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Trustees vote to oppose DESE vocational admissions regulations released for public comment
Summary
The Smith Vocational Board voted to oppose vocational admissions regulations put forward for public comment by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), saying they objected to the draft regulation language though not necessarily to the concept of a lottery as an admissions tool.
The Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School Board of Trustees voted to oppose the vocational admissions regulations as drafted by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education after a motion and discussion during the April meeting.
The nut graf: Trustees said they were not opposed to the concept of using a lottery in admissions but objected to the proposed regulation language and the parameters DESE set for lottery use in vocational admissions. The board asked staff to draft a written statement of opposition to send back to the Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC) and to the party that requested the board’s input.
Discussion and vote: A trustee with experience on the Vocational Technical Education Advisory Council recommended the board take a position opposing the draft regulations that had been issued for public comment. That speaker said a lottery could be a legitimate tool to address discrimination in admissions but that the regulatory parameters raised concerns. After a motion to oppose the regulations as presented, the board voted in favor by voice vote.
Action requested: The board asked staff (Caitlin) to draft and transmit a statement of the board’s vote to Charlie Ellis of MASC (Division 8) and to make the text available to other interested parties.
Ending: The board’s recorded action will be provided to MASC and to policy contacts involved in the DESE rulemaking process, per the trustees’ request.
