HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) - The Holyoke Public Schools are expected to be removed from state receivership after the end of this school year. On Tuesday, the Healey-Driscoll Administration announced that the receivership can be removed on July 1, 2025 however, it has not yet been finalized. The decision will be made in June based on the Holyoke School Committee’s progress in implementing its capacity building plan. Holyoke requests to end state receivership of school system The state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education took control over Holyoke Public Schools in April 2015 to help improve their test scores and graduation rates. The state made the rare decision to place the district in receivership, citing its “chronic underperformance.” Holyoke created a turnaround plan after the receivership that outlined goals and improvements, and since then, the district has seen increased graduation rates, expanded programs, and invested more than $20 million in infrastructure. Accomplishments include the following:   An increase in the district’s four-year cohort graduation rate from 60.2 percent in 2014 to 74.6 in 2023, which includes a 23-point gain for English learners and an 18-point gain for students with disabilities over the same time period;   A reduction of the out-of-school suspension rate from 20.0 percent in 2013-14 to 9.0 percent in 2022-23;   An increase in the percentage of students in grades 11 and 12 completing advanced coursework from 39.5 percent in 2018 to 57.0 in 2024;   A gap-narrowing increase in the percentage of Hispanic/Latino students in grades 11 and 12 completing advanced coursework, from 32.2 percent in 2018 to 54.6 in 2024;  Expansion of the district’s dual language program to serve more than 20 percent of the pre-K-8 student population;   Expansion of pre-K programming to offer more than 500 seats to families in 2023-24 through either district-operated or partner-operated classrooms;   Redesign of Holyoke High School to offer a Freshman Academy for a more personalized entry to high school, as well as theme-based academies and career vocational technical education pathways designed to ignite student interest and connect learning to the real world;   Full enrollment in the career vocational technical education pathways at the Holyoke High School Dean Campus since the 2021-22 school year, after nearly a decade of under-enrollment; and   The rezoning of the district 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 an important step for Holyoke Public Schools. The return to local control will have positive impacts on students, educators and families,” said Governor Maura Healey. “I’m grateful for the hard work and partnership of Mayor Garcia, the School Committee and the school district to make progress on ensuring all students are receiving a high-quality education, and we look forward to continuing to work together to ensure they can successfully exit receivership next year.”  “Holyoke Mayor Joshua A. Garcia and the Holyoke School Committee have shown they are serious about building their capacity to lead an effective school system,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “We look forward to seeing their continued progress in the coming months.”  “I appreciate the progress that Holyoke Public Schools has made to provide students with a high-quality education, including in graduation rates and the use of high-quality instructional materials and evidence-based early literacy practices. Today marks an important milestone, and I look forward to seeing this community continue to expand these gains and further reduce gaps in student achievement and success,” said Education Secretary Dr. Patrick Tutwiler.  "I believe that the district has developed a coherent set of strategies for improving teaching and learning outcomes in every classroom through its inclusive strategic planning process that regularly solicits feedback from all stakeholders,” Acting Commissioner Russell Johnston wrote in a letter to Mayor Garcia announcing the provisional decision. “I am hopeful that the HSC’s plan for professional development throughout school year 2024-25 will prepare the School Committee to effectively govern the district moving forward with an unwavering focus on student outcomes.”  “This is a wonderful outcome after years of effort on the part of the Holyoke School Department, the Holyoke School Committee, and the Mayor’s Office. I’m grateful for the tireless work of our students, families, staff, and educators, led by our current receiver/superintendent Anthony Soto. Anthony and his leadership team maintained a strong focus on implementing the district’s turnaround plan while the community gained momentum in our efforts to regain local control of our schools,” said Holyoke Mayor Joshua A. Garcia. “I deeply appreciate the goodwill and conscientious involvement of Acting Commissioner Russell Johnston. He, Secretary Tutwiler and Governor Healey’s Office have all been accessible and supportive of our work to bring Holyoke’s schools back into local control. This is a proud moment for Holyoke.”  Local News Headlines State control of Holyoke school district to be removed from underperforming status USPS recommends mail-in ballots be sent by Tuesday to make it for Election Day Flags at half-staff in Massachusetts in honor of State Rep. 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