MA Innovation Schools Newsletter – February 2015
MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
IN THIS ISSUE
Contents
WELCOME MESSAGE ...................................................................................................................... 1
GUIDANCE FOR DISTRICT CENTRAL OFFICES WITH A FOCUS ON SCHOOL BUDGET AUTONOMY . 2
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS ........................................................................................................................ 2
2015 Innovation Schools Annual Convening .............................................................................. 2
Innovation Schools Legislative Report ........................................................................................ 2
Innovation Schools Coding .......................................................................................................... 2
FY15 COMPETITIVE GRANT FUNDING OUTCOMES ........................................................................ 3
FY15 Newly Created Innovation Schools Partnership Planning Grant ....................................... 3
FY15 Innovation Schools Implementation Grant ........................................................................ 3
FY15 Innovation Schools Enhancement and Sustainability Grant .............................................. 3
RESOURCES ..................................................................................................................................... 4
FY15 CONTACT INFORMATION ....................................................................................................... 4
WELCOME MESSAGE
Once again, we wanted to take this opportunity to thank all of you for your ongoing dedication and
commitment to improving public education for all children throughout Massachusetts. This newsletter
provides you with important information about innovation school initiatives and includes multiple links
to new or updated information. Please review it carefully and pass on the information to others as
appropriate.
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GUIDANCE FOR DISTRICT CENTRAL OFFICES WITH A FOCUS ON SCHOOL BUDGET AUTONOMY
The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (Department), in collaboration
with the Executive Office of Education (EOE) contracted with the District Management Council (DMC) to
conduct an innovation school analysis and develop a report on implementing budget autonomy. DMC
identified the need to focus on budget autonomy by listening to the concerns of district leaders in
districts with innovation schools and innovation school principals in seven mid-sized Gateway districts in
Massachusetts. Many felt that budget autonomy was one of the most important levers for schools to
implement their models, but also one of the most difficult to provide. DMC spoke with 19 district
leaders, school leaders, and national experts to learn from their experiences.
The guidance provides district and school leaders with the information to assist with developing the
systems and structures needed for in-district autonomous schools to implement budget autonomy,
through collaboration and cooperation amongst all relevant stakeholders. The information contained in
this paper is not meant as a prescription; rather, it is to be used as a tool to assist district and school
leaders to communicate about and set clear expectations regarding budget autonomy and its
implementation. The paper can be found at:
http://www.doe.mass.edu/redesign/innovation/BudgetAutonomy.pdf.
The Department is currently exploring options to provide additional sources of support for district
central offices in supporting their innovation schools. Please contact Shay Edmond at
sedmond@doe.mass.edu with inquiries.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
2015 Innovation Schools Annual Convening
In June, the Department intends to host the 3rd Annual Innovation Schools Convening. These convenings
are intended to provide innovation school educators and supporters with the opportunity to network,
share ideas, gain additional knowledge regarding specific topic areas, and share best practices. This year
we anticipate surveying the field beforehand to determine both interest in the event, as well as to solicit
input for structure and content. We will send out a short survey in the weeks to come. Please help us to
ensure a useful program by providing your input. We will keep you posted.
Innovation Schools Legislative Report
The FY14 Report to the Legislature-Implementation and Fiscal Impact of Innovation Schools is now
available. The innovation schools statute requires that the Department submit a report annually to the
Massachusetts legislature. We encourage you to read the final report, which can be found at:
http://www.doe.mass.edu/redesign/innovation/Legislature-InnovationSchools.pdf.
Innovation Schools Coding
Last year the Department began providing each approved innovation school (new and conversion) and
innovation academy with a specific program code in the Student Information Management System
(SIMS) to collect demographic and achievement data systematically for enrolled students. This new
streamlined approach allowed the Department to create an “Innovation Schools and Academies” drop
down option on the Department’s School and District Profile page, creating innovation-school specific
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search capabilities. Please keep in mind that the Department’s ability to collect data specific to
innovation school students does not change the reporting structure for districtwide or schoolwide
reporting. If you have not already done so, please complete the “Notification of a New Public School”
form which can be found at http://www.doe.mass.edu/infoservices/data/diradmin/. All completed
forms must be faxed to the Department’s office of Education Data Services, to the attention of Kerrie
Anastas. Submission instructions are included on the form.
FY15 COMPETITIVE GRANT FUNDING OUTCOMES
FY15 Newly Created Innovation Schools Partnership Planning Grant
The Department awarded a total of $223,425.00 in planning grants to three school districts to support
the planning of three prospective innovation schools and academies. Applicants identified a partner that
would be responsible for assisting the applicant with all aspects of the innovation schools planning
process. While the selection of the partner was left to the applicant’s discretion, preference was given to
applicants that identified organizations with proven capacity to assist with new and/or conversion
school development planning processes and redesign. Partners must have demonstrated expertise
related to the community that the prospective innovation school or academy will serve; expertise in the
areas of autonomy identified in the application; and/or content or educational model expertise. View
the recipient list online at http://www.doe.mass.edu/grants/2015/awards/156.html.
FY15 Innovation Schools Implementation Grant
The Department awarded a total of $194,956.00 in implementation grants. Awards will benefit
approximately 2,604 students in grades PK-12. This grant embodies the belief that, “what is not
measured, is not improved.” In keeping with this principle, the grant will support high-quality
implementation of innovation plans by focusing on innovation schools’ measurable annual goals (MAGs)
and how they will be used to inform key organizational decisions. Specifically, the grant will support
high-quality professional development, acquisition of curricular materials, and development of new
curriculum units, as each is related to the schools MAGs. View the recipient list online at
http://www.doe.mass.edu/grants/2015/awards/157.html.
FY15 Innovation Schools Enhancement and Sustainability Grant
Due to recent state spending reductions, we have been required to reduce all FY15 enhancement
and sustainability grant awards by 4.17%. In light of the reductions, the Department has awarded
a total of $229,772.00 in enhancement and sustainability grants. Awards will benefit approximately
2,500 students in grades PK-12. As noted in the section above regarding the value of measuring
progress, the enhancement and sustainability grant was developed to support the enhanced
implementation of established innovation plans of ten innovation schools and academies by focusing on
MAGs and how they have been used to inform key organizational decisions. Specifically, the grant will
support high-quality professional development, the acquisition of curricular materials, the development
of new curriculum units, and consultant services. Once posted, the updated list of recipients can be
viewed online at http://www.doe.mass.edu/Grants/awards.html.
Enhancement and Sustainability Grant Recipient List
Auburn Public Schools (STEM Academy for Middle School Engineers: 6-8)
Amount
$14,370
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Boston Public Schools (Blackstone Elementary School: PK-6)
$28,748
New Bedford Public Schools (Renaissance Community School for the Arts: PK-3)
$28,748
Quabbin Regional School District (The IB School: 11-12)
$14,374
Quaboag Regional School District (Innovation Early College: 9-12; Warren Community Elementary School: PK-6)
$43,122
West Springfield Public Schools (21st Century Skills Academy: 9-12)
$28,538
Worcester Public Schools (Goddard School of Science and Technology: PK-6; University Park Campus School: 712; Worcester East Middle School: 6-8)
$71,872
Total State Funds
$229,772
RESOURCES
We are fortunate to have a number of resources on and accessible through our website here at the
Department. In this newsletter, we would like to highlight some resources that can be found on our
Curriculum and Instruction page that you and your teachers may find helpful and informative:
1. On the Curriculum and Instruction home page, there is a menu of options from which to choose
including Common Core State Standards, Professional Development, Model Curriculum, along
with a variety of other menu options. That page can be found at:
http://www.doe.mass.edu/candi/ .
2. By clicking onto the Model Curriculum option on the menu, teachers will find access to a
number of model curriculum units that have been developed for teachers, by teachers. The
model curriculum link can be found at: http://www.doe.mass.edu/candi/model/ .
3. Teachers choosing the menu option “MA Teachers’ Domain” will automatically link to PBS
Learning Media, a partnership between PBS and WGBH. This site allows educators to browse by
standard and click on the statement that they are most interested in addressing. It will then link
to a number of frequently updated resources that teachers may find helpful and engaging. It
also allows educators to filter by grade and subject. There is a plethora of material on this site,
so all are encouraged to navigate the site comprehensively for what is most useful. Those
interested in accessing this website may do so through the teachers’ domain or at the following:
http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/ .
Please share these resources with interested staff.
FY15 CONTACT INFORMATION
As always, should you have any questions or need any assistance please feel free to contact us:
 Shay Edmond, Innovation School Specialist, Office of Charter Schools and School Redesign
sedmond@doe.mass.edu / (781) 338-3217
 Ruth Hersh, Assistant Director, Office of Charter Schools and School Redesign, rhersh@doe.mass.edu /
(781) 338-3211
 Cliff Chuang, Associate Commissioner, Center for Educational Redesign, cchuang@doe.mass.edu /
(781) 338-3222
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