Update 2-24-17 The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education … More
Educator Evaluation – Proposed Regulations & Changes (Feb 2017 Edition)
The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) is voting to approve the final changes to the regulations on the … More
Agenda released for BESE Meeting – February 2017
The agenda has been posted for the February 27-28, 2017 Board of Elementary and Secondary Education meeting in Malden. This … More
Educator Licensure – Proposed Changes
DESE has released the set of proposed changes to educator license regulations as part of the Board of Elementary and … More
MA ESSA State Plan for School Accountability
Fire up the comment machines. Massachusetts’s draft state plan for school and district accountability is now available. Public comment is … More
Federal Accountability and Teacher Prep Regs- Going, going…gone?
It appears that the Obama-era regulations governing school and district accountability under ESSA and teacher preparation programs under the Higher … More
School Spin: Reports and Analysis of Turnaround Practices
Massachusetts wonks got a late holiday gift in the release of two sets of reports on school and district turnaround … More
BESE January Meeting Quick Read
LiveStream videos of the BESE/BHE January meetings are available! Monday, January 23, 2017 The BESE discussed the proposed state … More
A delay for ESSA?
An executive order by the current White House administration to delay any regulations that have not yet taken affect for … More
Follow along! Betsy DeVos hearing for Secretary of Education.
https://www.theatlantic.com/liveblogs/2017/01/senate-confirmation-hearings-day-4/513287/ Follow along at home and enjoy the Betsy DeVos hearing tonight with The Atlantic.
History Frameworks Revision: Out with the old…
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is diving into the past and reviewing the History and Social Sciences … More
Now open! Comments on the English Language Arts/Literacy and Mathematics Curriculum Frameworks
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has revised the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks for English Language Arts/Literacy and Mathematics. The … More
BESE meetings live stream!
Watch the excitement of policy making from the comfort of your own couch. Board of Elementary and Secondary Education meetings … More
Public Forums on School/District Accountability: ESSA Part 2 of Many
Do you have an opinion about your schools? Probably. Does your opinion match with what MAssachusetts uses to measure schools … More
Next Generation High Schools
The United States Department of Education has released guidance on stragies for supporting innovation in high schools. Spoiler alert: Nothing … More
Redesigning Massachusetts School & District Accountability: ESSA Part 1 of Many.
The federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) was reauthorized in December 2015. The most recent iteration of this law … More
Out with Instructional Technology, In with Computer Science?
Are we throwing out the digital baby with the bathwater? In June 2016, the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education … More
Charter School Newsletter – September 2016
The September 2016 Charter School Newsletter from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is available online. Topics in the … More
Technology and Shiny New Objects!
The September 9, 2016 Commissioner’s Weekly Update was a virtual playground of DESE news on computer-based testing, funding opportunities and real-life … More
Autism Endorsement
Massachusetts established an Autism Endorsement in 2016. As certain as death and taxes, there will be confusion over this new … More
10th Grade MCAS til 2018?
MCAS 2.0 development is kicking into high gear for grades 3-8. It looks like Massachusetts may be sticking with the … More
English Learner Toolkits
Not sure where to jump in and find out how to better support English learners in you classroom, school or … More
National Clearinghouse for English Langauge Acquisition (NCELA)
NCELA is a virtual waterpark of policy and instructional resources for wonks and practitioners alike regarding English language learners issues. Wade … More
2016 MCAS Results – Preliminary Data
Preliminary 2016 MCAS Results: Districts and schools now have embargoed access to their full preliminary MCAS and MCAS-Alt results in … More
Giving Feedback on Practice
Adapted from the MTA Summer Conference Workshop Copiloting: A toolkit for cooperating teachers. The education profession depends on the willingness of professional … More
Observational Tools for Teacher/Faculty Feedback (Part 1)
Have you been asked to observe a fellow educator? Are you enrolled in school administrator preparation program? Are you supervising … More
