Latest news with #MattHills
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Education Board seeking input on two paths to graduation
BOSTON (SHNS) – The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education voted unanimously Tuesday to put its proposed competency determination regulations out for public comment, and to solicit comment about a second potential pathway to graduation that could still feature use of the MCAS exams. Having already rolled out draft regulations in response to a voter-approved law that removed the requirement that students to pass the MCAS exam to graduate high school, the board discussed a proposal Tuesday brought forward by Vice Chair Matt Hills that would enable the use of the MCAS more broadly as a pathway for students to meet the so-called competency determination (CD) to get state approval to earn a diploma. Hills suggested a second path to graduation could quell concerns that the board's existing proposal 'runs the risk of collapsing under its own weight.' He told the board that his proposal could be considered a 'backup plan for circumstances we haven't been able to capture yet.' 'If you've satisfied the curriculum and grades, no problem. But that other path is, you're sitting there taking the 10th grade MCAS anyway. So if you get a certain minimum score on that, you will be deemed to have satisfied the state requirement for the competency determination,' Hills said. If the already-proposed regulatory path is met with success in the coming years, he said the MCAS path could then be moot. Board members voted to put Hills' idea before the public alongside their draft regulations, with the hopes of soliciting commentary both about the regulations and what could be a potential secondary pathway to CD. Following the meeting Tuesday, the Massachusetts Teachers Association released a statement warning the board and department against including MCAS measurements as graduation determinants. 'BESE and DESE are considering policies and practices that will continue the outsized influence that MCAS has had on classroom instruction. This runs counter to what families are demanding from public education,' MTA President Max Page and Vice President Deb McCarthy wrote. 'Comparing MCAS scores with competency determinations based on satisfactory completion of coursework continues to draw a false analogy and could allow districts to put more focus on test preparation than on diversified, high-quality teaching,' the MTA said. Per the board's proposal, each local district's governing board would need to approve a new CD policy, make it available to the public online and submit it to the department. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education also plans to audit the quality of district policies. Some districts are considering still utilizing the MCAS as a locally-approved graduation requirement. The proposed CD regulations include regulatory language like 'showing mastery' and 'satisfactorily completing coursework' to determine whether a student meets graduation requirements. Regulations would begin for the class of 2026, and propose that for English language arts, a student must 'satisfactorily complete coursework' in the equivalent of two years of high school English courses. Students must complete either Algebra I and geometry courses, or Integrated Math I and Integrated Math II to fulfill math requirements, and finish coursework in one year of biology, physics, chemistry, or a technology or engineering course as a science requirement. The proposal would add United States history to the requirements beginning with the graduating class of 2027. The regulations would serve as a way to amend existing DESE guidelines while a governor-formed council works on creating a new permanent statewide graduation standard — 'a step' until something more robust materializes, Acting Commissioner Russell Johnston said. Discussing whether to vote in favor of moving the proposal to public comment Tuesday, board members measured a sense of urgency with concerns about case-specific road bumps potentially ahead for the interim regulations. Rob Curtin, chief officer of data, assessment and accountability for BESE, suggested that as students continue to graduate through the system, it's important for the board to put some form of regulations in place. 'We are not talking about an interim period of one year here. This is going to be multiple years before the first full graduating class is impacted by the work of the commission established by the executive order,' Curtin said. 'We've never had course requirements for our ninth and tenth grade students in Massachusetts at the state level. This would allow us for the first time to … establish that baseline while the committee does that work.' The public comment process for CD regulations ends April 4. The board plans to vote on final approval on May 20. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Boston Globe
25-02-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Post MCAS, here's how the state proposes measuring graduation readiness
Here's what to know: State would require students to pass specific classes Massachusetts law requires all students to demonstrate their competency to graduate high school. To meet this so-called 'competency determination,' students since 2003 had been required to pass 10th grade MCAS exams. Related : Advertisement That changed in November, with Now, the state education department is proposing a new way for students to demonstrate their competency and, thus, meet state-level expectations. Under the department's proposed regulatory changes, presented at Tuesday's board meeting, the state would for the first time require students to master specific coursework. Specifically, students, beginning with the class of 2026, would be required to satisfactorily complete at least the following classes: two years of high school English Language Arts Algebra I and Geometry or Integrated Math I and II one year of biology, physics, chemistry, or technology/engineering In addition, the students in the class of 2026 and beyond also would need to show 'mastery' in those classes. Students can demonstrate mastery, according to the proposed regulation, through an end-of-course exam, portfolio of work, or an equivalent measure determined by a local district. The proposed regulation adds US history as a required course and area of mastery for students beginning with the class of 2027. State: Changes would restore equity Some advocates in the wake of Question 2 worried the lack of a uniform graduation requirement could lead to inequitable student learning experiences. Related : Robert Curtin, chief officer for data, assessment, and accountability for the department, said the state's proposed regulations are intended to provide a 'minimum level of equity across districts.' Advertisement The new competency determination would serve as a baseline graduation standard for all students in the state and would apply in conjunction with a local district's graduation requirements. For example, a local district also may require students to pass two years of a foreign language. Critics of the proposed regulation, though, argue it isn't rigorous enough. A coalition of advocacy groups, including the Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education and the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, is calling on the department to incorporate G.P.A. requirements into the regulation, for example. Fight over MCAS scores continues Under the department's proposal, students without access to traditional transcripts, such as migrant or homeschooled students, could use a passing MCAS score to satisfy the state-level competency determination. The advocacy groups say all students should have that opportunity — an option backed during Tuesday's meeting by vice chair Matt Hills, of Newton. The state's largest teachers union, meanwhile, said the continued use of MCAS scores in determining a student's fate 'would undermine the goal of Question 2, which was to promote more authentic teaching and learning.' 'What we learned during the Question 2 campaign from students, educators and families is that they want schools that focus on the critical thinking skills and academic foundations that matter, and not on test prep,' Massachusetts Teachers Association President Max Page and Vice President Deb McCarthy said in a joint statement. Related : The state board on Tuesday agreed to present the department's formal proposal for public feedback. But it will also ask, at Hill's request, that the public weigh in on whether MCAS scores should be included as an option for the competency determination. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is accepting public comments on the proposed regulations through April 4. The state education board is scheduled to issue a final vote on the regulations on May 5. Advertisement Mandy McLaren can be reached at
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- General
- Yahoo
State officials weigh options to replace MCAS
BOSTON (WWLP) – The Massachusetts Board of Education met on Tuesday to work on a new set of regulations to ensure all Massachusetts high school graduates have hit their learning benchmarks. Education Board inches toward vocational school reforms Students in Massachusetts high schools will still take the MCAS, but it will no longer determine whether they are able to graduate. Instead, each student will need to meet certain competency benchmarks in areas like English and math. The Board of Education is still working on how to define 'competency' to make sure students are held to the same standard. The State is also considering adding additional competency areas–such as US and world history–but is adamant that the MCAS will not be replaced by another test, but instead by coursework and teacher recommendations. According to the board's vice chair Matt Hills, almost 1,500 current high school seniors have failed to pass the MCAS AND coursework requirements. 'We have a really immediate problem, to stick that requirement in front of a student in the middle of grade 12 is problematic at best. I don't even know how a district deals with it,' Hills said. As of now, one solution the board is considering is issuing waivers to current high school seniors to allow them to graduate as the state continues to work out new regulations. The board expects to present its first set of new regulations as early as next month, with the hopes of having the requirements apply to the graduating class of 2026. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Associated Press
27-01-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Ambius Celebrates 20 Wins at the International Plantscape Awards
The annual awards ceremony provides a global platform to recognize local horticultural service and design READING, Pa., Jan. 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Ambius, an industry leader in creating sensory-driven environments through biophilic design, is proud to announce its exceptional performance at the International Plantscape Awards, held during the TPIE (Tropical Plant International Expo). The company secured 17 design awards across various categories, including Living Wall, Freestanding Containers, Silk, Replica and Preserved, Holiday, and more. In addition to the design awards, Ambius earned three technician awards for its incredible talent and horticultural service. The International Plantscape Awards recognize outstanding achievements in interior and exterior plantscaping, honoring companies that push the boundaries of creativity, sustainability, and functionality. The annual event brings together industry leaders and visionaries to recognize the innovative and world-class designs created by local horticulturists. 'At Ambius, we look at plantscape design through a multi-sensory lens. Every project is unique and is crafted to transform spaces into environments that inspire connection, foster well-being, and celebrate the beauty of nature,' said Lorri MacHarg, President of Ambius. 'These 20 awards celebrate our team's creativity and dedication to making the world healthier and greener, one space at a time.' The International Plantscape Awards program is open to individuals or firms actively involved in interior plantscaping worldwide. It recognizes outstanding achievements in interior plantscape design, installation, creativity, renovation, and innovation. Award submissions are judged by a panel of distinguished experts in the Interior Plantscape Community. PLATINUM AWARDS: Installation Project: Airport Lounge, Atlanta, GA, Designed by Matt Hills Project: Icon of the Seas, Cádiz, Spain, Designed by Yuko Frazier Freestanding Containers Project: The Crooked Hammock, Myrtle Beach, SC, Designed by Amy Queralt Holiday Project: Cooks Children Hospital, Ft. Worth, TX, Designed by Lori Fagerquist Design Project: Brannan 888, San Francisco, CA, Serviced by Yenni Riveres - Incredible Talent and Customer Service Project: Office, Indianapolis, IN, Designed by Rich Wilson and Serviced by Alane Judkins - Incredible Talent and Customer Service Project: Hotel, Boca Raton, FL, Designed by Roberto Soto and Serviced by Steven Keizer and Harry Haws - Horticulture Service GOLD AWARDS: Living Wall Project: Boston Properties, Boston, MA, Designed by Lisa Ciccia Project: Bradley Foundation, Milwaukee, WI, Designed by Deb Pieper Project: Phoenix Bond, Phoenix, AZ, Designed by Matt Hills Holiday Project: Prudential Building, Chicago, IL, Designed by Debra Magoon Moss Wall Project: Teck Resources Limited, Vancouver, BC, Designed by Joanne Craft Design Project: Communications Company, Raleigh, NC, Designed by Debora Marks Project: HSBC Bank, New York, NY, Designed by Kelly Wakowski Project: Breakthrough Properties, San Diego, CA, Designed by Janice Nath Project: Coffee Shop, Costa Mesa, CA, Designed by Chris Karl Silk, Replica, and Preserved Project: Blue Print Underground, Nashville, TN, Designed by Ashley Bearden Atrium and Garden Project: Urby, Dallas, TX, Designed by Darlene Arterburn Project: Arcteryx, New York, NY, Designed by Michele Grusser-Garcia For more information about Ambius and their design capabilities, please visit ABOUT AMBIUS Established in 1963, Ambius is a renowned leader in creating sensory-driven experiences through innovative interior and exterior landscaping, green walls, holiday decor, and cutting-edge scenting solutions. Through the power of nature and design, Ambius uses a layered approach to transform the places where people live, work, and play into spaces that help ignite happiness and promote well-being. Operating today in 16 countries, Ambius combines global insight with localized expertise and execution. Ambius is a division of Rentokil North America.
