Commissioner's Update
November 20, 2006

Dear Superintendents, and Leaders of Charter Schools and Collaboratives:

In this Update I have 2 announcements and 2 items for your review.

Friday, December 8th is Scholastic Read For 2007

Ann Romney is pleased to announce that Scholastic Read for 2007 will take place worldwide on Friday, December 8, 2006. You and your students are invited to participate in this meaningful reading event and read together for 2,007 seconds (approximately 33 1/2 minutes). Last year, more than 24,000 teachers participated in this worldwide reading day. This year, with your help, we hope to surpass that exciting achievement and make Read For 2007 the most successful "Read For" ever.

Please review the important information here and I encourage you to spread the word to your colleagues about this exciting opportunity.

	Letter from Anne Romney
	Scholastic Read for 2007 Poster - English
	Scholastic Read for 2007 Poster - Spanish

A Teacher's Guide to Fellowships and Awards

I am delighted to share with you the 2006 revised edition of A Teacher's Guide to Fellowships and Awards: Opportunities for Professional Growth and Renewal/.

The Guide, first published in 1991 and updated in 1995, has been received enthusiastically by educators across the Commonwealth and the nation. In response to requests for more current information, we have updated the Guide to include a more comprehensive listing of professional opportunities that are available to teachers in grades pre-kindergarten through twelve.

The success of Education Reform depends on high quality professional development linked to improving student learning. Teachers need a supportive professional environment that nurtures new ideas, encourages innovation, and places a high priority on peer support. Teachers must also have the time to investigate new approaches, the resources to access the state-of-the-art-teaching practices, and the flexibility to regularly communicate and collaborate with fellow educators. I hope you will continue to find A Teacher's Guide to Fellowships and Awards a valuable resource.

Review this publication, and let us know if it has encouraged you to apply for grants and fellowships. We will be particularly pleased to hear of your success stories.

Two New Items Posted at www.doe.mass.edu:

1. Organizational Changes at the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
   
2. Elementary Teachers 1-6 or K-6 Teacher License
   

I want to wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving.

Sincerely,

David P. Driscoll
Commissioner of Education