Public Policy Updates

MASC reports on Massachusetts public schools, education news, school committee issues and updates from the Department of Education.

This information has been compiled by MASC Field Director Tracy Novick.

Public Policy Updates: January Board of Education Regular meeting

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Published on Saturday, 26 January 2019 15:40

The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education met for their regular January meeting on Tuesday, January 22. Most of the agenda dealt with charter school matters, although the Board did also receive an update on assessment and see their 2018 report.

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Public Policy Updates: January Board of Education on school and district report cards, automated scoring

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Published on Tuesday, 15 January 2019 15:44

The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education met on Monday, January 14 for an evening meeting. While much of the attention focused on Commissioner Jeffrey Riley's announcement of a proposed deal on expanding Alma del Mar Charter School in New Bedford, two reports were the purpose of the evening special meeting: one on the complete overhaul of the school and district report cards, and one on the use of computers in scoring student writing on the MCAS.

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Public Policy Updates: December 2018 Board of Education meeting

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Published on Wednesday, 19 December 2018 16:40

The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education met for their regular meeting on December 18. The agenda can be found here. 
In his opening remarks, Commissioner Riley asked that stakeholders hold the date of March 19 for a meeting at UMass Amherst on planning the way forward. He also remarked "many people are hopeful" that action will be taken on the foundation budget during this coming Legislative session, and we will "need to remain more vigilant" in order to see that through. 
The only public comment was one on wireless technology.

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Public Policy Updates: FY20 Hearing on Revenue

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Published on Thursday, 06 December 2018 12:45

Each year, the Legislature's Joint Ways and Means Committee holds a public hearing with the Governor's office to receive expert testimony before they agree upon a revenue number for the next fiscal year; this amount will determine what they budget for next year. The Joint Committee met Wednesday, December 5 this year. The Committee is jointly chaired by Representative Jeffrey Sanchez and Senator Joan Lovely, with Secretary of Administration and Finance Michael Heffernan sitting in for the Governor's office. 

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Public Policy Updates: November 2018 Board of Education

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Published on Monday, 26 November 2018 12:19

The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education met on Tuesday, November 20 for a short agenda, largely regarding the FY20 budget. A recording of the meeting can be found online here. 

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More Articles...

  1. Public Policy Updates: October 2018 Board of Education Meeting
  2. Public Policy Updates: The Tale of Four Cities
  3. Public Policy Updates: September 2018 Meeting of the Board of Education
  4. Public Policy Updates: June 2018 Board of Education
  5. Public Policy Updates: May 2018 Board of Education regular meeting
  6. Public Policy Updates: May 2018 Board of Education on Accountability
  7. Public Policy Updates: Ed Reform at 25
  8. Public Policy Updates: March 2018 Board of Education
  9. Public Policy Updates: Joint Committee on Ways and Means Hearing for FY19
  10. Public Policy Updates: February Board of Education
  11. Public Policy Updates: January Meetings of the Board of Education
  12. Public Policy Updates: December 2017 Board of Education
  13. Public Policy Updates: November Board of Education
  14. Public Policy Updates: October Board of Education
  15. Public Policy Updates: September Board of Education
  16. Public Policy Updates: Joint Committee on Education Hearings
  17. Public Policy Updates: August Board of Education meeting
  18. Novick Reports: Joint Committee Hearing S.223
  19. Novick Reports: May Board of Education
  20. Novick Reports: Condition of Education in Western Massachusetts