Overview of the Executive Office of Education—Information Technology Contracts

This section describes the makeup and responsibilities of the Executive Office of Education—Information Technology Contracts.

Overview

The Executive Office of Education (EOE) was established under Section 14A of Chapter 6A of the Massachusetts General Laws as the secretariat that oversees the Commonwealth’s public education agencies, boards, and commissions, including the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC), the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), and the Department of Higher Education (DHE).

According to EOE’s fiscal year 2018 internal control plan, the agency’s mission is as follows:

[EOE] is committed to ensuring that all Massachusetts students not only remain at the head of the class nationally but are also positioned to successfully compete internationally. We will work towards that goal by implementing evidence-based strategies and programs, raising standards and accountability, improving assessments, increasing the quality of teaching, promoting innovation, enhancing student supports, and rewarding excellence.

EOE manages information technology (IT) services on behalf of EEC, DESE, and DHE and relies on the Operational Services Division (OSD) to select and procure IT vendors that it and other state agencies can use under a master service agreement.¹ If a service is not on the OSD list of available services, EOE can negotiate directly with a vendor for that service. During the audit period, EOE was in the process of transitioning the administration of its IT services to the Executive Office of Technology Services and Security.

1.    These contracts set the foundation for future business between parties, allowing them to quickly approve new transactions or agreements without having to renegotiate the terms.

Date published:	October 11, 2019