Recovery High Schools
Legislative Report - 2022
This report is submitted pursuant to Chapter 24 of the Acts of 2021, line item
7061-9607.
April 2022
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
75 Pleasant Street, Malden, MA 02148-4906
Phone 781-338-3000 TTY: N.E.T. Relay 800-439-2370
www.doe.mass.edu
 This document was prepared by the
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Jeffrey C. Riley
Commissioner
Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Members
Ms. Katherine Craven, Chair, Brookline
Mr. James Morton, Vice Chair, Boston
Ms. Amanda Fernández, Belmont
Mr. Matt Hills, Newton
Ms. Eleni Carris Livingston, Wellesley, Student Member
Ms. Darlene Lombos, Boston
Mr. Michael Moriarty, Holyoke
Mr. James Peyser, Secretary of Education, Milton
Mr. Paymon Rouhanifard, Brookline
Ms. Mary Ann Stewart, Lexington
Dr. Martin West, Newton
Jeffrey C. Riley, Commissioner
Secretary to the Board
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Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
75 Pleasant Street, Malden, MA 02148-4906
Phone 781-338-3000 TTY: N.E.T. Relay 800-439-2370
www.doe.mass.edu
 Massachusetts Department of
Elementary and Secondary Education
75 Pleasant Street, Malden, Massachusetts 02148-4906 Telephone: (781) 338-3000
TTY: N.E.T. Relay 1-800-439-2370
Jeffrey C. Riley
Commissioner
April 1, 2022
Dear Members of the General Court:
I am pleased to submit this Report to the Legislature: Recovery High School Programs
Legislative Report - 2022. As required by the statute, the enclosed report includes: “(i) the
number of youths served per high school; (ii) outcomes measured for youths; and (iii)
recommendations for new recovery high schools in fiscal year 2022 and fiscal year 2023.” The
data provided in this report was compiled from information submitted by schools to the
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (Department).
For adolescents in recovery from a substance use disorder, school is a setting that may result in
interactions with peer groups who are actively using alcohol or other drugs. Unfortunately, after
treatment, these students may encounter multiple risk factors when returning to the setting where
their substance use problems originated. Recovery High School programs play an important role
for these students by offering them another option for a school setting – one in which they can
feel supported in their recovery while still working towards a high school diploma.
If you have any questions about this report, please feel free to contact Samantha Graham,
Substance Use Prevention and Intervention Specialist, in the Office of Student and Family
Support via samantha.graham@mass.gov or 781-338-6305.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey C. Riley
Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education
Table of Contents
Introduction ..........................................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
The Number of Students Served Per High School ............................................................. 2
Outcomes Measured for Students ..................................................................................... 3
Recommendations for New Recovery High Schools in Fiscal Years 2022 and 2023............. 3
Introduction
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (Department) respectfully submits the
Report to the Legislature: Recovery High Schools Legislative Report – 2022, pursuant to
Chapter 24 of the Acts of 2021, line item 7061-9607, that reads in part:
“For …recovery high schools; provided, that the department of elementary and
secondary education shall work collaboratively with the bureau of substance addiction
services for the successful transition and continued operation of the recovery high
schools model; and provided further, that not later than April 1, 2021, the department
shall submit a report to the house and senate committees on ways and means that shall
include, but not be limited to: (i) the number of youths served per high school; (ii)
outcomes measured for the youths; and (iii) recommendations for new recovery high
schools in fiscal year 2022 and fiscal year 2023…”
Recovery High Schools (RHS) are public programs, operated by a school district or an
educational collaborative, that serve as an educational option for students in recovery from a
substance use disorder or dependency. They support students in their recovery while the students
are concurrently working towards their high school degrees.
Recovery High Schools were initially established in Massachusetts in 2006 through a grant
program administered by the Department of Public Health (DPH), funded through state line item
4512-0211. In 2009, G.L. c. 71, § 91 was enacted to clarify several issues relating to these
programs, including data reporting and fiscal responsibility. Under G.L. c. 71, § 91, Recovery
High Schools receive the state average foundation budget per pupil for enrolled students from the
students' districts of residence. Regulations related to RHS programs, 603 CMR 54.00, were
adopted by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education in February 2017. An advisory
(SPED 2019-1) was subsequently issued to address special education service delivery for
students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) who are attending RHS programs.
In July 2018, oversight for the RHSs was transferred from DPH to the Department, as directed
by the Governor and Legislature through the 2019 state budget line item 7061-9607.
There are currently five Recovery High Schools in Massachusetts:
• William J. Ostiguy High School opened in September 2006 in downtown Boston and is
operated in partnership with the Boston Public Schools.
• Northshore Recovery High School opened in September 2007 in Beverly and is operated
by Northshore Education Consortium.
• Liberty Preparatory opened in September 2007 in Springfield and is operated in
partnership with the Springfield Public Schools.
• Independence Academy opened in September 2012 in Brockton and is operated in
partnership with North River Collaborative.
• Rockdale Recovery High School opened in September 2015 in Worcester and is operated
by Central Massachusetts Special Education Collaborative.
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In the spring of 2019, the Collaborative for Educational Services (CES) was commissioned by
the Department to conduct an evaluation of the RHS programming. The primary purpose of this
study was to help inform the Department of the current practices of RHS programs and assist
with the Department’s efforts to better support these programs. The summary evaluation report is
available upon request from Achievement@doe.mass.edu. As per the recommendations of the
initial evaluation in the spring of 2019, the process to develop a more comprehensive evaluation
began in the summer of 2021. The first phase of this work consists of the design, development,
and planning of an initial cycle of instructional rounds and will continue in collaboration with the
Department and RHS program leaders through the summer of 2022.
The Number of Students Served Per High School
Enrollment numbers vary among the five RHS programs ranging from a low of 3 students in one
program to a high of 28 students in another. The following table includes the number of enrolled
students from the October 2021 Student Information Management System (SIMS) for the five
RHSs across the state.
October 2021 Enrollment
Recovery High School Students
Independence Academy 4
Liberty Preparatory School 8
Northshore Education Consortium 28
Rockdale Recovery High School 3
William J. Ostiguy High School 12
The table below includes the October 2021 SIMS by grade level, with the majority of the
students (28 of 55) being identified as 12th graders.
October 2021 Enrollment
Recovery High 9th Grade 10th Grade 11th 12th Special
Education
School Grade Grade
Student
Beyond
12th Grade
Independence 0 2 1 1 0
Academy
Liberty Preparatory 1 3 3 1 0
School
Northshore 0 5 6 13 4
Education
Consortium
Rockdale Recovery 0 0 1 2 0
High School
William J. Ostiguy 0 0 1 11 0
High School
Outcomes Measured for Students
Recovery High School programs serve a complex population of students that require a
specialized approach to balance the unique academic and therapeutic programming. These
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programs enroll a significantly higher number of students with disabilities and those who are
considered low-income as compared to the state average. Those factors, combined with the
inherent issue of a student body that has been diagnosed with a substance use disorder, create
particular challenges to addressing the student’s needs. Recovery High School programs support
these individual needs by developing and following an individualized recovery plan while
providing a comprehensive four-year high school education that supports students to reach
success in their academic and personal lives.
Recovery High Schools Massachusetts School
Districts (Average)
Low-income 70.9% 43.8%
Students with Disabilities 41.8% 18.9%
Recommendations for New Recovery High Schools in Fiscal Years
2022 and 2023
The Department is currently in discussions with school districts, RHS programs, and other
partners to determine how, collectively, to best meet the needs of students with substance use
disorders. At this time, a new RHS is not recommended as the Department continues to evaluate
these programs.
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