• Lindsay shared summary information about the Student Opportunity Act (SOA) via email prior to the meeting.
• Also useful to take a look at the DESE link - https://profiles.doe.mass.edu/general/general.aspx?topNavID=1&leftNavId=100&orgcode=04640305&orgtypecode=6
• Background: 
  • Student Opportunity Act signed into law in 2019. Very popular.  1993 was the last time there were significant reforms to education.  
  • Shift to evidence-based research (before 1990s policies weren't really focused on the data)
  • Acknowledgement that there are glaring disparities for various populations within school communities.
  • Act requires schools to identify the disparities, how we are going to address them, and how we will fund
• MCCPS context:
  • Charter has a considerably more diverse population than other area schools.
  • We have seen decent/marginal improvements with regards to testing but overwhelmingly white population does better.  We are at the threshold to allow our students to make a breakthrough going forward.
  • New entrants to MCCPS coming from different preparation backgrounds (ie. homeschool experiences, varied third-grade experiences)
  • Identified that needed more time on learning to achieve better results.
  • Numbers in the high needs category expected to continue to rise.
  • Addressing behavioral issues is a cross-cutting issue for addressing equity.
• Leadership Team drafted the MCCPS SOA plan in summer 2024 and began implementing changes for the 2024-2025 school year with focused on equity and academic rigor.
  • Changes to the schedule at MCCPS to allow 30 minutes of extra instruction per day and more dedicated time on learning. 
    • reducing morning recess time
    • adjusting afternoon recess time to offer enrichment programs
    • extended school day (3pm), 
    • adding more time for math/ELA instruction, 
    • increasing to 3 PALS blocks per week (targeted individual and small group instruction that is evidence-based to accelerate progress), 
    • adding a student seminar course (more structured setting for portfolios/technology usage), 
    • 10-minute advisory block (focus on improving executive functioning), etc.
  • Partnership with YMCA for after school care (to ensure staff available for homework assistance).
  • New multi-lingual teacher - specialist providing instruction to teachers to help level the playing field, looking at the unique needs of different groups
  • Coaching (from LANs network) to help set up initiatives.
  • Parent Square as a communication platform - provides so many different opportunities to communicate with families and engaging them as partners in student learning. Current communication trends suggest email doesn't work - no one wants to read them, 2-way communication/messaging/texts is preferred.  We will need to assess if it's working well for parent engagement.
  • Fellowships with Endicott College and Salem State University - pre-service teachers primarily with the role of instructional assistant
    • MCCPS is looking to actively seek out diverse teachers.  Fellowship opportunities could lead to a hiring pipeline.
    • Teacher shortages in the state and the fact that the number of diverse pre-service teachers nationwide are skewed toward a white background will continue to be an issue.  The fellowship program may help find new MCCPS teachers with different backgrounds. 
• Additional benefits - the SOA will help with enrollment next year (particularly from Lynn and Salem communities).
• For follow-up: What next steps are needed to convert this "draft" to a final plan, how/when does it get finalized?  What are the plans to share this with the broader community?  Note: Charter went through its 5-yr renewal process this fall.  Board reviewed the plan in August and approved.

• Presentation: Lindsey has discussed a possible presentation from an interested party with her perspective from the Dominican Republic
• Reviewing Handbook with a DEI lens*
• Drafting DEI statement for website*

*Jennie 's editorial background may be useful to tap into