State News

Urban legislators don’t get the struggle to fund large, rural bus routes

Posted on Thursday, July 13th, 2017 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Greenfield Recorder Editorial Staff, Greenfield Recorder
Date: 7/13/2017
Link: Complete Article

Maybe someone should arrange a school bus ride across the 530 road miles of the Mohawk Trail Regional School District for state legislators from those geographically tiny Boston metro cities and towns. Seriously. How else will the majority of state lawmakers, who hail from urban areas, truly understand the scale of the fiscal problem districts… [Read More]

Mitchell Chester, State’s Longtime Education Commissioner, Dies At 65

Posted on Tuesday, June 27th, 2017 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Katie Lannan, WBUR
Date: 6/27/2017
Link: Complete Article

Longtime Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Mitchell Chester died Monday evening after a short illness, the state’s education board chairman announced at a Tuesday meeting. He was 65. “We were obviously stunned by his death and deeply saddened,” Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Chair Paul Sagan said. Chester had been battling cancer. The board… [Read More]

Governor Baker boosts funding for early education

Posted on Thursday, March 30th, 2017 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Stephanie Ebbert, Boston Globe
Date: 3/30/2017
Link: Complete Article

Governor Charlie Baker unexpectedly gave early education funding its largest boost in more than a decade on Wednesday, announcing that he would devote more than $28 million in found money to rate increases for day care centers that serve low-income children. The funding, if approved by the Legislature, will translate directly into raises for teachers… [Read More]

Expressing What Matters to Youth in the DYS Program

Posted on Monday, March 13th, 2017 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Kathryn Levesque, The Collaborative for Educational Services
Date: March 13, 2017

The banner above the stage reads “Voice What Matters”, and at the 4th Annual June “Share Your Art, Share Your Voice” Statewide Youth Showcase sponsored by the Department of Youth Services (DYS), the students showed what mattered to them in paintings, sculptures, videos, song and dance. The Massachusetts program has had a long commitment to… [Read More]

AG Healey Reminds Public Schools About Laws Requiring Equal Access to Education Regardless of Immigration Status

Posted on Monday, March 6th, 2017 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Emalie Gainey, Website of the Attorney General of Massachusetts
Date: 03/02/2017
Link: Complete Article

AG Issues Advisory to Local School Districts that will be Distributed by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education BOSTON – Attorney General Maura Healey today issued an advisory reminding local public school districts of their obligation under state and federal law to provide all students with equal access to primary and secondary education,… [Read More]

Three Charter Schools in Massachusetts approved

Posted on Tuesday, February 28th, 2017 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Rebecca Greenberg, WWLP
Date: 2/27/2017
Link: Complete Article

MALDEN, MA – The state education board approved three new charter schools, two of which will be here in western Massachusetts. The decision comes after Massachusetts residents voted against allowing state to authorize up to 12 new charter schools or expansions per year. The board of Elementary and Secondary Education met in Malden Monday to… [Read More]

Baker-Polito Administration Honors 51 Schools – recognized for high achievement, strong progress or narrowing gaps

Posted on Monday, February 6th, 2017 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Jacqueline Reis, MA Department of Elementary & Secondary Education
Date: 2/1/2017
Link: Complete Article

MALDEN – The Baker-Polito Administration today held a ceremony at the State House to recognize 51 schools for high achievement, narrowing achievement gaps between groups of students or making strong progress. The schools were recognized as 2016 National Blue Ribbon Schools, state-designated Commendation Schools or National Title I Distinguished Schools. “I’m proud that our Massachusetts… [Read More]

Governor Baker outlines plans for local aid increases

Posted on Tuesday, January 24th, 2017 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: State House News Service, WWLP
Date: 1/22/17
Link: Complete Article

In next week’s annual budget proposal, Gov. Charlie Baker will call for a $91 million increase in education local aid, and a $40 million boost in unrestricted local aid to cities and towns. The combined $131 million increase in the two main local aid accounts compares to a more than $158 million increase in the… [Read More]

Special Education Professional Development Survey

Posted on Tuesday, January 10th, 2017 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Massachusetts DESE
Date: 1/10/2017
Link: Complete Article

The Office of Special Education Planning and Policy is in the process of identifying special education professional development activities based on a comprehensive survey of the field. The Department is interested in educators’ opinions about how ESE can best help educators achieve their professional development goals and hopes educators will take 10 minutes to complete… [Read More]