March Board of Elementary and Secondary Education: opening comments

 The Board of Ed meets today at nine. Their agenda is here; the livestream is here. 

I'm joining this one remotely, as I spent yesterday at the Fordham Education Law Symposium, which was great, and maybe I will write about that here at some point. 

Public comment 
Latinos for Education 
who is impossible to hear on the video
I think she is supporting the proposed changes to teacher licensure regulations
Kahris McLaughlin
how to train educators to meet their students where they are
went to retreat, determining certain districts, that would be the number (for focus of accountability)
"don't let anybody off the hook"
Gerry Mroz
haven't used the tools in the accountability process
"can't go light on anybody anymore"
"the state needs to be a state board of education"

TECCA superintendent
considers report on their renewal fair
Greater Commonwealth Virtual School superintendent
thanks for recommendation for renewal

Michael Moriarty
continuing focus on early literacy

Craven:
responsibilities of Board valuable to learn
Chapter 70 "isn't something the Board or the Department controls"
Legislative directed formula
uhhh...save that they can be advocates if they feel that it is necessary
"never-ending streams of money is not meeting a constitutional standard"
"where we can use our energy in ways that are meaningful rather than hortatory"

Valley Opportunity Council on adult education
how it changes people's lives on an annual basis
increase of enrollment of students between 16 and 24
graduate of program speaking about getting her GED 
enrolled in college and in driving school and have overcome many anxieties

Interim Secretary Amy Kershaw (serving through March 30)
celebrated school breakfast week
locally sourced food: represented the values of what the community
"local, healthy, nutrious, and loved"
in Lawrence for Ways and Means hearing yesterday
toured early childhood classrooms at Lawrence High, where student parents can bring their children
present in support of Governor's FY27 budget
lively discussion with members of the Committee just over three hours
predominant conversation about chapter 70
"real urgency among our school districts"

Commissioner:
Thanks Board for time of retreat; look forward to future discussions
thanks Chair for what she said about chapter 70
still learning the Massachusetts ways "our state loves complexities"
"people have to own...it's started by the Legislature"
Craven "I will amend that statement; they own" chapter 70
Martinez: we're willing partners...can only imagine being one vote"
Southbridge visit; rep says have seen a refreshing new perspective in Southbridge
AP a measure of capacity of our teachers

art in the room is from the Central Mass Collaborative

update on Fall River Public Schools
Mayor requested an investigation into schools
last review was completed May of 2025; indicated concerns about role of committee and ability of superintendent to fulfill their job
targeted follow-up review specifically on governance structures
Craven: what oversight does DESE have of democratically elected school committee?
Martinez: part of review of schools
Craven: what can you look for for a democratically-elected body?
gets into mission creep, as anyone who has a squabble with their school committee could ask for a review
Martinez: will bring back content
Craven: school committee isn't governed by our regulations
uh, yes they are?
Martinez: don't want to get ahead of ourselves

on graduation council: continue to meet, created advisory groups, 
on track for release in June

MCAS time: heard a comment that MCAS is unpopular "I don't believe that is true"
oh, dear...he needs to get out more
role of adults versus role of children
question 2 "did not diminish importance of MCAS"
"the more you learn the more you earn"
that has rapidly diminishing truth
"cannot confuse our parents and our teachers that it doesn't matter"
"it's kids like me who get shortchanged"

Hills: really sensitive to oversight if it involves the school committee
"the precedent issue that the chair raised is the key issue...let's make sure we don't have mission creep"
wonder how graduation requirements "are actually going to work"
"hope it doesn't become an aspirational list of things we'd like to do"

Craven: I can hear you talk about standards and the achievement gap all day every day