Dr. Patrick Tutwiler announces that Holyoke Public Schools will be exiting state receivership on July 1 during the June 23 School Committee meeting.
Photo credit: Holyoke Media
HOLYOKE — After 10 years, Holyoke Public Schools exited state receivership on July 1, following an announcement made by Massachusetts Education Secretary and interim Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Dr. Patrick Tutwiler during the June 23 School Committee meeting and June 24 state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education meeting.
“While school improvement work will continue in Holyoke, it is time for local officials to take the lead,” said Tutwiler, “Community stakeholders have consistently shared their input into the district’s decision-making processes, and the School Committee partnered with a Community Advisory Team as part of the capacity-building plan. This experience is a strong foundation for the district’s future.”
The announcement follows a provisional determination in October 2024, by then-acting Commissioner Russell Johnston, to remove Holyoke Public Schools from chronically underperforming status and that the district would be ready if the School Committee completed its capacity building plan.
Since then, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has supported the School Committee as they completed a capacity building plan to return to local control.
The Healey-Driscoll administration made the determination official on June 23.
“Holyoke has worked hard to regain local control of its schools, and this is a great moment for the city, students, educators and families,” said Gov. Maura Healey in a press release.
Holyoke is the first school district to exit state receivership, and the district will be under the School Committee’s governance as of July 1.
DESE will continue to support and monitor the district’s progress under the terms of the exit assurances document that Tutwiler issued on April 28.
The exit assurances keep in place selected provisions of Holyoke Public Schools’ Turnaround Plan for a transitional period of up to two years after the department’s formal exit from receivership.
The exit assurances address areas including professional development for educators, the creation and implementation of an early literacy plan, two-way communication with families, including families who do not speak English; policies related to teaching and learning time; and educator compensation and evaluation.
Anthony Soto has served as receiver of the district since 2021. On May 12, the School Committee approved a contract to keep him as interim superintendent for the 2025-26 school year.
When Soto was first appointed, he said, “I think this has been a long journey, we’ve been all in it together — some more than others — but I’ve expressed right from the beginning, even in my response to the commissioner when we talked about my recommendation to transition to local control … I made a commitment to this body and to the Holyoke community that I want to make sure whatever role I play, I do everything I can to make sure it’s a strong transition and I’m glad we can continue making sure that happens and I appreciate your confidence in me.”
The district released a list of their accomplishments since 2015 which include an increase in the district’s four-year cohort graduation rate, a decrease in out-of-school suspension rates, an increase in percentage of students in grades 11 and 12 completing advanced coursework.
Other accomplishments include an increase in the percentage of Hispanic/Latino students in grades 11 and 12 completing advanced coursework, the expansion of the district’s dual language program, the expansion of pre-K programming to offer more than 500 seats to families in 2024-25 through either district-operated or partner-operated classrooms.
The district has also redesigned Holyoke High School to offer a Freshman Academy for a more personalized entry to high school, as well as full enrollment in the career technical education pathways at the Holyoke High School Dean Campus after nearly a decade of underenrollment.
The district has also rezoned into separate elementary and middle schools, supported by the construction of a new middle school that is scheduled to open in fall 2025.
“This is a proud day for Holyoke,” said Holyoke Mayor Joshua A. Garcia, who also chairs the School Committee. “Our dedicated educators, resilient students, supportive families and engaged community have united to drive this success, reflecting our shared commitment to the bright future of our schools.”
