THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS  
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT 
STATE HOUSE, BOSTON 02133 
(617) 727-3600
 
BY HIS EXCELLENCY
 
WILLIAM F. WELD 
GOVERNOR 

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 393 

ESTABLISHING AN EDUCATIONAL MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTABILITY BOARD

  WHEREAS it is a paramount goal of the Commonwealth to provide a pub-
lic education system of sufficient quality to extend to every child the
opportunity to achieve his or her potential to lead a productive life as
a participant in the political and social life of the Commonwealth and
as a contributor to its economy; and
   
  WHEREAS the Education Reform Act was enacted in 1993 in order to as- 
sist students to attain a higher level of educational achievement and  
reach the aforesaid goal of the Commonwealth; and
  
  WHEREAS an effective mechanism for monitoring progress toward those 
goals and for holding educators accountable for achievement of those 
goals is an essential part of the success of the students and the at-  
tainment of the goals of the Education Reform Act; and 

  WHEREAS nearly one billion dollars have been invested in 
Massachusetts schools in order to improve student learning over the past
four years; and
 
  WHEREAS recent state standardized assessments have raised legitimate 
questions about the use of education reform funds and about the commit-
ment to school improvement in some school districts; and

  WHEREAS the people of the Commonwealth deserve to have an accounting
of the performance of school districts. 
 
  NOW, THEREFORE, I, William F. Weld, Governor of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Supreme  
Executive Magistrate, do hereby order as follows: 

  Section 1.  An Educational Management Accountability Board ("Board")
is hereby established to review, investigate and report on the expendi-
ture of funds by school districts, including regional school districts,
consistent with the goals of improving student achievement.

  Section 2. The Board shall consist of not less than seven (7) nor
more than thirteen (13) members.  One member shall be designated by the
Governor to be chairman.  The members of the Board shall serve without   
compensation but may receive reimbursement for reasonable expenses in-  
curred in fulfilling their obligations subject to any appropriation or
allocation. 

  The Board shall adopt such guidelines and procedures as are appropri-
ate for the effective performance of its duties. Any procedural issues
that may arise during a Board meeting shall be resolved by reference 
Robert's Rules of Order. The Board shall meet as often as necessary to 
receive reports and issue findings. The Board may also conduct such fo-
rums or hearings on school accountability as it considers appropriate. 

  The members of the Board shall be appointed to renewable one year 
terms.

  Section 3.  The Secretary of Administration and Finance ("Secretary"),
or his designee, shall serve as the chief of staff for the Board.  The
Director of Accounts for the Division of Local Services of the
Department of Revenue shall be the chief investigator for the Board
("Director").  The Secretary shall request staff from the department of
revenue, the department of education, and any other executive office,
agency or department which may provide technical assistance in fulfill-
ing the purposes of the Board.

  Subject to appropriation or allocation, the Director may employ other
investigators and seek expert and technical assistance in examining fis-
cal and educational issues within a school district.

  All investigations shall be conducted in consultation with the State
Auditor and the Commissioner of Education.

  Section 4.  Pursuant to General Laws ch. 44, sections 45 and 46A, and
General Laws ch. 71, section 16E, and for the purposes of this Board,
the Director may conduct investigations and may require the attendance
of witnesses, the production of books and documents and may examine wit-
nesses under oath in the same manner as in the Superior Court.

  Section 5.  The Board, through the Secretary and the Director, shall
have the following duties and responsibilities:

    (A) Develop the protocols for the review of the schools and school
	districts, including regional school districts;   

    (B) Verify the accuracy of reports of schools and school districts,
	including regional school districts, filed with the Department
	of Education;

    (C) Conduct a review and analysis of budgets of school districts,
	including regional school districts, to determine whether the
	districts are complying with state law;

    (D) Conduct a review and analysis of school districts' spending to
	determine whether the spending effectively supports the dis-
	tricts' educational programs and the goals of the Education
	Reform Act; and

    (E) Prepare and submit to the Governor and Lt. Governor a report of
	findings of each school district investigated by the Board.
	Said reports shall also be sent to the Senate President, the
	Speaker of the House, the Chairman of the Board of Education,
	the Attorney General, the State Auditor, the Commissioner of
	Education, along with the chairman of the school committee and
	the Superintendent of the school district investigated by the
	Board and such other municipal officials as may be appropriate.
	In addition, the Board shall also prepare and submit an annual
	report of its investigations and findings.

Given at the Executive Chamber in Boston 
this 20th day of February in the year one 
thousand nine hundred and ninety-seven. 

William F. Weld 
Governor 

William Francis Galvin 
Secretary of State 

GOD SAVE THE COMMOm~EALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS