The agenda is here. The meeting will be livestreamed here.
I'm doing this one remotely so I can switch over to the consensus revenue hearing at noon. Updating as we go...
Public comment:
Jodie Alencar: adult education learner, speaking of his experience learning English as an immigrant from Brazil
"I am one of the faces of adult education in Massachusetts"
Luiz Carlos Nunez: learning English was always a dream
adult education, met teachers who believed in him
student ambassador: took my confidence even further
Cesar Vasquez: "to say 'thank you, thank you for supporting this program'"
"they not only impact our lives; they impact the lives of our families"
has a college degree, but English level did not allow him to take advantage of that
now is a school bus driver, certificate as a notary
"I feel so proud"
"This beautiful memory is carried on my heart"
Terry McCray: Merrimac
now a tutor for others
"these are experiences I never thought I would have"
"more focused, productive, and confident"
"hopefully I will be a success story at the end, when I pass my GED"
Samia Omran: single mother of four kids
holds a master's degree in economics from her home country
has earned nine certificates
survivor of domestic violence
being in adult education "changed my life and my kids' life"
"and bring hope in my home again"
she is now seen as an example by others
Jessica Tang, AFT-MA president
recognize and congratulate the 2026 MA teacher of the year
also due to fiscal crisis facing so many districts
schools trying to figure out how to support all students
"due to particularly a decline in enrollment"
"fear is pervasive"
"asking how we can partner and how state can intervene"
believe it is incumbent on districts to apply
Understand the UP Academy Holland and STEM Academy (? I didn't catch that) will return to local control today
commitment to continue what makes those schools thrive
Daisy Stanley: parent of two children at UP Academy Holland
express that it has gotten better due to UP network
has done a great job in demonstrating values
fear loss of services and supports
Hillary Casen, COO of UP Education Network
UP Academy Holland "powerful example" work together with a shared purpose
rooted in partnership
"we stayed because we could see the progress"
Amelia Massoud-Tastor, principal of UP Academy Holland
proud to highlight success, result of hard work of entire community
Mike Bower,
have seen exits that did not go well; when exiting did not go well
from military: exiting from Iraq and Afghanistan, and "the work disappeared"
he just made that analogy about a public school
"how deeply people care"
Kahris McLaughlin: here to talk about school accountability
deeply concerned about the direction the state is moving on state accountability
"I know a lot of incompetence in high places"
"we have everything that we need in this state to make education successful for children"
Tyrone Mowett: advocating for the Commonwealth's advanced students
on Commissioner's priorities
ask for Commonwealth's advanced learners be identified and supported
question is if the support will be sustained and expanded
Chair Craven: thanks those from Student Ambassador program commenters
visited UP Academy Holland on Friday
had been failing under receivership ten years ago; excessive punishments and suspensions
shows a lot of progress to show pivot from one strategy to another
"we're never owning a district" or school
not losing the progress and making sure the transition is smooth
Secretary Tutwiler: share how heartening the stories from adult learners were this morning
support people to realize their dreams; "happens because of the hard work of those who are leading that effort"
"you are welcome to come back every month"
later in the agenda will celebrate the Massachusetts Teacher of the Year
expansion of CTE programs; response has been significant
Hills now feels he needs to comment...
Commissioner Martinez: "there's a lot here"
"beginning to get a hang of the geography"
63 districts and 94 schools to celebrate academic achievement; "a lot of amazing energy"
"Lexington in the room along with Lawrence along with Boston along with Springfield"
Accountability:
"gave me more urgency to advance our work"
three schools that have put themselves on a path:
Two exiting "underperforming" status:
Fonseca School in Fall River
Dearborn STEM Academy in Boston
he quips that English in Massachusetts is no joke as he stumbles over the pronunciation of "Fonseca"
UP Academy Holland exiting receivership at end of school year
---pauses for applause---
underperforming schools have been reviewed and are continuing that designations
waiver on audits for charter schools voted in November; federal guidance has now been released, and can meet deadline
Hills asks for "what's working and what's not working" from annual report
Martinez: also alignment of resources, and also talking about raising the bar
also understand the role of resources
Smidy: seems like only meeting twice and only having one district representation, given how much time is spent on those reports
"or if the information isn't used, why have districts submit those reports?"
Craven: advisory councils relegated to the end of the agenda
"it's either worth it to do it or it's not"
Craven: the autonomies "that were gained" does the exit assurance include that being continued
Martinez: that really is the goal, "for at least two years, we can require assurances"
"This is done in partnership...really going to be a partnership together"
"fairly confident...we lean into complexity in the Commonwealth"
"we know that there's a lot of pride of ownership at the local level"
Rocha: how to keep parent engagement
Martinez: have metrics and be monitoring
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