Bulletin MASC www.masc.org March 2017 V.51 n.2

Massachusetts Association of School Committees Graduation Rate Improves MASC Calls on Lawmakers to Enact for 10th Consecutive Year Recommendations t the February 28 Board of an increase of 7.6 percentage points Education meeting, it was from the 2006 cohort, when ESE first of Foundation Aannounced that the state’s began calculating the cohort gradu- Budget Commission four-year graduation rate has im- ation rate. A cohort is comprised of proved for the 10th consecutive year, students who entered high school as MASC has voiced its support of pro- with 87.5% of students who entered ninth graders or who transferred into posed legislation that would revise the as ninth graders in 2012-13—or who the same cohort at any time during state’s complex formula for state educa- transferred into that same cohort at high school. tion aid in the current session. MASC any time during high school—gradu- The dropout reduction—from the President Patrick Murphy (Barnstable) ating within four years. high point of 3.8 % in 2006—7 to announced the Association’s support In addition to the overall improve- 1.9% in 2015-16 – resulted in less for the bill filed by Sen. Sonia Chang- ment in the graduation rate, the than half as many students dropping Diaz, S.223, An Act Modernizing the graduation rate for all major ethnic out in 2015-16, when 5,523 students Foundation Budget for the 21st Cen- and racial groups and for urban dis- dropped out, than in 2006-07, when tury. tricts continues to grow. The state’s 11,436 students dropped out. Approx- “This bill has substance and fol- annual dropout rate remained at imately 5,900 fewer students dropped lows through on the blue print that 1.9% in 2015-16, the lowest overall out in 2015-16 than in 2006-7. targets badly needed financial support rate in more than three decades. In addition, all major subgroups to where it is needed most and makes According to the data released this improved their four-year graduation significant adjustments to key areas of year, 87.5% of the 74,045 students rates compared to the previous year. expense that have been understated in the 2016 cohort graduated within The largest gains were made by black since the original formula was created four years, an increase of 0.2 percent- males (up 2.9 percentage points from 23 years ago,” said Murphy. age points from the 2015 cohort and continued on page 3 “We’ve been dealing with mandates, regulations, and new challenges to serve students. The pressure on educa- Number of homeless families in MA doubles in 9 years tors is enormous. Adequate financing The number of homeless families in state-wide and longer in . of an equitably distributed source of MA has more than doubled in the past Children make up 60% of t he revenue is key. This bill (S.223) sets its nine years, an increase among the 13,000 people who are experiencing goal of fair funding for the real costs of highest in the nation, according to a homelessness on any given day in MA. educating children and includes all the report released last week by the Boston Contributors to the report attribute things that work for the ‘whole child.’ Foundation. the increase in homelessness to sev- That includes not only the basics for More than 33,000 families, or more eral things, noting that the time frame teaching and learning, but counseling, than 100,000 people, have spent at overlaps the recession in 2008 and its teacher training, arts, extra-curricular least one night in a homeless shelter aftermath and the ongoing skyrocket- activities, and early education for some since 2008, said the report, which ing costs of housing in the state. MA is of our most economically vulnerable analyzes the housing trends of families. also the nation’s only “right-to-shelter” kids,” Murphy added. Families make up more than half the state, which means it guarantees shelter Filed by Senator Sonia Chang-Díaz, state’s homeless population, a reality for homeless families (New York City S.223 fully implements the recommen- on only one other state (New York), ac- also guarantees right to shelter). dations of the appointed, bi-partisan cording to the report. The report also shows that during 2015 Foundation Budget Review Com- Length of stay in shelters is also on the last two years the state has begun mission (FBRC). The FBRC found that continued on page 3 the increase, averaging nearly a year continued on page 2 Because YOU asked... Homeless Families continued from page 1 ISSUE: What school districts are doing/ Mitchell Chester, wrote a letter to state reducing the population of homeless considering doing by way of imple- school officials. families which coincides with the use menting policies that would effectively In it, Chester said, he “would like of other homeless assistance programs prevent ICE entry into schools (and to affirm for you that that offer both prevention and stabiliza- the turning over of records) has been a remains dedicated to protecting the tion supports as well as recent changes recent topic on the MASC listserv. rights of transgender students even in in eligibility criteria. light of recent federal actions.” In response to similar concerns raised Families served in MA look demo- The following day, Chester reiterated graphically like families served across by a number of school departments the state’s commitment to all students, the country: on average, a family who are seeking to reassure their saying in a statement: “Educating and staying in a MA shelter is headed by communities that protections remain supporting all students strengthens our a female about 30 years old, with one in place for immigrant and transgen- communities and our Commonwealth or two children. A little more than der students, Attorney General Maura as a whole.” half (56%) are white, 37% African- Healey issued an advisory last week The advisory provides three bullet American and 40% Hispanic. Race reminding school districts statewide points for what school leaders state- and ethnicity vary somewhat by region that children have a right to primary wide must do: (1) allow all students to however with Boston having the low- and secondary education regardless of attend; (2) avoid asking for informa- est percentage of families identified as immigration status. tion that might discourage or deny ac- white (35%) and the western part of “In light of the current climate cess based on race, national origin, or the state having the highest percentage around matters of immigration, par- immigration or citizenship status; and of white families (78%). The western ents should not be afraid to send their (3) protect all students from bullying part of the state also serves the highest children to school,” said Healey. “In and harassment. percentage of Hispanic families (57%). Massachusetts and across this country, MASC Field Director Mike Gil- The report, which hopes to catalyze we open our schools to all children bert suggest that districts refer to the legislative and other advocacy deci- because that is how we build a produc- Attorney General’s Advisory on Equal sions to prevent and address home- tive, educated, and safe society.” Access, which can be found online at: lessness, provides detailed analysis The advisory said state and federal laws http://www.mass.gov/ago/consumer- that can guide future decisions. Data guarantee every child “equal access to resources/your-rights/civil-rights/ focuses on understanding the challeng- public education — irrespective of race, equal-access-to-public-education. es of families receiving shelter through color, sex, gender identity, religion, na- html. the state’s Emergency Assistance (EA) tional origin, sexual orientation, disabil- In addition, he suggested that programs, including changes in the EA ity, or immigration status.” Children are population’s size, characteristics and members refer to policies AC - Non- protected under the federal Civil Rights use of shelter services over the time- discrimination, IJ Instructional Materi- Act of 1964 and by state laws that frame of the study and compares these als, JB – Equal Educational Opportu- prohibit bullying and discrimination, to trends nationally and in selected nities, and JFBB – School Choice in according to the advisory, which also communities. your policy manuals (links are to the points to a 1982 Supreme Court ruling The full report can be accessed MASC reference manual) which affirm that says states cannot constitutionally online at: http://www.tbf.org/~/media/ the district’s commitment to providing deny students a free public education TBFOrg/Files/Reports/Homlessness%20 a public education to ALL students on account of immigration status. Report_Feb2017R.pdf F regardless of citizenship status. F This case “made clear that a child’s immigration or citizenship status (or that of his or her parent or guardian) is not relevant to the child’s right to a On Friday, March 10 MASC is cosponsoring with MASS its first ever public education,” said the advisory. SUMMIT ON POVERTY at Clark University in Worcester. The program “Enrollment practices that single out will focus on the unique challenges of poverty that urban, suburban and students based on their actual or per- rural school districts confront; strategies in the field to mitigate the im- ceived citizenship or immigration status violate state and federal law.” pact of poverty on children and families; and reports from students them- Last week, Trump’s administration or- selves on the effects of poverty on their academic and social well-being dered schools nationwide to disregard and how school initiatives that helped them bridge these challenges. A full guidance from the previous administra- report on the program, as well as handouts, additional resources and links tion regarding the rights of transgender will be posted on the MASC website at www.masc.org. students. The next day, Commissioner Graduation rate on the rise Budget Commission continued from page 1 2010-11, a 41 % decrease. continued from page 1 72.8% to 75.7 %) and students with In addition, several urban school the current formula underestimates the disabilities (up 1.9 percentage points districts had annual dropout rates be- resources necessary to serve ELL and from 69.9% to 71.%). low the statewide dropout rate of 1.9 low-income students and fails to ac- Improvements for other major sub- percent. They are: Cambridge at 0.8 count for rising health care and special groups were: low-income/economi- percent, Quincy at 0.9 percent and, at education costs. In all, the FBRC found cally disadvantaged students overall: 1.8 percent, Framingham, Lowell and that Massachusetts is underestimat- up 0.2 percentage points from 78.2% Taunton. ing the total cost of education by $1-2 to 78.4 %, English language learn- In addition, Quincy (90.1 percent), billion each year. “These funds are ers: up 0.1 percentage points from Cambridge (88.8. percent) and essential to narrow the achievement 64.0 %to 64.1 %, male students: up Taunton (88.7 percent) had four-year gap between our wealthiest and most 0.3 percentage points from 84.7 to graduation rates above the statewide economically vulnerable kids,” Murphy 85 %, female students: up 0.2 per- rate. said. centage points from 90 to 90.2 %, In October 2015, ESE was awarded S.223 follows the FBRC’s recom- Hispanic/Latino students overall: up $200,000 through the America’s mendations to update the formula by 0.5 percentage points from 72.2 to Promise Alliance for a multi-year effort using actual averages from the state 72.7 %, black students overall: up 1.4 to raise statewide graduation rates. government’s cost-efficient health percentage points from 77.5 to 78.9 The Department is using the grant to insurance network—the Group Insur- %, white students: up 0.3 percentage create a coalition of 10 districts to im- ance Commission—to adjust insurance points from 91.6 to 91.9 % and Asian prove high school graduation rates for estimates, increasing the assumed students: up 0.3 percentage points students whose first language is not special education in-district enroll- from 92.4 to 92.7 %. English. The participating districts are: ment and out-of-district costs to reflect Over the past five years (between Boston, Brockton, Chelsea, Everett, reality, and adjusting the ELL and low- 2010-11 and 2015-16), the urban Holyoke, Lowell, New Bedford, Revere, income components to align with 21st school districts that have seen the Somerville and Worcester. century best practices. The bill will also largest percent change in the num- Graduation rate data is avail- establish a Data Advisory Task Force to ber of dropouts include: able online at http://profiles.doe. review school level education data to • Springfield, which had 448 fewer mass.edu/state_report/gradrates. better inform future policy decisions. students drop out in 2015-16 than in aspx and http://www.doe.mass.edu/ The Foundation Budget was first 2010-11, a 57 % decrease; infoservices/reports/gradrates/. For established in 1993 by the Education • Holyoke, which had 104 fewer additional information on the annual Reform Act, and was designed to serve students drop out in 2015-16 than in dropout rate, including school and as the starting point for funding school 2010-11, a 54% decrease. district numbers, go to http://profiles. districts across the Commonwealth, • Lawrence, which had 150 fewer doe.mass.edu/state_report/dropout. by calculating the circumstances and students drop out in 2015-16 than in aspx and http://www.doe.mass.edu/ needs of each student. Little has been 2010-11, a 51 % decrease; and infoservices/reports/dropout/. F done to update the formula in the 24 • Brockton, which had 110 fewer years since its passage, leaving it insuf- students drop out in 2015-16 than in ficient to meet the needs of a modern public education system. F

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

SAVE THE DATE 8:30-11:00am Followed by meetings with your legislator.

Note new location for this year: Grand Lodge of Masons DAY ON THE HILL 186 Tremont St, Boston 02111 (across the Common from the State House)

Detailed program information coming soon. Massachusetts Joint Committee Memberships Listed below are the recently announced appointments to Joint Legislative Committees of particular interest to MASC members. A list of all legislative committees can be found at: https://malegislature.gov/Committees.

Ways & Means Education Chris Walsh Senate: Senate: Frank Moran , Chair Sonia Chang-Diaz, Chair Sal DiDomenico, Vice Chair Patricia Jehlen, Vice Chair Patricia Jehlen, Assistant Vice Chair Jason Lewis William Brownsberger Barbara L’Italien Brian Murray Sonia Chang-Diaz Michael Barrett Kenneth Donnelly House: Eileen Donoghue , Chair Kevin Kuros James Eldridge Chris Walsh, Vice Chair John Keenan John Rogers Elder Affairs William Pignatelli Senate: Thomas McGee James Cantwell Michael Moore Diana DiZoglio Barbara L’Italien, Chair Kathleen O’Connor Ives , Vice Chair Michael Rush Chynah Tyler Patricia Jehlen James Timilty Bud Williams House: Brian Dempsey, Chair James Kelcourse House: Stephen Kulik, Vice Chair , Chair Elizabeth Malia, Assistant Vice Chair Children, Families and Persons , Vice Chair James Miceli with Disabilities Thomas Walsh Senate: Jennifer Flanagan, Chair Paul Heroux Thomas Stanley Joan Lovely, Vice Chair Julian Cyr Joseph McGonagle, Jr. Brian Ashe Thomas McGee Tricia Farley-Bouvier House: Kate Campanale , Chair David Muradian, Jr. Josh Cutler , Vice Chair Health Care Financing John H. Rogers Senate: David Rogers Jonathan Hecht James Welch, Chair Daniel Cullinane , III , Vice Chair Carole Fiola Tricia Farley-Bouvier Michael Barrett Daniel Hunt Steven Ultrino Barbara L’Italien RoseLee Vincent Jack Lewis Eric Lesser Shaunna O’Connell Jason Lewis Carmine Gentile William Crocker House: Carlos Gonzalez Jeffrey Sanchez, Chair Joseph McGonagle, Jr. Economic Development and , Vice Chair Emerging Technologies James Cantwell Paul Tucker Senate: Carolyn Dykema Eric Lesser, Chair Adam Hinds, Vice Chair Daniel Cullinane Thomas McGee Daniel Donahue Angelo D’Emilia Sonia Chang-Diaz Donald Berthiaume, Jr. Steven Ultrino Michael Barrett Kate Campanale Mathew Muratore House: Leonard Mirra Timothy Whelan Joseph Wagner, Chair Nick Collins, Vice Chair Sean Garballey Committee on Higher Education Three new charter Senate: Michael Moore, Chair Diana DiZoglio schools approved Eileen Donoghue, Vice Chair Jeffrey Roy Adam Hinds Michael Day At its February 28 meeting, the Board of Eric Lesser Elementary and Secondary Education voted Kathleen O’Connor Ives (5-3-1) to approve a new charter school in House: Westfield; a new charter school in Plymouth (8-0-1); and a new charter school in Stur- , Chair bridge (5-4). The Board also approved expan- Sean Garballey, Vice Chair William Crocker sion plans at three existing charter schools. Shaunna O’Connell When combined with other expansions the Revenue Board has approved since November, the state Aaron Vega Senate: added approximately 1,000 seats to existing Rady Mom schools during this year’s approval cycle. Stephan Hay Michael Brady, Chair The new schools are: Solomon Goldstein-Rose Cynthia Creem, Vice Chair • Hampden Charter School of Science– Natalie Higgins Kathleen O’Connor Ives West, will open in 2018, initially serve Susannah Whipps Michael Rodrigues 252 students in grades 6-9 from Agawam, Timothy Whelan Joseph Boncore House: Holyoke, Westfield and West Springfield, and grow to serve 588 students in grades 6-12. It Committee on Housing Jay Kaufman, Chair would be located in Westfield. Like the exist- Senate: , Vice Chair ing Hampden Charter School of Science in Joseph Boncore, Chair Chicopee, the school will focus on math and Linda Dorcena Forry, Vice Chair Brian Ashe science. Michael Barrett James Dwyer • Map Academy Charter School, which will Julian Cyr Alan Silvia open in 2018, will initially serve 130 students Adam Hinds Daniel Hunt in grades 9-12 from Carver, Plymouth, and Brendan Crighton House: Wareham, and grow to 300 students. It will Brian Murray , Chair be located in Plymouth. It would serve stu- Shawn Dooley Russell Holmes, Vice Chair dents who have dropped out of school or who Robert Koczera are at risking of dropping out. Nick Collins State Administration and • Old Sturbridge Academy Charter Public Christine Barger Regulatory Oversight School, which will open in the fall of 2017. Carmine Gentile Senate: The school will initially serve 160 students in Mike Connolly kindergarten through grade 3 from Stur- Walter Timilty, Chair Solomon Goldstein-Rose bridge, Brimfield, Brookfield, Holland, Mon- Joan Lovely, Vice Chair Chynah Tyler son, North Brookfield, Palmer, Southbridge, Jennifer Flanagan Spencer-East Brookfield, Wales and Webster, Michael Moore David DeCoste and grow to serve 360 students. Kenneth Donnelly In addition to considering whether to Mental Health, Substance Use House: award new charters, the Board also consid- and Recovery Peter Kocut, Chair ered whether to grant expansion requests to Senate: Paul Schmid, III, Vice Chair several schools. In November, the Board ap- Jennifer Flanagan, Chair William Pignatelli proved a request from Foxborough Regional John Keenan, Vice Chair Denise Provost Charter School to increase its maximum en- Kenneth Donnelly Linda Dean Campbell rollment by 400 seats. In January, the Board James Eldridge Brian Ashe approved three requests to increase maxi- William Brownsberger Marjorie Decker mum enrollment: Boston Collegiate Charter Adam Hinds RoseLee Vincent School (35 seats), Boston Preparatory Charter House: Public School (300 seats), and Sturgis Charter , Chair Kevin Kuros Public School in Hyannis (50 seats). Daniel Ryan, Vice Chair Mathew Muratore This month, the Board approved three schools’ requests to increase enrollment: Alma del Mar Charter School in New Bed- ford (90 seats), Community Charter School of Cambridge (60 seats) and a temporary increase in enrollment of 70 seats for UP Academy Charter School of Dorchester, a Horace Mann school in Boston. F Massachusetts Association of School Committees One McKinley Square

Boston, MA 02109

11:00am-Noon

nized Meetings and Materials Materials and Meetings nized

Cloud-based Solutions to Orga to Solutions Cloud-based -

MASC/Board Docs Webinar Docs MASC/Board Grand Lodge of Masons, Boston Masons, of Lodge Grand Nashoba Valley Tech., Westford Tech., Valley Nashoba

Tuesday, April 4 April Tuesday, 8:30am-11:00am 8:30am

MASC Day on the Hill the on Day MASC MARS Legislative Breakfast Legislative MARS

Plainville Tuesday, April 25 April Tuesday, Friday, March 17 March Friday,

Beatrice Wood Elementary School, School, Elementary Wood Beatrice

8:30am-Noon Assabet Voc. Tech., Marlboro Tech., Voc. Assabet Assabet Voc. Tech., Marlboro Tech., Voc. Assabet

Workshop 11:00am-Noon 6:00pm

Powerpoints: Budget Development Development Budget Powerpoints: meeting Committee meeting Committee

Beyond Spreadsheets & & Spreadsheets Beyond MASC Regional Schools Committee Committee Schools Regional MASC MASC Regional Schools Schools Regional MASC

Saturday, March 18 March Saturday, Thursday, April 20 April Thursday, Thursday, March 16 March Thursday,

UPCOMING EVENTS UPCOMING

a Tuesday, March 21 public hearing at the Reggie Lewis Center at at Center Lewis Reggie the at hearing public 21 March Tuesday, a

school vacation week. week. vacation school during examined be will spending services human and Health F

in mid-April, with floor debate usually the week after public public after week the usually debate floor with mid-April, in sheriffs. and attorneys district including cies,

Committee usually released its rewrite of the governor’s budget budget governor’s the of rewrite its released usually Committee - agen safety public to related spending on hearing public 20 March

Friday, March 31 at the State House. The House Ways and Means Means and Ways House The House. State the at 31 March Friday, Monday, a for location the be will University State Worcester

final public hearing, open to anyone who wishes to testify, on on testify, to wishes who anyone to open hearing, public final budget. Baker’s in policies and items line transportation

day, March 29 at the Old Chapel at UMass-Amherst before a a before UMass-Amherst at Chapel Old the at 29 March day, and environment energy, on hearing public a for Beverly in College

Education and local aid accounts are up for debate Wednes debate for up are accounts aid local and Education Endicott to travel to plan lawmakers 16 March Thursday, On -

School in Fall River. River. Fall in School bill. budget billion

and Families, is planned for Monday, March 27 at Kuss Middle Middle Kuss at 27 March Monday, for planned is Families, and $40.5 Baker’s Charlie Gov. in matters housing and labor velopment,

spending, including operations at the Department of Children Children of Department the at operations including spending, - de economic on focused School High Everett at hearing 15 March

A second hearing on health and human services agency agency services human and health on hearing second A Wednesday, a plan panels Means and Ways Senate and House the

discussed. be likely will enrollment, Medicaid of members House, State the at hearing public 9 March a After

sessments and provider rate caps, aimed at addressing surging surging addressing at aimed caps, rate provider and sessments month. the throughout continue

Roxbury Community College. Baker’s call for new employer as employer new for call Baker’s College. Community Roxbury and 6 March of week the begin hearings budget state Annual - Ways & Means Committee Budget Hearing Schedule Announced Schedule Hearing Budget Committee Means & Ways