Joint Committee on Ways and Means is taking written testimony

 ...until April 1. If you have something to say about the state budget for FY23, now's the time to say something?

Posting in part for me, as I hope to write something up this week. 

March Board of Ed

 Bill Bell on budget
Federal side: pleased to report as of this morning have approved pretty much all of the ESSER applications
overall have seen tremendous work that districts are doing with this
"districts are creative, ready to track this good work that's taking place"
Bell: ESSER I funds: 86% has been claimed
ESSER II funds: 29% has been claimed
ESSER III funds: 9% claimed (good for another 2 1/2 years)

supplemental budget for workforce retention and recruitment as spoken of earlier $140M
already working on $70M

working with House Ways and Means committee on their FY23 budget
in conversations with Senate as well
working on a bunch of FY22 supplemental appropriations

nothing on the $40M in enrollment funding 

March Board of Ed: accountability

 vote today is to send it out to public comment 
publish all data
lowest performing groups published
proposing not issuing targets this year

Hills: in memo: is there an expectation that beginning with next year, traditional targets would be published
Curtin: yes
gives Commissioner authority to refrain from certain reporting this school year
back to using this year's data as a baseline for next year and going forward

Stewart: how is the Department looking at accountability more broadly speaking in terms of the equity lens?
Curtin: we are always looking at ways in which we can improve the accountability system and will continue to 
in terms of equity, strong focus on student groups and try to draw attention to where there is low performance among student groups where that is
Stewart: MCAS and the way it exacerbates problems, tie to socio-economic factors
while I think I am supportive of what's happening here, I just think it's really critical that we look at that
Curtin: "I would agree with you, Member Stewart"
give us a good baseline for what's moving forward

March Board of Ed: pandemic response

 Commissioner's message is here
Riley: "I'll be quick"
Fauci says likely to see levels rise but not a surge
but obviously will continue to monitor 

expect to see a recommendation to lift competency determination
SOA districts required to submit plans by April 4
then will get feedback; plans will be posted publicly

investigating history curriculum for middle schools, piloting

March Board of Ed: renewal of virtual schools

 Commissioner notes that both have conditions included in proposed renewal

Moriarty: last time, finding data not what it needed to be
schools able to step out
"Thank God we didn't overreact"
"been made very clear to districts, do not fall back into remote...along with these...may be time for conversations about what the future of technology is going to look like going forward, so we aren't throwing the baby out with the bathwater"

and renewed

March Board of Ed: Springfield Empowerment Zone

 Backup is here
Springfield appears to be coming in remotely? Superintendent Warwick and Mayor Sarno on camera
Sarno: "the empowerment zone has been a success here in the city of Springfield"
"I think hybrid is key, what your system does well"
"it's all about relationships"
Warwick: and there's a whole long thing here about MSBA
"it's good to have options"
"We definitely needed more flexibility with" our unions
"we needed fast action for our schools"
"part of it is our governance framework" (which is not having the school committee as the governance board)
"model that engages the community" put "in collaboration with the community"
flexible model made a difference for our schools

Craven: really wanted to have this discussion today "in stark opposition to other topics"
place where we're working together

co-executive directors of the partnership board
Matt Brunell, Colleen Curran co-executive directors of empowerment zone
"productive impact"
seven years in 
school-level autonomy
"transparent benchmarking"

They have this image:

Launching nine new schools
"of the eight original principals, only two remain" and they now manage multiple schools
example of data being used: lifetime learnings
restructuring
early adopters of diversification grant: gap on Latinx educators and leaders
variability among schools: pathway to equitable leadership
corrective actions given by state on special ed students
multiyear approach to improve outcomes for students: four special education director-level hires added
building educator capacity
school-based model for developing IEPs
fifth year programs for a sheltered college experience (how can they fund that?)
Discovery High School: long term diversification program and for science
freshmen in college classes 

Caris Livingston: exciting to hear about putting students at the forefront
ask how trust was developed: "I think it begins with courage"
Listening

Hillst: how decided which schools are in the Zone?
and whose approval is needed?
Curran: primarily Level 4 designation 
High School of Commerce added
Woo adds superintendent allows for non-profit to run schools
West: is the bargaining unit just those at the school?
Curran: contract is bargained with SEA
carves out a "terrific amount of conditions that can be set at the school level"

West: question I want to ask is 'what's the end game?'
"and if it is a better model of governance, why not turn the whole district into the empowerment zone, or would that raise matter of scale"
Brunell: says his Jesuit education is going to come out in his answer
larger policy questions not for him
"But for us the work is the sixteen schools in front of us"
Sarno: having gone through financial receivership in city
"we sort of incorporated it with the flexibility; it works"
Warwick: to take away contractual flexibility would be difficult
"and there's no public demand"

Moriarty: looking at state data with caution
a challenge
comparative analysis of what is happening with your graduating students
Sarno notes Springfield has universal pre-K, Warwick says launching this year

March Board of Ed: Opening comments

 The Board of Ed meets at 9; the agenda is online here. 
There's been much online discussion of the Commissioner notifying Boston that he's doing another review. This has been--again, online--been seen as a step toward state receivership (which I am much less sure is accurate), so expect to see public testimony on that. However, NOTHING ABOUT BOSTON IS ON THE AGENDA TODAY. 

updating as we go

Craven: gratitude to National Guard, MEMA, and Other Partners (first item on the agenda)
speaks about Springfield "a great shining example" of the state cooperating with districts
"knowing that we've turned the corner" on the pandemic (what?)

Reilly: board has asked for a meeting to update on Boston (Two year anniversary)
Cassellius has made significant progress: MassCore, bathroom upgrades
concern about special education, English learners, on time bus arrival data, graduation data
"not on the agenda today" but later this spring
meeting with superintendents later this week 

Peyser: eight new early college programs
up to fifty statewide
STEM summit on April 28; online, in person, mostly the morning
supplemental budget: note $140M to Ch. 766 special ed schools to support workforce to maintain capacity and staff

Craven: haven't had a joint meeting with Higher Ed in two years; want to have one before the end of the fiscal year

Public comment:

Mayor Michelle Wu: notes her position as both the Mayor and as BPS mom
thanks to partnership 
see DESE's review as progress we've made as well as places for follow-up
lifting up young people across state and city
"I have seen firsthand dedication and commitment to achievement"
commitment of our families and educators
have seen places where we fall short
"we must do better"
tomorrow Boston School Committee takes up budget
pushing for a "whole of government approach"
notes work of city in "what ends up showing up in our schools and classrooms"
excited to work on search for superintendent
"It is with all of this in mind that I firmly oppose receivership"
would be counterproductive

Councilor Julia Mejia
"good morning, everyone: y'all ready for this?"
humbling to be back as chair of education, as have come as a parent in the past
conversation is as much person as it is professional
stood alongside parents in Holyoke opposing receivership "and we all know the outcome of this"
"every single time that we advocated for dollars we were met with opposition"
receivership "is the wrong move"
has voted to place three districts in receivership
Southbridge and Holyoke worst and second worst performing
Lawrence, following an uptick, is now in the lowest ten percent
wrong time when 77% of voters are seeking an elected school committee
"that kind of thinking lacks innovation and intentionality"
show what is possible "when we lean into discomfort"
"let's all take responsibility and accountability around this"

Marcela Sliney speaking about her son who has dyslexia
asks for help for students across the state

Lisa Guisbond on update on accountability
call on you to stop the harm caused by your current inaccurate rating system

Vice-chair of the Lawrence School Committee Jonathan Guzman
here to oppose putting another district into receivership
strip rights of own elected body that support the needs of the people
"why do you still think that takeovers are saving...when you've been in control of the Lawrence Public Schools for ten years"
all have made a commitment to be anti-racist, but to do so must first show some respect for communities of color
current back in bottom 6% of districts
invest in teachers year after year, can get a job in a community with higher pay and better working conditions
Students passed from grade to grade with attainment; standards lowered 

Greater Commonwealth Virtual School Board member Jennifer Reynolds on renewal recommendation
Salah Khelfaoui, executive director
"do our best to offer" students what they need 
students who in some cases choose to go back to their schools
Patrick Lattuca, superintendent of TEC Academy also speaking on renewal

Jessica Tang, BTU President
educators and families on the ground are increasingly concerned about discussion about receivership
upends teachers' plans to have this second audit
further frightens families and staff
"receivership cannot and should not be part of any BESE conversation" if your goal is to support the Boston Public Schools
citing experiences of those who have experienced school-based receivership
parent is now giving testimony
notes inaccessibility of meetings of the Board
Packets sharing data on why receivership isn't the answer
Samantha Laney: fifth grade teacher
now teaches in Boston, did teach in Lawrence under receivership
"keeping high needs students out keeps test scores up"
says she had no business being in Lawrence as a young white teacher who was new
turnaround DESE seeks doesn't work
notes vote of Boston for elected school committee
"will we not allow Boston to suffer the same fate as our sisters in Lawrence"

Secretary Peyser is allowed to then give a small lecture responding to public comment
Riley notes this is not on the agenda
Craven pushes him to give timelines and such; Riley continues to note that this is not on the agenda
Lombos wants to know about timeline; Riley says he doesn't have it in front of him.