Regular Meeting Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Regular Meeting
Board of Elementary and Secondary Education
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
135 Santilli Highway
Everett, Massachusetts 02149
Tuesday, March 24, 2026, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Posted: 3/18/2026 7:06 p.m.
Statements from the Public*
Chair Opening Comments
Comments from the Secretary
Comments from the Commissioner
Commissioner's Visits Around the Commonwealth
Update on Fall River Public Schools
Update on the K–12 Statewide Graduation Council
MCAS Reminders
Routine Business:
Approval of the Minutes of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Regular Meeting, February 24, 2026
Agenda Items:
2026 School Counselor of the Year — Discussion
State Student Advisory Council Mid-Year Report — Discussion
Proposed Amendments to Regulations on Educator Licensure and Preparation Program Approval, 603 CMR 7.00 — Discussion and Possible Vote
Commonwealth Virtual Schools Renewal Applications and Report on Conditions — Discussion and Vote
Other Items for Information:
Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Members
Ms. Katherine Craven, Chair, Brookline
Mr. Matt Hills, Vice-Chair, Newton
Ms. Isabella Chamberlain, Student Member, Hudson
Dr. Ericka Fisher, Worcester
Dr. Christina Grant, Cambridge
Amy Kershaw, Acting Secretary of Education, Boston
Ms. Farzana Mohamed, Newton
Ms. Dálida Rocha, Worcester
Ms. Kristen Smidy, Westfield
Ms. Mary Ann Stewart, Lexington
Dr. Martin West, Newton
Pedro Martinez, Commissioner
Secretary to the Board
DEADLINE: Register for in-person BOE Testimony for 3/24/26 meeting
The Board welcomes public comment on matters within its purview. Accordingly, the Board makes available a maximum 30-minute period at its regular meetings for persons in the audience to address the Board for no longer than 3 minutes. Written material of any length may be submitted. Preference will be given to persons who seek to address the Board on specific agenda items for the upcoming Board meeting. Agendas for upcoming Board meetings are generally posted 5 days prior to the meeting on the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education's website. Persons wishing to speak are strongly encouraged to submit their request before the day of the meeting; contact information is provided below. Preference will be given to those who submit requests by 5:00 p.m. on the Thursday preceding the regular Tuesday meeting. If time permits, the Chair will allow members of the public who have not contacted the Department in advance to speak in the public comment period; those individuals must sign in prior to the start of the meeting. The Chair may limit the number of speakers due to time constraints and may increase or reduce the time allocated per speaker. While there is no requirement to submit comments in writing, a speaker who elects to do so should submit 15 copies of their comments prior to or at the meeting for distribution to Board members.
Requests to address the Board, written comments, and other inquiries may be transmitted by mail, e-mail, fax, or telephone to: Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, 135 Santilli Highway, Everett, MA 02149, Phone: 781-338-3112, Fax: 781-338-3770, Email: BoardofEducation@mass.gov . Please make any requests for special accommodations or interpretation services at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled meeting.
The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education requires all visitors to its office at 135 Santilli Highway to sign-in at the reception desk on the 3rd floor and provide a valid photo ID. Consistent with this policy, members of the public who wish to attend a Board meeting in person must sign-in at the reception desk with a valid photo ID.
Joint Committee on Education Public Hearing
Event Date: Tuesday, September 30, 2025
Start Time: 11:00 AM
Location: Gardner Auditorium
Event Description: Innovation Schools, Vocational-Technical Schools, and Charter Schools
The Joint Committee on Education will hold a hybrid public hearing to solicit written and oral testimony in-person and remotely on the following bills that pertain to Innovation Schools, Vocational-Technical Schools, and Charter Schools.
To register to testify virtually, you must provide contact information on the form linked here. Individuals who wish to testify virtually at the Joint Committee on Education upcoming hearing must register by completing this form before 1:00 p.m. on Monday, September 29th, 2025.
Registration will CLOSE at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, September 29th. Those wishing to testify in person may register in person at the time of the hearing but are encouraged to register ahead of time using this form. The Chair will limit testimony to two minutes per individual and reserves the right to call public officials out of turn.
Please be advised that the schedule and agenda are subject to change at the discretion of the chair per committee rules.
Please submit written testimony to Fiona Bruce-Baiden at jointcommittee.education@malegislature.gov and Dennis Burke at dennis.burke@masenate.gov or to the Committee on Education at 24 Beacon Street, Room 473G, Boston, MA 02133. The Chairs request that those submitting written testimony include “EDUCATION COMMITTEE TESTIMONY” and the bill number IN THE SUBJECT LINE, and provide the committee with your name, organization, and phone number. The Committee will accept written testimony until October 7, 2025.
You may contact committee staff at (617) 722-2070 or (617) 722-1206 or email fiona.brucebaiden@mahouse.gov and dennis.burke@masenate.gov if you have any questions.
Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Public Meeting
Regular Meeting
AGENDA
WATCH LIVE
Board of Elementary and Secondary Education
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
135 Santilli Highway
Everett, Massachusetts 02149
Tuesday, September 30, 2025, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Posted: 9/23/2025 5:50 p.m.
Public Forum
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Massachusetts Vocational Technical Coalition Urges Legislators to Pause Admissions Lottery; Expand Voc-Tech Funding
Public Forum Co-Hosted by Pioneer Institute and Worcester Regional Chamber will Focus on Ramifications of Admissions Lottery, Highlight Need for Increased Investment
WORCESTER, Mass. (June 12, 2025) – The Massachusetts Vocational Technical Coalition, Pioneer Institute, and Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce today announced that they will hold a public forum to discuss the ramifications of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education’s decision to impose a lottery-based admissions system on vocational-technical schools.
The event will be held on Tuesday, June 24 at noon at the Chamber offices at 311 Main Street in Worcester and it will feature Jamie Gass, Director of the Center for School Reform at the Boston-based Pioneer Institute, a public policy research organization. The forum will raise awareness about the voc-tech admissions regulatory change, address the impact of an admissions lottery on student access to voc-tech schools, and review alternative approaches.
“This discussion will elevate the voices of local leaders who are already seeing how an admissions lottery will have an adverse impact on our students and communities,” said Timothy P. Murray, former Lt. Gov. and current President and CEO of the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce. “BESE’s vote last month will unnecessarily weaken the admissions standards – like grades, attendance and behavior – that make our voc-techs so highly regarded. These schools and programs need, first and foremost, new investment so that they can expand capacity.”
A panel discussion will feature representatives from regional voc-tech school committees, workforce leaders, educators, parents, and students.
“Massachusetts has long been a leader in career and technical education, and we should not make changes that risk destabilizing the system and limiting opportunities for students,” said Gass, a leading expert on academic standards, school choice, and school accountability. “Our pressing need as a commonwealth is a voc-tech system that ensures that all qualified students have access to high-quality technical education, to meet the needs of students and employers.”
This event is part of the Coalition’s broader advocacy effort to support legislation (H. 4001, Section 65, pg. 335-336 and S.2514, Line Item 1596-2513) that recognizes, respectively, the need to: examine more closely the approved admissions lottery system; and broaden funding to expand access to voc-tech programs.
Over the next month, the local impacts of the newly-adopted admissions regulations will be discussed at regional voc-tech school committee meetings across Massachusetts, along with the need for increased funding to expand access and build capacity in voc-tech schools and programs.
As these processes move forward, the Coalition urges Massachusetts residents to contact their legislators, voice opposition to the lottery plan, and support an investment in greater capacity for voc-tech schools and programs. To learn more and take action, visit: https://www.mavoctechcoalition.org/take-action-gov.
“Employers across Massachusetts need a steady stream of well-prepared voc-tech graduates to fill the jobs of tomorrow,” said Murray. “BESE’s actions move us further away from this goal. The forum we are co-hosting will illuminate the pathway to better meeting our needs.”
About the Massachusetts Vocational Technical Coalition
The Massachusetts Vocational Technical Coalition is a diverse coalition committed to protecting and expanding access to high-quality vocational-technical education. This united front stems from a shared concern that a lottery-based admissions system will negatively impact the established success and accessibility of vocational and agricultural education within the state. The Coalition advocates for policies that it believes will strengthen Chapter 74 programs, preserve rigorous admissions standards and address the growing demand for career and technical education across the Commonwealth. For more information, visit: https://www.mavoctechcoalition.org/.
About Pioneer Institute
Pioneer Institute empowers Americans with choices and opportunities to live freely and thrive. Working with state policymakers, we use expert research, educational initiatives, legal action and coalition-building to advance human potential in four critical areas: K-12 Education, Health, Economic Opportunity, and American Civic Values. For more information, visit: https://pioneerinstitute.org/.
About The Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce
The Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce is the largest chamber in New England representing over 2,000 members from all industries and of all sizes located in a service area of over 40 cities and towns and other communities in Central Mass. and beyond. The organization serves the region’s business community through public policy advocacy, educational and networking events, and economic development efforts. For more info, visit: https://www.worcesterchamber.org.
Contact:
Izzy Nickel, Ball Consulting Group, LLC
Phone: 617-243-9950; Email: izzy@ballcg.com
