Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Board of Elementary and Secondary Education: vision and mission

 There's a backup on this here
Johnston: "you are our audience right now" 
as we go into this transition, want to be make sure we're grounding this work in the vision we have of change for our schools
when he was a superintendent, "I was on the receiving side" of DESE work
"while the creativity was always clear" was not always clarity in how those spoke to each other? were they timed well? 
for students who have been historically marginalized, there is no time for DESE to lose its footing

impact we want to have in serving nearly a million students
back to priorities set in the fall
bring voices of students into the conversation

"not just in Board members' heads: it's in their blood"

drawing lines between work and the aspects of vision
"I've received the On the Desktop messages for superintendents, and it can sometimes be one thing after another"

  • By 2026, the state will return to pre-pandemic levels (or higher) of the percentage of students meeting or exceeding expectations on the MCAS
  • By 2026, the state will return to pre-pandemic levels (or lower) of the percentage of students who are chronically absent.
  • By 2026, at least 85,000 high school students will be enrolled in a designated high school college-and-career pathway or program.
  • By 2026, the percentage of diverse staff in schools and districts will increase by at least 4 points to 17.9 percent.
  • By 2027, the state will offer structured professional learning on evidence-based practices for literacy for all teachers and administrators with responsibility for early literacy.
Deputy Commissioner Regina Robinson walks through this




"This is the slide out of all the slides" 
a summary of principles and what that looks like in the classroom

strategic objectives informing Student Opportunity Act guidance, and use of staffing


"believe we have to center all of our work on the whole student...[with] a diverse workforce...to impact the learning 
being on the receiving end can feel disjointed
"DESE, get it together, is what I heard from one of my colleagues"
"what does it mean to educate the whole student...fostering joyful, healthy, and supportive learning environments...so that all students feel valued, connected, nourished, and ready to learn"
acknowledging and elevating front line: bus drivers, bus monitors, front office, crossing guards
healthy: nurses, social workers, physical therapists
supportive: counselors
"so many staff members are crucial to impacting students"
"we have to recognize that our school nutrition professionals are critical" as hungry students can't learn
"so that students are ready to learn"
many initiatives that have been taking place, but need to shift in practice
asset based view

Johnston: third objective on diverse and effective workforce
teacher diversification grants
alternative routes to licensure
teacher apprenticeship programs

Chief of Schools Komal Bhasin: instructional materials, academic supports and interventions, reimagining the high school experience, holistic range of programming
how to relate that to MCAS and college and career pathways goals
over 100 programs under this strategic objective
all academic programming now has to include all practices: high quality materials have to include English learning guidance, leadership including culturally and linguistically sustaining practices, and multi-tiered systems of supports
three objectives in this section: 
  • increase from 44% to 60% (a 36% increase) of the state's K-8 schools that have adopted high quality instructional materials (in at least one new content area: ELA, math, science)
  • increase from 25% to 50% (a 100% increase) of the K-8 schools that have adopted evidence based early literacy curriculum, as defined by meeting the definition of high quality instructional materials in grades K-3
  • increase from 26% to 30% (a 15% increase) of the state's high schools that have adopted high quality instructional materials in at least one new content area
"a means to an end" to better the experience of kids in the Commonwealth"
she gives a happy example of students understanding why in math class 
(which has nothing to do with the objectives here, which are a facile understanding of curriculum, and also is not under DESE's control, at all)

Johnston welcomes feedback, projects April 1
final slide has "questions and comments from the Board" which I haven't seen before
  • what resonates most from today's presentation?
  • what is something new you learned today?
  • in upcoming meetings, what would be helpful to learn more about?
Craven says they could talk for several more hours
Gardiner: so excited, younger sister's high school experience will be vastly different than her own
asks about personal finance

Fisher: appreciate the new guidelines for the education prep program (speaking as a higher ed education department chair)
more urgency and the ability to do more with inclusion of culturally and linguistically sustaining practice

Rocha: excited, but a sadness that takes over my body, especially as a parent and one who helps other parents whose first language is not English
joyful learning: but emphasis on metrics and measures and outcomes
"how are we measuring 'joyful'?" how are we supporting staff 
Robinson mentioned bus drivers, and the greeting of students, asks how we're supporting those adults, paraprofessionals
on chronic absenteeism: thinking about accountability on reporting
tardiness to class getting recorded as an absence; holding people accountable on that
Robinson: we know everything rises and falls on leadership
there are so many different adults from the time a child leaves their home through their day
"looking under the hood at the systems"
"recognizing the value of local control" but look at what is happening
elevating students: ask them about joy, sense of belonging
encourage tools and resources, "coming alongside you as DESE, as partner, to elevate student voice"
Johnston: how we are unified in what matters
joyful environment
the development of a unified observation tool on these three strategic goals 
Bhasin: common language in monitor 
"is there a literacy coach" is there feedback process

Craven: is there a standing update on the agenda?
Take us on the road to see things in action
"the thing you want to reach for and the thing that's actually there"
focus on high quality instructional materials: "repeat it repeat it repeat it, lest they forget"
if we can do it anything to call out the best practices
Stewart: thank you for articulating that
"struck by the shifts in practices that are ongoing"
"what's the environmental...around joyful learning?"

and adjourned
The board is next scheduled to meet on April 30

Board of Elementary and Secondary Education: proposed virtual school

 Johnston notes it has been ten years since a new virtual school was considered
Felix Commonwealth Virtual School
Board is sole authorizer of virtual schools 
proposed to partner with Arizona State University
4000 students statewide, opening September 2025
recommended conditions for the applicant group 
memo allows $14K which is maximum allowed at this time; virtual school can then seek higher amount once authorized
both other virtuals have recently requested such increases
Hills and Gardiner held public hearing on proposed school

Gardiner: a lot of expressed support came about adding a virtual school to schools that exist now
ability to have in person hubs "makes applications very unique"
10-15 people in total, relatively small, all comments public

Hills recommends bringing coffee cup and sitting back to let Ela process if you attend a meeting with her

West "one of very few" positives of pandemic "sparks innovations of designs in schooling"
Thinks we didn't see as much in Massachusetts
the state where the Commissioner otherwise bars virtual instruction?
fully competency based model
excited about "leadership team" with "deep experience in serving students in the Commonwealth"
concern over funding level: "would encourage that conversation"
not a cost saver in virtual schools
"focus on if the needs of the students are being met rather than if they have access to the same activities as other students who are enrolling in the model"
Johnston notes laws about equity of access; want to be sure that families truly can access that
do really want to make sure that access is equitable

Mohammed: competency based progression very intriguing
how does that change accountability of school
and how it will inform and provide
Johnston: pay attention to all our unique models in learning from and spread innovative practices

must create accountability plan in progress in model
"very student centered accountability plan"

Gardiner: blown away by positivity at public comment session
heard from all stakeholders
hybrid learning model and remote learning school her freshman year
remote learning provided for students who needed flexibility
do we know where hub sites might be? Lawrence, Holyoke, Allston might be
Gardiner: higher tuition than other virtual schools
are there other proposed avenues for financial aid? (she's misunderstanding how this works)
free public virtual school; tuition is paid by sending districts

Rocha: budget: 
concern as flagged by Brockton
meals as schools are where students get that
unique in that they'll use hubs as "school" sites as recognized by USDA for meals
Johnston: transparency in fulfillment of conditions
Board then is entity that removes conditions if grant is made with those conditions
if there are more applicants than seats, they'll need to have a lottery
certificate term is for first three years; 200 in first year

Stewart: hadn't heard of preconditions with virtual schools
Johnston: many are similar as they are around opening procedures and difference of this option
Stewart: proposed conditions feel like a lot
what happens if conditions aren't met?
can be met, extended, removed, or additional conditions can be imposed
that is all done by Board decisions
haven't seen any information and hard data on coming out of pandemic
"a lot was said about getting kids off screens and into classrooms"
not uncommon for new groups to bring out a lot of support
are they meeting the needs of students?

Fisher: concern around this is for number 4
"have trepidation and concern about only a few hubs"
in order to meet condition
"reasonable access is in the eye of the beholder...don't want to see kids on a bus for an hour, hour and a half"
"access is in the eye of the beholder"
"it does seem somewhat contradictory to what we were saying during the pandemic"
"it seems contradictory to the messaging we've been giving to districts"
need to see the hub, access across the state


Craven: a bus from East Boston "can take an hour," a METCO school "can take a hour"
interaction between conditions 3 about budget and 6 justification of per pupil tuition rate
"they asked for the foundation budget rate...we're not giving that to them in the certificate"
"much different model...things that a bricks and mortar school are usually responsible for"
Craven now reading aloud the section on funding virtual schools
"I'm super excited to see something different"

Johnston scheduling a time as soon as possible meeting with the proposed school

Hills: very supportive of this
struggle with what Fisher said
"law provides for this"
clarifies one thing: don't think Department should feel restricted on making changes within purview

certificate approved

Board of Elementary and Secondary Education for March: Commissioner Search

 Craven: search for Commissioner "is an orderly process"
"this is the most important selection that this Board will make"
"will provide monthly updates...think process should take several months"
drafted scope of work for a search firm 
RFP will close April 24
firm that does the public outreach 
once RFPs are in will be scored by Craven, Hills, Tutwiler
will be advisory committee
"there is a transparency to how the search is being conducted"

Moriarty: don't know if those who participated last time if we ever debriefed about the process
template that happens in every state, every school district
don't know that we need to reinvent, just want to be best in class

Craven: comprehensive outreach 

Rocha: if there were feedback learnings for this process, so we are not repeating the same mistakes "if there were any"

Stewart: asks about RFP placement

Craven: this will be a standing part of the agenda each month

Hills: recommends talking to then-Chair Sagan
all three finalists went on to be first time Commissioners

Board of Elementary and Secondary Education for March: opening comments

 The agenda is here. The livestream is here

This is of course the first meeting at which Jeff Riley is not Commissioner; Acting Commissioner Russell Johnston is here.

please enjoy these cold pigeons over the Malden River

Craven opens the meeting; Matt Hills is participating remotely

Public comment:
MEJA Director Vatsady Sivongxay commenting on the Commissioner search
pandemic drew attention to the historic inequities in our schools
"steadfast commitment" to invest in our schools
new Commissioner selection: needs
"fully supports the whole student throughout their whole journey"
record on historic inequities and working to close them
strong history of public schools advocacy
meaningful and inclusive public engagement process; soliciting feedback from multiple groups of stakeholders

Commonwealth virtual school: "to create the best possible school"
members of application team
"need to continue to diversify the public school ecosystem"
"quite unlike the other virtual schools" that already exist in Massachusetts
"full competency based curriculum"
will offer "hub sites...this is a game changer"
Y and other spaces "underused during the school day"
"have a plan for universal meals"
"want to build a collaborative community for students" who are remote and in person

"what we are proposing is really different"
non-profit called Duet, college coaching
will talk about budget and conditions offered for approval
learned that "virtual learning doesn't necessarily cost less if you do it right"
$16,292 per student is proposed, which is the maximum allowed under MGL
Note that this is entirely state funded
Condition is that transportation is provided for all students, which founders would "like to discuss more"
(I'll just bet they do!)
"response to community need"
Lists Lawrence, Boston, and western Mass as places families are interested in "other models"
structuring model for adults and children
"haven't really adapted the model for what it looks like today"
"what really changes the experience is caring adults"
And it's about flexibility
if approved they'll start now; hiring "success coaches"
"additional layers of support to kids who need it"
Member Stewart asks about poll, which they, I think, say they'll get to her (my gosh they need policies)

Libertas Charter School leader
(and I am not sure why he is speaking today)
flexibilities of charter schools means they don't have to use approaches that aren't working
"we can't improve what we can't see"
leverage data
"we know if students aren't in school they aren't learning"
(This is an untrue statement)
twice daily attendance team huddles
texting or calling all absent student; incentives for attendance or make up days
ask for them to support resources
high academic recovery

Rabbi Toba Spitzer T'ruah Rabbinic Call for Human Rights
here to respond to a discussion on antisemitism and the adoption of the IHRA definition by DESE
here on behalf of the organization
oppose any effort to codify definition of antisemitism within policy or law 
fear formal adoption could take away from important work
other definitions exist including Jerusalem definition 
respond in context: a legal response to a hate crime must take into account context
definition has been used to cut off free speech
imperative that antisemitism not be inherently be aligned with criticism of the actions of the Israeli government 

Jake Donnelly, Activism Manager, Israeli American Council 
says MTA is "working against your efforts" to combat antisemitism
says they are distributing false information 
says that Zionism being equated with settler colonialism is false and that it is false that it is a multimillion dollar effort of the Israeli state
says this is like Black history month being presented by David Duke

I should know who this is but I don't...so much legislation that is anti-American
reminds me of what happened in Nazi Germany
legislation that defines diversity equity and inclusion as hate words
"intend to continue to speak up for children who cannot speak for themselves"
same information about achievement gaps that continue
says DESE has all the information they need 
disputes time called saying she needs more time
we're just completely off time and off the rails here...

student from Marblehead High School is quoting from materials he was given in class which uses the word "Palestine" and says that it is an erasure "of the the word Israel" and that it is demonizing the Jews
in homework he said that there is "no relationship between Judaism and Palestine" and said that the question was antisemitic 
mother says that the MTA presentation last week was "filled with antisemitic tropes" and is going part by part
"the Jews bought the land legally"
"being anti-Zionism is taking away the right for Jewish self-determination"
"every since October 7, I feel I am living" in Nazi Germany

Tyrone Malik (?) about gifted students especially in traditionally underrepresented populations
comparing MCAS graphs and then enrollment graphs (which I don't have)
supports competency based approached as proposed by the proposed virtual school

Chair Craven speaks of her visiting a school classroom to read
"it's a diagnostic test" 

Secretary Tutwiler: says he's worked in parallel fashion with Johnston
looking forward to working closely 
three new early college partnerships
should yield enrollment of about 9000 next year
60 new members of Youth Advisory Council to Governor Healey

Johnston: "want to ground our experience...that all students should be known and valued"
DoH has released new guidance on staying home for guidance aligned with CDC
which is the terrible recommendation that people shouldn't stay home anymore
"what is this delay of FAFSA meaning for seniors right now" (notes he is the father of an 18 year old)
working diligently to get information on the ground
technical issues that has delayed issues; what does that mean for seniors right now
went to an admitted students day
"was palpable" to be in a room full of seniors
"want to elevate the importance of this topic for this Board"
DoE will allow DESE to show schools who has competed FAFSA and then be able to reach out to students who have not completed FAFSA
expansion of state financial aid opportunities as well, "most importantly students who may be undocumented as well"
districts: Brockton: continue to provide support
Agreement with Brockton dating back as far as 2020
high quality instructional materials, educator evaluation
funding safety audit; implementation of MassCore; financial audit
Holyoke: was at a subcommittee on local control last night
the day he began as Acting Commissioner he contacted the Mayor of Holyoke
presented a proposal to work together to identify what is a plan for improving local control
dates for future meetings; content "what's the role of the School Committee?"
"like a good bureaucrat, brought along our regulations"
what is in the regulation to extend aspects of receivership into locally controlled districts after receivership
most impressed by subcommittee focusing on "how will we continue improvement?"
subcommittee meeting six times (public sessions)
Craven: her concern has always been that there has to be strategies in continuing out of receivership that were only available under receivership
"because it's very promising"
Johnston: creating a written plan
Holyoke School Committee having a good understanding of procedural action

Monday, March 25, 2024

A few notes from the Worcester School Committee legislative breakfast

 I promise I'll go back and post on last Thursday's Worcester School Committee, but before we get too far away or lose the impact, I did want to share a few notes from Friday's Worcester School Committee legislative breakfast, As it was a posted public meeting--it had to be, as the School Committee was discussing the budget, which is under their purview--I attended and took a few notes.

The presentation at the breakfast was largely (though not exactly) the preliminary budget presentation the School Committee heard from Deputy Superintendent Brian Allen in February after the release of the Governor's budget; my highlights of that are here. You may remember that the upshot of that is: 


If you're at all looking at headlines across the state, you will have caught that the picture has only gotten more grave since then (there are so many articles I could link to there that I don't know where to start). As shared at the breakfast by Mr. Allen, last week MASC/MASS/MTA/AFT-MA sent a joint letter of advocacy on inflation to the state legislature. 

Sunday, March 24, 2024

The Board of Ed meets Tuesday

 A short agenda, but some important stuff: 


To comment briefly, from the bottom up:
  • I genuinely do not understand what is going on with the mission and vision things, because from what I can tell, they're using stuff from 2019, and then aligning things they're already doing with that. At least, that was what was going on at the last round of this I saw.
    (Some day, someone is going to shock me, by grounding this is the constitutional reason for public education for Massachusetts, but let's say that I'm not holding my breath!)

  • I'm annoyed that they didn't share the virtual school information until well after they posted the agenda; no one had any more information, so good luck if you wished to speak. Reviewing the now posted backup, we can see that we're going for another round of "we're going to say yes with a lot of conditions" which a) is not a good plan for an educational institution, and b) should sound hauntingly familiar to any who followed DESE's last charter approval. 
    Also, I completely don't understand how the state that couldn't insist hard enough that no child should be learning via a screen, that won't allow districts the option of virtual school on snow days, wants to add another virtual school. 

  • Commissioner's search: hey! Let's not make it a whole bunch of "education is only about business, and the last time we were near a school, we were students!" people like last time, please! 

Tuesday, 9 am. I'll be blogging from Everett

CPPAC on budget Wednesday

 


I am really sorry that I haven’t shared this earlier; I only learned of it Friday, which is also when the only notice to parents went out via Remind; it doesn't appear to have been shared via social media. 

I will not be able to attend—like many, my schedule fills up much farther in advance than this—but urge you to if you can. As I've noted repeatedly here, but I fear far too few people know, it is going to be a tough year, and more people who are better informed is wise.