Tutwiler: never been about casting aspersions on career-tech leaders or educators
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| Methuen High School auditorium |
"has been about advancing values that reflect that every student" warrants a chance to pursue access
recommending one minor change to the middle school access, and three substantive changes to the weighted lottery
heard "loud and clear" the demand for more seats
March proposed:
modernize language
strengthen access to sending middle schools
option for weighed or non-weighed lottery; lottery admission at all CTE schools
in March, required application, may include student interest; may use attendance and discipline
Public comment : of 1295 comments via email, 800 were form letters
782 via survey
summary of comment received: in favor, opposed, mixed
weighted lottery will improve equity and access; some suggested go further and adopt non-weighted lottery
opposed argued merit-based selective criteria should continue
on student interest: signal of interest; required extra step; worry about accessibility; make distinction between "interest" and "awareness"
proposed changes: student awareness and student interest are now two different things
awareness change be used as component: can be open house (virtual or in-person), a tour, video module, or other as approved by DESE
interest can be used as an additional weight: can be essay, non-evaluative interview, audio/video presentation, letter of recommendation, or other measure as approved by DESE
Attendance:
in favor readiness and workforce expectation
opposed: disproporate impact, systemic issues
clarifying that it cannot include anything before seventh grade
Discipline:
in favor indicator of maturity, particular around tools
opposed: inconsistent application, disproportionate impact
limit of which offenses considered
change that remove 10 days of suspension or those under 37 H 3/4 and nothing before seventh grade
if more students than interest, schools must use lottery
application may include student awareness
lottery may use as weight: interest, attendance, discipline
require all schools to sign an attestation that the middle school pathway exploration policy is implemented
"committed to all students having equitable access to vocational education...want a future where every student has a chance to discover their interests..."
Craven: how many students impacted by discipline change?
Curtin: appendix has impacted by changes proposed (those left in); 388 in entire state (but not all in eligible areas, so could be smaller)
those removed is higher than 388 (the change has lowered number impacted)
West: non-residents no longer having a pathway
response is language didn't change from current language
resident students are admitted first
Craven: does anything we're doing change that?
yeah, it expands resident access! More kids from the ACTUAL DISTRICT can get in!
And what they're sore about is that they can't charge a bazillion dollars for non-resident tuition anymore if the non-resident students don't get in
Tutwiler: guidance will clarify that there has been no change
Mohamed: appreciate sentiment behind the proposal
change in manner essentially untested; should consider applying scientific method
"look for way to test our belief system...to achieve desire result"
adopt for some districts and leave in place for others
except there is no place in the state where you could have a control and an experimental group that are reflective of one another; this does not work like this
would vote no without such a test
Craven: reason of supportive of non-moving target
what about testing of this?
Tutwiler: up to Board to decide if down the line changes needed to be made
will commit to present data on outcomes moving forward
Fisher: CTE schools are public schools
all public schools are concerned with safety and learning; the conversation we heard suggest otherwise
heard testimony, speak as a parent of a child who was and wasn't in a ch. 74 program
fear that people like themselves will no longer have access; consider thousands "who never had access"
"feel strongly that this proposal does not go far enough...however this is great progress"
Rocha: how often data reviewed and shared with public?
Curtin: annual collection; different type of data, more information than have ever done
certainly on an annual basis
Hills: echo conclusion of Fisher's comment
say a few things: not perfect, different disagreements
"there comes a point at every process...where you look at what's in front of you and it's time to make the decision"
"you either live with it, or you don't live with it...I am totally prepared to live with it"
has been a "strange and unusual process"
say "there have been a number of exit ramps that have been missed here"
"doable, workable...need to make a decision with the cards in front of us now"
"thank you for bringing this to closure now...thank you for not being polarizing"
Moriarty (who is online and hard to hear): quick case on
revised a few years ago and it apparently did not do the job
DESE is not getting adequate support and staffing "to get compliance" needed
"with better enforcement we'd be working with a scalpel rather than a chainsaw"
sure that advocates will still not be satisfied; going to be ongoing efforts
convinced that a blind lottery "is not very good policy"
legislature taking up; address specific districts
Asikis: frustration by students on finding out too late to change or impact
guidance counselors who never tell or tell them to bother
"stopping the school to prison pipeline before it starts"
students in favor: those admitted who drop out are a "lost seat"
consistent presence and commitment to learn
limited seats, changes who gets them
Grant: support of regulations
ground decision in experience of students
Be clear about processes that allow more access
that looks like they have the votes
West: important to say demand exceeds supply
in meantime dealing with it as a contentious issue, as rationing access to a scarce reason
compromise proposal so hear a lot of public comment on all sides
"probably not where I would have ended up on my own, and probably [gestures to Fisher] a different place than Professor Fisher"
have heard a lot of accusations about motives; hope that we can put that behind us
Rocha: agree that a hard decision is before us
important to highlight that right now disadvantaged students are dealing with the unintended consequences
Massachusetts is among the states that have the largest disparities in racial and economic access in education
CTE programs part of that
"education is the great equalizer"
I wish it was an unweighted lottery, but I think this is a great step in the right direction
Stewart: pleased that after many, many months of public testimony, get a chance to share our thoughts
support changes to support our students
"has the potential to change lives"
"folks have a responsibility to meet students where they are when they come into the program and get them where they need to be" as that is mission of public education
"I was surprised at a lot of the rhetoric...found some of it very shocking"
hear from students wanting to attend these programs without discrimination and then "hear from adults about their right to gatekeep access to these programs"
"I wish we had a fully open lottery, but that's an option for schools"
Board takes an important step, but I certainly hope it is not the last work; students can't wait another 25 years
"a little bit of discrimination is never okay"
Craven: heard from many many educators
laws matter; House version in budget for study commission; would prohibit Board from vote until study
has a lot of back and forth
access to middle schools
"think we're doing some positive things here today"
have some concerns that this is seen as a golden ticket at the exclusion of other opportunities
"the place where we have to put a marker down and let districts respond to something that isn't constantly moving behind the scenes
ROLL CALL:
Mohamed, Moriarty vote no; Tutwiler abstain; all others in favor
8-2-1
RECESS
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