State Governance

State Board of Education

The Massachusetts state board of education consists of ten members each serving a five-year term. Board members are appointed by the governor. Additionally, there is a voting student member who serves a one-year term.

The state board has authority over:

• Content Standards Adoption
• Teacher Licensure
• Summative Assessments
• Appoints Chief State School Officer
• Authorizes Charter Schools

Governor

Charlie Baker (R)

Chief State School Officer

Jeffrey C. Riley

State Context

State Demographics

Public Education Enrollment by Special Populations:

Free and Reduced Price Lunch: 38.3%

English Language Learners: 7.4%

Served by IDEA: 17.5%

 

2015 NAEP State Data

Reading scores for Grade 4 by state average, race/ethnicity, and NSLP-eligibility compared to the national average:

 

Reading scores for Grade 4 by race/ethnicity between 2003 and 2015, additional national average data is included:

 

Mathematics scores for Grade 8 by state average, race/ethnicity, and NSLP-eligibility compared to the national average:

 

Mathematics scores for Grade 8 by race/ethnicity between 2003 and 2015, additional national average data is included:

 

Science scores for Grade 8 by state average, race/ethnicity, and NSLP-eligibility compared to the national average:

 

Graduation Rates

 

Adjusted cohort graduation rates between 2011 and 2015:

 

Charter Schools

Year Charter School Law was Enacted: 1993

Number of Charter Schools in the 2014-15 Year: 78

Number of Students Served by Charter Schools in the 2014-15 Year: 37,402

Charter School Cap Law: 120 charter schools statewide are permitted. Other restrictions apply.

ESSA Plan & Implementation

Learn about Massachusetts’ ESSA plan.