Holyoke will come out of receivership in 2025

After almost a decade under state controlHolyoke Public Schools, once considered the worst district in Massachusetts, will be dismissed state receivership– officials announced on Tuesday.

This decision restores local control to a community struggling with widespread poverty and where student needs are significant. Last school year, 85 percent of Holyoke students were considered low-income, 30 percent had disabilities and nearly 20 percent were still learning English.

“We are very proud of the work that has been done in Holyoke,” said acting state Education Commissioner Russell Johnston, noting that the layoff will be “temporary.” After a transition period, the receivership will officially end on July 1, 2025, Johnston said.

The state board of education voted in favor of the placement Holyoke in receivership in 2015, after years of poor academic performance. Under the receivership, the local School Committee was stripped of its decision-making powers and replaced by a state-elected leader. Under Massachusetts law, the state board of education can take control of low-performing districts and appoint so-called the trustee who is to implement the restructuring plan.

Critics characterized the state takeover as a political disenfranchisement of a community where 4 out of 5 students were Latino. (The number has increased slightly, according to state data.)

Supporters of the receivership, however, said reform is necessary to provide the district’s marginalized population with a quality education.

A school district under state administration no major improvements shown. While the five-year graduation rate has increased significantly to 82 percent, improvements can be seen in similar districts and across the state. Chronic absenteeism has skyrocketed during the pandemic and is declining more slowly than in other districts. Consistent with statewide trends, student performance on the MCAS English and Math exams declined.

Holyoke has been formally asking the state to come out of receivership since last year. The Lawrence and Southbridge school districts have also been in receivership since 2011 and 2016, respectively, and advocates in those communities have called for an end to state control. Similarly, these districts also did not see significant improvement during the receivership period.

This story is developing. Check for updates.

Mandy McLaren can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her @mandy_mclaren.