The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education meets today at 9 AM. The agenda is here. The livestream will appear over here.
The meeting is being chaired by Vice Chair Matt Hills, as Chair Katherine Craven is remote today.
Public comment
Max Page, President, MTA
Monday is the 180th birthday of the MTA, which was founded in downtown Worcester (huzzah, Worcester!).
report from MTA on graduation council "it is a yes document" what members want from their public schools; "urge you to read in the light of how it was offered"
1100 signatures being delivered to Governor "level of crisis" on budgetary matters
"we have done remarkable things with the Student Opportunity Act...we need to look at the situation now"
circuit breaker, inflation, in district and regional transportation, rural aid, charter school impact on public schools, fair and adequate pay
"take those on with the urgency that those you represent are bringing to you"
Karis McLaughlin
experience of African American children who are indigenous
"haven't forgotten that there are amendments that cover those particular children"
"I've asked this group to embrace school accountability"
Hills is running a much tighter ship on keeping people to time!
Gerry Mroz
high dosage tutoring works because it pairs an educator with a student
average of seven grade levels of learning in a classroom
"it's impossible; it doesn't happen"
computer-adaptive system accounts for what they know and what they are ready to learn
asks for competency-based educational progression system
graduate student in social work at Anna Maria College
how school environments are contributing to obesity
nearly 1 in 5 children are obese and much of it is because of budget cuts
cafeteria serving heavily processed foods
physical education no longer a priority
numbers even more alarming when you look at race and income
when numbers fall short, our children are paying the price
"have public support" for full funding of Healthy, Hunger-free Act
support particularly for higher need schools
commit to expanding physical education
Nina Alley (?), Teach Plus fellow
support varies from district to district for special education
Wonder if full inclusion model is best for all
"students should be pulled out from the general education system" for targeted supports
attainable and measurable progress
meet educational needs
Deb McCarthy, MTA Vice President
last spoke on physical and emotional safety of staff
"forced community after community to seek an override"
system has created a situation that is unsafe
absences may not include information as to why educators are absent
"data is critical, but I am hoping that we use this data properly"
parent speaking about teacher licensure
speaking about her son's experiences in MA education and the MTEL
"endless hours of working with students, not directly in his field, because he does not have a student licensure"
has taken Praxis six times, has spent over $3000 in tutors and support
"this one test is holding him up"
"he wants to teach in your schools. He doesn't care about the pay; he wants to make a difference"
urges them to consider other pathways
"You would be lucky to have him in your school district"
Ben Forman, Mass Inc, speaking on the recent report issued with WRRB
Board does have responsibility for closing achievement gaps
less access to appropriate learning spaces
more likely to be exposed to harmful environments
much less likely to have experienced educators in part due to buildings
more likely to be in buildings with concentrations of poverty
can fulfill charge by establishing standards for school buildings
MSBA will publish findings on facility conditions; Board can analyze data
Chris... someone...
who is really hard to hear
banned from events at child's school; wants a change to CORI guidelines
Tyrone Mallet
students of colors languishing in schools across the state
consider the results so far as I've presented
"is funding K-12 education as it has always been funded going to create different results in the future?"
"this Board is my last hope"
"one of the largest excellence gaps in the nation. What is the budget priority to address this?"
Chair comments
"We're thrilled to your service being recognized"
"you are now on your fourth gubernatorial term and third governor"
Stewart: honor to be acknowledged this way
"going back as far as Mass Partners for Public Education"
Comments from the Secretary
"I don't know who to thank for that, but thank you"
"spend a lot of time debating policy issues" to development
hierarchy of need: housing, physical supports, food security
food security has been an issue for past 50 days or so
collective sigh of relief that government is reopened
profoundly grateful for all efforts to ensure access to food
one of 9 states that offer universal free breakfast and lunch in all schools
highlighting Springfield for breakfast participation: 86% of students having breakfast each day
Breakfast in the Classroom; it's working
"be mindful of absenteeism and all of the factors of the hierarchy of need"
conditions for every student to show up, engage and succeed
Comments of Commissioner
63 districts who have pre-pandemic levels of math/ELA or both
teams to share best practices and strategies
evidence-based literacy instructional practices through Literacy Launch Institutes
will have 1300 slots, more than double what was done last year
artwork celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month
50 years of IDEA
"still have a ways to go" but important to mark the anniversary
modeled on the 1972 law from Massachusetts
"will be working with local school committees to build their capacities for local governance"
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