Barnstable Public Schools leaders presented a district-level review from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and preliminary MCAS results at the Nov. 5 School Committee meeting, calling out pockets of improvement alongside persistent gaps.

DESE review takeaways
Superintendent Sarah Hearn summarized the DESE teams April diagnostic review, which examined leadership and governance, curriculum and instruction, assessment practices, human resources and student support systems. DESE identified strengths including a systematic approach to policy review, use of school councils and a clear district vision; areas for growth included leadership stability, broader instructional leadership teams and increased student voice in curriculum decisions.

MCAS snapshot and trends
Assistant Superintendent Kristen presented MCAS results and trend data. Highlights and district-level movements included:
- Grade 3 math: improving trend (recorded increases since 2021 at early grades).
- Advanced-course completion at BHS: district exceeded accountability targets for participation and passing in advanced coursework (AP, dual enrollment and vocational/technical credits).
- Attendance and participation: the district met state targets for MCAS participation and reduced chronic absenteeism in the reporting period.

Areas of concern
The district reported declines or weaker growth in several areas: grade 8 math and high-school science showed drops compared with prior years, and writing performance remains an area of focus across middle and high school grades. Assistant Superintendent Kristen noted that secondary math is in Year 1 of a new implementation and elementary literacy (CKLA) is in Year 2; both adoptions will take multiple years to show full impact in statewide testing.

Planned responses
District leaders described a multi-pronged response: continuing K0 curriculum reviews (elementary math), completing secondary ELA curriculum review, targeted professional development for instruction and interventions, improved use of data cycles (MTSS) and attention to attendance as a precondition for learning. Staff training (October PD) and additional coaching supports were cited as part of the plan.

What the committee asked
Committee members asked for year-to-year comparisons and peer district context; leaders said they will return with more granular school-level trend data and timelines for curriculum pilots and implementation checkpoints.

Provenance: DESE review summary and MCAS presentation appear under the superintendents report and the assistant superintendents presentation beginning at roughly 02:19 in the transcript.