Professional Development Opportunities about Safe and Supportive Learning Environments:
Registration is open for several upcoming events: a webinar from 2:30-4:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 31st on Safe and Supportive Learning Environments for All Students: Case Studies from the Field and an in-person gathering on Promoting Positive Behavior and Supporting Academic Engagement: Tier One Practices for Middle and High School Classrooms hosted by Engaging Schools on Monday, June 4th in Leominster. For the second event, please email Stacy.Cabral@doe.mass.edu for details and registration.
More information, including updated dates, for these and other events can be found by downloading the professional development calendar from DESE's Safe and Supportive Schools webpage.
These events are sponsored by DESE in collaboration with the Department of Early Education and Care, the Collaborative for Educational Services, and Massachusetts Advocates for Children's Trauma and Learning Policy Initiative.
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Online MCAS Questionnaire for Schools on Computer-Based Testing:
To help DESE evaluate the MCAS computer-based testing experience and determine how it can be improved, DESE is asking school and district staff who were involved in MCAS computer-based testing to respond to a questionnaire.
Principals are asked to please share this link with their test administration teams. All responses should be submitted by June 15. The Department thanks everyone in advance for their input.
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21st Century Community Learning Centers Additional Learning Time Grant Posted:
The FY19 FC647 21st Century Community Learning Centers Supporting Additional Learning Time Grant for new sites is posted on the DESE’s grants webpage. A non-binding Intent to Apply is due Friday, June 1, 2018, and full proposals are due June 28.
The Department will host a webinar from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. May 31 to walk interested applicants through the request for proposals. Registration information for the webinar and the Intent to Apply may be accessed through the grant link above or by visiting the 21st Century Community Learning Centers web site.
Due to the competitive nature of the grant, DESE is not able to respond to programmatic or content questions about the grant via email or telephone.
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Middle Grades Math Virtual Book Study:
As part of DESE’s Middle Grades Math initiatives, DESE has developed a Middle Grades Math Virtual Book Study based on the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics’ book “Putting Essential Understanding of Ratios and Proportions into Practice: 6-8.” Districts that participate in the virtual book study will receive up to 10 free copies of the book. The Department encourages district leaders, department heads, math coaches, and team leaders to facilitate the book study in their district and act as the primary contact person with DESE. Anyone interested in serving as a facilitator in their district is asked to please fill out this brief form. Individuals should only fill out the form if they are prepared to facilitate the book study and anticipate being able to convene a group of teachers representing grades 4–7. Potential facilitators will be contacted directly with more information after they have submitted the form.
This book study is open to all, but it will be filled on a first-come-first-served basis with priority given to Level 3–5 districts and schools.
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Information on 2018-19 Charter School Application Cycle:
The 2018-2019 charter school application and expansion cycle will begin this summer. Deadlines for the 2018-2019 charter application and expansion cycle are posted online, with the first deadline coming at noon on June 12, when all applicant groups that would be new operators should notify DESE of their intent to submit a charter school prospectus. The department will inform superintendents and charter school leaders if a letter of intent is received that includes their community. The prospectuses and expansion requests themselves are due later in the summer.
Any district impacted by a charter application or a request for expansion will receive a copy at the time of its submission in August so that the district can provide written comment to the DESE regarding the application or request.
The Department will accept charter applications and charter amendments for most communities, with the exception of those that have reached their charter cap. Those include Boston, Everett, Fall River, Holyoke, Lowell, Lynn, Malden, Randolph, and Salem. Estimates of seats available in other districts are available online for download.
Anyone with questions about the availability of seats, lowest 10 percent ranking, the charter application process, or the charter amendment process (this link is a download) can contact Alyssa Hopkins at 781-338-3219 or ahopkins@doe.mass.edu.
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- MASS urging students to register to vote: The Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents (MASS) is partnering with Secretary of the Commonwealth William F. Galvin to encourage the Class of 2018 to register to vote and make their voices heard. Mr. Galvin’s office plans to work with local election officials to assist in voter registration efforts in each city and town, while MASS intends to encourage all high schools to join in the effort to register new graduates.
- Blue Ribbon School video: A video about White Street School in Springfield is featured on the U.S. Department of Education’s National Blue Ribbon Schools website. The page also includes a link to the keynote address given at the 2017 National Blue Ribbon School ceremony by Massachusetts teacher Sydney Chaffee, 2017 National Teacher of the Year.
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