Having received the two-thirds of the Board votes as necessary, current Chicago Chief Executive Officer Pedro Martinez was recommended by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to Secretary Patrick Tutwiler as the next Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education this afternoon. Martinez was one of three finalists considered by the Board, alongside former Texas…
Dear MASC Members, The House Committee on Ways and Means has released its FY26 budget proposal. Representatives are now preparing and filing amendments ahead of the budget debate starting April 28. Below is a summary of key education-related funding items and how they compare to the Governor’s proposal. Some figures may reflect funds carried forward…
The US DOE Office of Civil Rights (OCR) has recently requested that SEAs (state education agencies, i.e. DESE) sign a reaffirmation concerning compliance with federal non-discrimination provisions with specific references to DEI programs and SFFA v. Harvard, which dealt with race-conscious admissions programs at the college level. Additionally, SEAs were requested to report the signature status…
The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education met for their regular March meeting on March 25 in Everett. The agenda can be found here; the livestream can be found here. This meeting was the final meeting of Acting Commissioner Russell Johnston, who is leaving the Department on March 28 to become the superintendent of Wallingford-Swarthmore school…
The Massachusetts Attorney General recently released a new Flyer on the Rights of Immigrant Students to Attend School for Parents & Families, in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, Vietnamese, and Mandarin. This Flyer accompanies the previously issued Guidance for K-12 Schools on Protecting Students and their Information and Flyer for K-12 Schools on Protecting Students…
The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education held their regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, February 25 at 9 AM in Everett. The agenda for the meeting can be found here; video of this and earlier meetings can be found here. The meeting, due to the large number of charter school expansions being considered, had a…
Resolutions Set to Expire in 2025 MASC’s public policy priorities are determined by a vote of membership at the annual Delegate Assembly. All priorities established at the Delegate Assembly have a three-year lifespan and must be re-authorized in order to remain an MASC policy priority. This year, we have six (6) resolutions that are set to expire…
The following Press Release was issued by Governor Healey and AG Campbell on February 27, 2025: Boston — Governor Maura Healey and Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell issued updated joint guidance today to support Massachusetts’ higher education and K-12 institutions in their work to further equal access and representation in education in response to recent Executive Orders…
Earlier today the MA Attorney General’s Office came out with an updated Guidance document in response to concerns raised following the announcement that schools would no longer be categorized by ICE as sensitive locations and are now subject to enforcement activities like searches and arrests. This advisory, which is attached, is very specific and should be…
School Committee members play a critical role in the success of our schools. Elected school committee members provide a voice for the children of the district and serve as critical lines of communication between the community and the public school leadership. The Massachusetts Association of School Committees believes each community has the right to make…
The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education held their regular monthly meeting on December 17, 2024 at 9 AM. The agenda can be found here. Video recording of this and all meetings can be found here. The Board opened with public comment. Sen. Brendan Crighton with Rep-elect Sean Reid spoke in opposition of KIPP Lynn's…
In response to the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s reported results of Massachusetts Ballot Question 2, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is providing a frequently asked questions (FAQ) document relating to competency determination awards to offer guidance to districts and families at this time. Guidance Document Here.
The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education met on November 19, 2024 at Holyoke High School for their regular monthly meeting. Note that they had also met on November 15 and November 18 for special 'study sessions' on Career and Technical Education admissions. Video of all meetings is available via the Department's Vimeo channel. The…
Presentations are posted as we receive them - thank you for your patience! Wednesday, November 6 Panel Session I - 12:30pm - 1:40pm Addressing the Unique Challenges of Regional Schools - Slides Here Data-Driven Strategies to Support ALL Learners The Student Opportunity Act is Working, but. . . - Slides Here A Framework and Approach…
The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education met virtually on Monday, October 28 and in person on Tuesday, October 29. The agenda for both meetings can be found here. The video of both sessions can be found here. Monday was the first of two of what the Department has termed "study sessions" on admission for…
MASC annually honors two legislators—one from the House of Representatives and one from the Senate—recognizing their exceptional contributions to public education in Massachusetts. Boston, MA – The Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC) is proud to announce that Representative Kathy LaNatra (D-Kingston) has been named the 2024 Legislator of the Year. This prestigious award recognizes…
The Executive Committee of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC) voted unanimously on September 30, 2024 the following statement with regard to the High Stakes Graduation Competency Standard and Question 2: “MASC does not support the use of a high stakes test as a requirement for a graduation diploma. We urge voters to vote…
The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education resumed their regular school year meeting schedule with an evening meeting on Monday, September 23 and a morning meeting on Tuesday, September 24. The agenda for both can be found here. The videos for all meetings can be found on the Department's Vimeo site.. Note also that the…
Check out the full report here: 2024 MASC Resolutions MASC Members, Superintendents, and Board Administrative Personnel (COSCAP): This message is intended to notify you as early as possible about the items to be presented to the 2024 Delegate Assembly so that school committees may appoint and instruct their delegates. A Delegate Manual for the 2024…
MASC Policy Update - July 2024 MASC has revised its model policies and related materials to reflect the US Department of Education’s recent amendments to the regulations implementing Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX). Title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in “Education Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial…
On Thursday, July 18, the Budget Conference Committee released its FY25 budget proposal, which was passed by both chambers the following day. On Monday, July 29, Governor Healey signed the FY25 state budget that includes the following. Within Chapter 70 state aid, the Conference Committee has adopted the House $104 per pupil minimum amount, rather than…
The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education met for their regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, June 18, 2024 at 9 AM. Note that the Board had met online the evening for a presentation by Harvard Graduate School of Education Thomas Kane on his "Education Recovery Scorecard," a recording of which can be found here. The…
The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education had their May meeting in Everett on May 21. The agenda is online here; the video of the meeting can be accessed here. The Board opened with public comment. There was public comment referencing the recent Commonwealth Beacon piece referencing widening of the achievement gap in Massachusetts, and arguing for…
The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education held their April meeting at Wellesley High School in recognition of their student member Ela Gardiner, who will graduate from Wellesley High School this spring. The agenda of the meeting is here; the video of the meeting is here. The Board meeting opened with public comment. Beth Kontos,…
Annual Forms Booklet Every Spring we send membership a packet of very important material relating to election of officers of the Association, MASC award nominations, volunteers to serve on MASC Committees, and resolutions for our Delegate Assembly in November. This is your chance to offer a nomination, propose a resolution, volunteer to serve, or run…
As the legislature prepares to address the ramifications of the state’s ongoing revenue shortfall, compounded by the cessation of many federal pandemic-related funding assistance programs, MASC puts forward the following priorities for consideration in developing the FY25 state budget, and establishing new policies that will support sustained and appropriate educational funding and equitable opportunities for…
The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education held their regular March meeting on Tuesday, March 26 at 9 am in Everett. The agenda of the meeting can be found here; the video of the meeting is here. This is the first Board meeting at which Acting Commissioner Russell Johnston was in that capacity. The…
In accordance with a new MASC bylaw, all MASC resolutions now expire three years after their initial passage. The list below details the seventeen (17) resolutions that are set to expire in November of 2024. Expiring MASC Resolutions Year Passed Accomplished Expiration Date Pertaining to Educator Diversity and Professional Licensure 2019 No 11/2024 Full Funding…
On Friday, March 1, the Joint Committee on Ways and Means regarding education and local aid at Greenfield Community College. Archived video of the six and a half hour hearing can be viewed here. President Mildred Lefebvre offered testimony in concert with MASS on behalf of the Association. The video of her testimony may be…
The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education met for their regular February meeting on February 27, 2024 at 9 am at their new offices in Everett. The agenda of the meeting can be found here; the video of the meeting is here. Members Mohamed and Rouhanifard participated in the meeting remotely; Member Stewart was not…
The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education held their January meeting on January 24 at the Department's new location in Everett. The agenda of the meeting can be found online here; a livestream of the video of the meeting is here. Governor Maura Healey has appointed Dálida Rocha to the Board for the labor seat.…
MASC Policy Update - December 2023 In MASC’s ongoing review of existing policies, we have found that the policies regarding technology are in need of additions and updates. Many of these changes reflect the expanded use of technology both inside and outside the classroom. Several better align policies with their appropriate coding. As part of…
The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education met virtually on November 21, 2023. The agenda is here; the livestream is here. The meeting opened with public comment. Noah Berger of the Mass Teachers Association called attention to the foundation budget inflation rate, capped by the Student Opportunity Act at 4.5%, noting that it would, if…
Check out the Full Report Here. MASC’s 78th annual meeting was held at the start of the annual conference in Hyannis, Wednesday, November 8. A total of 108 delegates representing school districts across the state were registered and participated in the deliberations. Following are the actions taken on the eight proposed resolutions, as well as…
Thank you again to all who joined us at the 2023 MASC MASS Joint Conference, "Investing in Equitable School Districts: Moving from Theory to Practice." Your active participation contributed to the success of this event, and we are grateful for your commitment to advancing education in Massachusetts. In addition to over sixty panel sessions, the…
Learning Lunch Series: 2023 Delegate Assembly And Resolutions for Consideration (10/6/2023) Slides Here | Recording Here This workshop provided a comprehensive understanding of the resolutions to be considered at the upcoming MASC Delegate Assembly. MASC Executive Director Glenn Koocher and MASC Vice-President Jason Fraser led the discussion and guided attendees through an analysis of each of the resolutions, which included topics…
The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education met Tuesday, October 24 at 9 am in Malden. The agenda can be found here; the livestream is here. The Board opened with public comment. There was public comment supporting state mandated acceleration policy for gifted students; among those speaking to this issue was a second grader from…
The Mass School Building Authority met this morning, and made some significant changes to the programs they oversee, funded by the Fair Share amendment and changes made in the FY24 budget. The first set of changes was to the cost funding limit per square foot that the MSBA will cover in a core project.…
The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education resumed their school year meeting schedule with a meeting on Tuesday, September 19, 2023 at 9 am in Malden. The agenda can be found online here; video of the meeting can be viewed here. The Board opened with public comment. Senator Jason Lewis, Senate Chair of the Joint…
The members of the Resolutions Committee met on July 5, 2022 to consider resolutions proposed by member districts for consideration at the 2022 Annual Meeting of the Association.
Updated MASC Financial Policy - September 2023 We are pleased to bring you what we know are long-awaited updates in model policy language regarding purchasing. These model policies have been rewritten not only in light of Chapter 198 of the Acts of 2022, which went into effect last November, but also in light of the…
Updated MASC Policy Reference Manual - September 2023 MASC Field Staff is currently undergoing a comprehensive review of the MASC Policy Reference Manual. Changes as a result of this review are detailed below and copies of these updated policies are available in the Online Policy Reference Manual. We have also posted links to the individual…
The state senate has approved a supplemental budget bill authorizing $513 million. Â This contrasts with the $693 million that the House of Representatives had approved earlier this month. Â A conference committee must now work out the differences. The bills add more spending tied to a fiscal year where tax revenues through May fell well short…
The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education had their final meeting of the school year on Tuesday, June 27 in Malden. The agenda can be found online here. In opening the meeting, Chair Katherine Craven welcomed incoming student member Ella Gardner of Wellesley, and announced the appointment and welcomed new Board member Professor Ericka Fisher.…
The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education met on May 23 at 9 am. The agenda is here, The Board opened with two public comments, both on topics they have previously spoken on: one relating what they see as lacks in the state's gifted education to the meeting presentation on the vision of the Department…
Update from MASC President Stacey Rizzo and MASC Executive Director Glenn Koocher The ongoing stalemate in lifting the debt ceiling puts at risk the nation’s full faith and credit and would impose cuts that could hurt children and undermine education, raise costs for families, and set back economic growth. It would also mean lashing critical…
Updated MASC Policy Reference Manual - March 2023 MASC Field Staff is currently undergoing a comprehensive review of the MASC Policy Reference Manual. Changes as a result of this review are detailed below and copies of these updated policies are available in the Online Policy Reference Manual. We have also posted links to the individual…
The Massachusetts Department of Education has posted the preliminary estimates of Chapter 70 school aid and net school spending requirements for FY2024, based on the Governor's proposed budget. Download the budget document here, or view the details on their website.
MASC public policy priorities for public education in 2023 are now available. 2023 Legislative Priorities include: Full funding for the Student Opportunity Act Children's Services Safety Net Full funding for the Special Education Circuit Breaker Establishing Regional Reserve Assessment Funds and Expanding Vocational Education Reserve Funds as approved by the MASC Delegate Assembly Reforming of…
Due to concerns about the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), in consultation with the MASC Board of Directors, many of the MASC staff are currently working remotely.
