The School Committee appreciates the place and importance of an educational system in its greater environment, which includes other organizations and institutions dedicated to education. It believes that much is gained through cooperative endeavors with other agencies.

In order to make a maximum contribution to education, within the school system and to other educational agencies, the Committee establishes these broad goals:

1. To encourage mutually beneficial partnerships with other educational agencies.
2. To supply educational services to and/or share with other educational agencies.

Adopted: March 27, 2013

Revised:

The School Committee will collaborate with other schools and with local, state, and regional agencies and organizations to:

1. Address shared educational challenges, issues and opportunities.
2. Seek solutions of educational problems of common concern.
3. Offer support services of high quality to all children.
4. Equalize educational opportunities for all children.
5. Seek federal, state and local grant initiatives.
6. Promote local school system involvement in state and federal decision-making.

This cooperation may extend to research, providing transportation for children to special schools and hospitals, coordination of curriculum, exchange of information and data, construction of facilities that may be efficiently used on a cooperative basis, and the coordination of school calendars and activities.

Before joining any cooperative programs, education collaborative, or participating in any joint educational services with other school systems, the School Committee wants to be sure that in all instances the best interests of our school children will be served. In carrying out this policy the Superintendent will include in reports to the Committee an evaluation of the desirability and feasibility of cooperation with other schools and agencies on matters of mutual interest.

Legal references:

M.G.L. 40:4E; 71:48; 71:71D; 71B:4; 74:4 through 74:7A; 76:1

Adopted: March 27, 2013

Revised:

Private Schools

In accordance with state law, the School Committee will approve a private school when it is satisfied that the instructional program of the school equals that of the town's public schools in thoroughness, efficiency, and progress made.

The Committee recognizes that many worthwhile contributions are made to this community by parochial and other private schools. Therefore, it will collaborate with these schools in matters of mutual benefit when law does not expressly prohibit this partnership.

Legal references:

M.G.L. 40:4E; 71:48; 71:71D; 71B:4; 74:4 through 74:7A; 76:1

Adopted: March 27, 2013

Revised:

The Committee encourages the administration to cooperate with teacher-training institutions in the placement of student teachers in the school system. All initial arrangements with the colleges and universities will be subject to Committee approval.

The Committee authorizes the administration to honor the reasonable rules and training guidelines of the sending institution.

In all arrangements made with colleges and universities, the school system will be given the opportunity of interviewing and accepting or rejecting individual candidates for student teaching and internships.

The school administration will devise procedures for evaluating the performance of student teachers that meet requirements of the sending institution and fit with the Committee's policies. 

Cross references:

ADDA, C.O.R.I. Requirements

Adopted: March 27, 2013

Revised: