Letter from MAVA Officers to the BOE re: Admissions

April 18, 2025 

Katherine Craven, Chair

Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education 

135 Santilli Highway

Everett, MA 02149

Letter from MAVA Officers to the BOE re: Admissions

Sent via mail: BoardofEducation@mass.gov 

Also sent to: CCTE@mass.gov

Dear Chair Craven and Members of the Board:

On April 10, 2025, in our capacity as MAVA officers, we received a link from DESE to newly posted information on the Department’s website. The updated DESE website outlines how the Department determines compliance with “rules” on vocational admissions. This information was provided as a result of repeated requests by vocational superintendents and MAVA Officers.

DESE’s updated website now includes a new section titled “Career Technical Education Methods of Administration for secondary career technical education (CTE) student eligibility, recruitment, and admission.” It provides an overview of the Methods of Administration (MOA) process and outlines the Department’s process for Disproportionality Analysis.

Presumably, this is the process DESE has adopted to comply with its federally-approved Massachusetts Targeting Plan. Recently, MAVA counsel requested copies of federally-approved plans. While there may be some variation between the documents received by MAVA and the information posted on the DESE website, it is assumed the Disproportionality Analysis posted is based on the most recently federally-approved plan. An excerpt from the aforementioned website is copied below.

Disproportionality Analysis

To determine if districts are enrolling particular demographic groups (Students of Color, Students with Disabilities, and English Learners) at disproportionate rates, we calculate the difference between the attending 9th grade students at that district and the comparison index for that district. The comparison index is what we would expect the 9th grade enrollment to be at the CTE district, using data from the region and adjusting for grades served, size of the district, and variability.  

When the difference between the attending 9th grade students and comparison index is negative, it indicates a 99% confidence level that the enrollment is under-representative of that district's region.  

The Department reviews at least two years of data and flags potential disproportionate student populations where:

1. The district has differences of less than 0 for all three demographic groups

2. The district has a difference of less than -5 for one (or more) demographic groups

3. The district has two demographic groups with differences both less than -2.5

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time since the initial publication of vocational admissions data in 2020 – that is, five years – that vocational schools and the public have been given information on DESE’s process for identifying schools to review. While this recent clarification is helpful, it is important to note MAVA continues to have serious concerns about the overall integrity of the data on which this analysis is based.1

It is also very important to note what is NOT part of the Disproportionality Analysis – there is no mention of admission “offers” or “acceptances,” or “offer rates” – data repeatedly used by lottery proponents to justify moving to a statewide, one-size-fits-all lottery system.2 Instead, the federally-approved DESE “rules” use a Comparison Index that compares the demographics in the applicant pool to the demographics in the school.

Out of deep curiosity, we ran the analysis posted on the website for Nashoba Valley Technical High School, Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School, Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical School, Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School, and Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical School District, the schools we represent. This exercise verified what we already suspected: None of our schools have issues with disproportionality among students from protected classes (See Appendix A). We comply with the rules.

It is assumed that this methodology is employed for data review in all 29 regional vocational schools. It is our understanding this analysis is what led to only ONE regional vocational school, Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School, being selected for a Methods of Administration (MOA) review. It is also our understanding that only THREE other schools3 have been identified for potential technical assistance.

With this new information now shared for the very first time with the public (and simultaneously with vocational schools) we are left with unanswered questions:

● Why was this disproportionality analysis never discussed during any of the five BESE Board and subcommittee meetings held to study the vocational admissions process?4

● If this is the process DESE is using to flag only 4 CTE schools, why would any of our five schools – and likely most of the 20 other vocational schools – be required to turn our admissions systems upside down when DESE’s federally-approved guidelines demonstrate that we are in compliance? Our school committees and the taxpayers and voters in our member communities will be expecting us to answer that question. Based on what we have just learned, we have no reasonable explanation for them.

In light of this, we urge you not to adopt any revisions to the regulations related to vocational admissions. Instead, allow this entire issue – including our concerns about the accuracy and adequacy of the data – to be reviewed dispassionately, objectively, and thoroughly by the 15-member Vocational Admissions Task Force already included in Outside Sections 65 and 68 of the House Ways & Means Committee-endorsed version of the FY 2026 state budget.

The Task Force would carefully examine admissions policies, data collection practices, and enforcement standards to ensure that vocational schools and programs continue to serve our communities effectively and equitably.

We support creation of the Task Force for several specific reasons:

● The diverse composition of the task force, which includes legislative leadership, education administrators, and key stakeholders from various organizations involved in vocational-technical education.

● The clear timeline established for the task force, with a start date of September 15, 2025, and a required report by September 15, 2026.

● The requirement for at least one public hearing, ensuring community voices are heard in this important process.

● The prudent pause on regulatory changes, which prevents premature adjustments to admissions policies before the task force completes its thorough review.

And while this Task Force may add more time to the process, it is critically important that we get these policy changes right due to the direct impact on students. In the meantime, DESE already has authority under current regulations to move districts to admissions lotteries using its recently published disproportionality rules, so there are still compliance measures in place while the Task Force does its work.

Vocational-technical education provides vital pathways to career success for many students. By supporting this comprehensive review through the proposed task force, we can ensure these programs continue to evolve in ways that best serve all students while meeting our state's workforce needs.

In closing, these draft regulations are a solution in search of a problem. They are not needed because this is not a statewide problem. The Board should not vote on this issue until an admissions task force has reviewed the matter more thoroughly. In fact, as a good first step and as a signal that the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education truly wants to do what’s right, the Board could endorse the creation of the Task Force and await its findings and recommendations.

If you have any questions, please contact us. Thank you for your consideration. 

Respectfully,

Denise Pigeon Heidi T. Riccio Aaron Polansky Karen Maguire Eric Duda

¹See MAVA’s 5-page letter dated November 22, 2024, to BESE Chair Katherine Craven identifying a host of problems related to state data and its presentation to the public.

²This same “offers” and “acceptances” data is also publicly posted on DESE’s website, causing widespread confusion and misunderstandings between advocates, policymakers, and even the media. See: CTE Admissions and Waitlist tool Also see: Letter to BESE from Denise Pigeon dated 12.10.24

³Greater Lowell Technical High School, Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School, and Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School (Southern Worcester)

4  October 28, 2024 Special Board Meeting on CTE; November 15, 2024 Special Board Meeting on CTE; November 26, 2024 Career and Technical Education Study Committee; December 16, 2024 Career and Technical Education Study Committee; January 27, 2025 Career and Technical Education Study Committee

For the full letter including the mentioned Apendix A

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ekFVJWl9aoVXm8Zvk1kag1NIMqrJbQBo/view?usp=drive_link

Boston Globe: "Here’s how Massachusetts proposes to measure graduation readiness for students, post MCAS"

Massachusetts education officials are proposing interim graduation standards that would require students, beginning with the class of 2026, to pass specific classes after voters last fall dropped the MCAS exam as a graduation requirement.

graduation readiness for students

The proposed new requirements would remain in place while a new graduation council explores long-term options

“This is a change the voters have put in place, and it’s a step until we get something that is more robust,” acting Commissioner Russell Johnston said Tuesday during a state education board meeting.

Shared from -> https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/02/25/metro/mcas-massachusetts-graduation-requirements-competency-determination/

You can access the full article at the Boston Globe with your Franklin Library card    ->    https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/02/how-to-access-online-resources-with.html

School Committee recognizes FHS Cheerleaders, approves temporary naming for redistricting, gets update from Franklin TV (audio)

FM #1354 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1354 in the series. 

This session shares the Franklin (MA) School Committee meeting held on Tuesday, Jan 14, 2024. 6 of the 7 members participated (6 in Chambers,  1 absent - Sompally).

Quick recap

• FHS Cheerleaders recognized for winning multiple championships, approved for travel to the National Championship

• Superintendent's report included multiple updates on redistricting efforts underway

• FHS school update provided insights in the school year thus far

• FHS Program of Studies update raised some clarification questions and at least one surprise that the community service hours added to the graduation requirements are not being monitored this year due to the budget cut that removed the individual who would have done that tracking. Community hours were being done by students, no one single person was tracking to ensure all the students were doing so this school year

• Franklin TV provided an update on the programming provided to the community including the live broadcast of this meeting (across town, 2 school concerts were also broadcast and the FHS girls basketball game was also broadcast). revenue is dropping due to cable cutting, proposal at State Legislature on potential alternate revenue for cable operations, new Federal administration may attempt to dismantle the Federal authorization for cable broadcasting

• Discussion action items

• approved after much discussion as amended the notification on the temporary names for the schools as part of the redistricting

• Capital budget modified from initial preview and approved

• 3 policies for first reading approved to move to second reading

• Update on educational expenses for the student from the emergency shelter. Quarterly reimbursement from DESE only used to offset the costs of educating these students. Reimbursement at rate of $104/per day/per student. The override had nothing to do with the education of these students. FPS does not use the operational budget to educate the student from the emergency shelter

• Grants to the amount of $1.6 M were preview by the committee (document not part of the public set released prior to the meeting). Over what period these grants covered was not mentioned out loud.

• Round of subcommittee updates

• Motion to enter executive session, not to return to public meeting, passed 6-0-1 (1 absent)

The recording runs about 3 hours & 24 minutes, so let’s listen in. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1354-franklin-ma-school-cmte-mtg-01-14-25/

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Franklin TV video available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWsDrfRwZuM 

The agenda doc -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/events/fsc.pdf 

Meeting packet (other docs as they are released after the meeting will get posted here) -> https://www.franklinps.net/documents/departments/school-committee/meeting-packets/2024---25-meeting-packets/january-14%2C-2025-sc-meeting-packet/742564

My full set of notes in one PDF ->   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JdupV2TntAObJjwWAik_BBpoPfpLPHVH/view?usp=drive_link   

-------------

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial. 

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

• If you don't like something here, please let me know

• And if you have interest in reporting on meetings or events, please reach. We’ll share and show you what and how we do what we do

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/  or www.franklin.news 

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

------------------

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

 

School Committee recognizes FHS Cheerleaders, approves temporary naming for redistricting, gets update from Franklin TV (audio)

Tracy O'Connell Novick provides insights into the education accounts for the State FY 2025 budget

Tracy O'Connell Novick (@TracyNovick) posted:

There's a few interesting wrinkles in the education accounts in the conference committee budget passed last week by both chambers. 

As it sits on Governor Healey's desk, a few notes from me: https://t.co/23xsnwVHSa

#MAEdu #mapoli #mabudget

Shared from -> https://x.com/TracyNovick/status/1815704598293700881

Or go directly to Tracy's blog page -> https://who-cester.blogspot.com/2024/07/state-conference-committee-budget-on.html

Tracy O'Connell Novick provides insights into the education accounts for the State FY 2025 budget

wbur.org: "Special education planning form gets revamp in Mass. for first time in 20 years"

"It’s all about perception of self," he said. "If the system does not view you in a positive way how are you going to succeed?"

But now, for the first time in 20 years, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has updated its suite of IEP resources, starting with forms that invite more student input about their educational goals and plans. That feedback will be critical to developing the student's IEP, which lays out the services the student receives in a school year.

Advocates and educators across the state say they're optimistic that the new IEP forms and process it generates will lead to a more high-quality IEP and improve the overall educational experience for students with disabilities.

The overhaul is the result of a nine-year effort led by the state department of education and guided by teachers and administrators, as well as advocates like Gabovitch and Julia Landau, a senior project director with the Massachusetts Advocates for Children."

Continue reading the article at wbur.org/ 

https://www.wbur.org/news/2023/03/24/special-education-improved-forms-process

wbur.org:  "Special education planning form gets revamp in Mass. for first time in 20 years"

Editorial Statement: For Crying Out Loud (audio)

FM #802 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 802 in the series. 

This session of the radio show is an editorial statement. Something I don’t do often, in fact rarely do but given the circumstances of this week, I feel compelled to share this. 

The recording runs about 7 minutes, so let’s listen.

Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-802-for-crying-out-loud-05-25-22

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The text 

“For crying out loud”

For, crying out loud

We’ll begin with a moment of reflection, take a deep breath, centering where we are in the present

The headlines yesterday were all over DESE going after Boston Public Schools for insufficient progress on a “myriad of problems”. In their 120+ page assessment, the litany of errors, shortfalls, discrepancies out outlined in detail with a particular focal point, rather myopic in that, DESE is the same organization that throughout the pandemic struggled to generate timely and accurate guidance. Those who live in glasshouses should not throw stones!

For crying out loud

The headlines were all about Boston and DESE until word came on yet another shooting, another elementary school, lives young and old cut short by someone misguided at best, armed unnecessarily, who likely had cried for help and the yet system did not respond. You can say it starts at home. He did. He shot his grandmother first.

For crying out loud

Perhaps lost among the other news headlines, was one that 12 students at FHS received the Commonwealth seal of biliteracy, achieving proficiency in two languages. It had been 11 when I created the headline Tuesday. It was raised by one more to 12 as another confirmation of a student award was received. Not unlike the initial reports or 14, then 18, 19… where will it end

I recall a poem by Robert Bly

“Let's count the bodies over again.

If we could only make the bodies smaller 

The size of skulls 

We could make a whole plain white with skulls in the moonlight!

If we could only make the bodies smaller 

Maybe we could get

A whole year's kill in front of us on a desk!

If we could only make the bodies smaller 

We could fit

A body into a finger-ring for a keepsake forever.”

Written during the Vietnam war, and the repetition of body counts the news broadcast daily.

For crying out loud

We’ll come back to FHS. There are more than 20 languages heard within the halls of FHS and these 12 students have mastered a couple. Maybe, there is hope. Maybe, among the halls of students, mastering language, they can lead us to a better place. Maybe they can bring a cracking (some would say breaking) system to its senses.

I hope so, I am tired of crying out loud

We’ll end with a moment of reflection, take a deep breath, centering where we are in the present. If we don’t use the past lessons to foster change, what will our future be?

For crying out loud

I’ll close with my own poem written in the pandemic

sherku: fear knot

I wake fearful

take a breath

realize

it is a

new day, we

can do this!

 

For more about Robert Bly -> https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/robert-bly

--------------

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.  

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

• If you don't like something here, please let me know

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ or www.franklin.news/

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

------------------

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

 

Editorial Statement: For Crying Out Loud (audio)

"A majority of the state board endorsed a patient approach on Tuesday"

Before the school news from Texas took over the headlines, the possible takeover of Boston Public Schools dominated the headlines. That DESE charges Boston with disfunction coming from an institution which is also disfunctional at times is more than ironic, especially since the period in question is primarily the pandemic.

"State Education Commissioner Jeffrey Riley hammered Boston Public Schools for its “bloated” central office and “unconscionable” transportation failures in his first public comments Tuesday on a new state review of the district, but held off on recommending any takeover of city schools, saying he remains “hopeful and optimistic” that the state and city can reach agreement on a plan for urgent improvement.

Addressing the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education at its monthly meeting, as dozens of people protested outside and dozens more were turned away from the packed meeting room, Riley said he will give Mayor Michelle Wu a chance to respond to his initial proposal for next steps. Details of that plan have not been released to the public."

Continue reading the Boston Globe article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/05/24/metro/state-education-board-mayor-weigh-fate-boston-public-schools/

Parents and teachers gathered outside the Massachusetts State House before walking the short distance a Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to show opposition to a state takeover of Boston Public Schools. The state on Monday released a scathing review of the district.JONATHAN WIGGS/GLOBE STAFF

Read the full DESE report -> (at the bottom of this Globe article)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/05/23/metro/state-releases-blistering-review-boston-public-schools/

"STATE EDUCATION COMMISSIONER Jeff Riley said the Boston Public Schools face a “myriad of problems,” from special education and English language learner services in disarray to data systems reporting inaccurate student outcomes, but he made it clear on Tuesday that he is hoping to reach agreement with Mayor Michelle Wu on a plan to address them rather than recommend that the state’s largest school district be put in receivership. 

“I am hopeful and optimistic that we can come to some kind of an agreement on next steps forward,” Riley told members of the state board of education on Tuesday at a meeting dominated by several hours of discussion of the plight of the Boston schools."

Continue reading the CommonWealth Magazine article online
https://commonwealthmagazine.org/education/riley-looking-for-pact-with-boston-not-receivership/