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Superintendent: Ballot change won’t end testing; PowerSchool breach prompts district outreach; special‑education monitoring underway
Summary
Superintendent Martin gave several updates affecting district policy and communications: the aftermath of a statewide ballot question on MCAS, a recent data breach of PowerSchool that affected the district’s student information system, a DESE monitoring review of special‑education programming, and plans to form a family and community advisory panel.
Superintendent Martin gave several updates affecting district policy and communications: the aftermath of a statewide ballot question on MCAS, a recent data breach of PowerSchool that affected the district’s student information system, a Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) monitoring review of special‑education programming, and plans to form a family and community advisory panel.
MCAS and graduation competency Martin said that voters approved Ballot Question 2 on Nov. 5, which removes the high‑school MCAS test as the state’s high‑school competency determination. She emphasized the change does not eliminate MCAS testing for grades 3–10; state and federal rules continue to require testing and DESE will still use results for accountability and to identify schools needing support. Martin said the district’s high‑school team is drafting a new local competency determination for graduation and that more information will follow.
Special‑education monitoring review and parent survey Martin said DESE is conducting a monitoring review to ensure the district’s special‑education programming and implementation meet requirements for time, learning and equal access. She said parents and guardians of students with IEPs will be sent a parent survey later in the week to collect information for the review and to supplement district data.
PowerSchool data breach and communications Martin said the district learned on Jan. 8 of a data breach affecting PowerSchool, its student information system. She said PowerSchool released a public FAQ and the company planned a call center to answer questions from families. Martin said the district would send information to staff and families, and that PowerSchool’s FAQ link would be shared with the community.
Family and community advisory panel Martin said the district will form a family and community advisory panel to strengthen partnerships, share information and provide perspective on district initiatives; a communication with a sign‑up form would be sent to families the following day.
What she said Superintendent Martin: “Our high school team is working on a draft proposal for a new competency determination for high school graduation here in Agawam. More information will follow soon.”
Ending Committee members received the report with no votes attached and asked staff to share the PowerSchool FAQ and survey information when available.
