New Process for Special Education Licensure Waivers:
The federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires that all special education teachers be appropriately licensed or be participating in a program leading to licensure with certain intensive supports.
In order to meet this requirement, there will be a change in the process and requirements for requesting a licensure waiver for the 2018-2019 school year if the waiver is associated with a special education teacher license (Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities, Teacher of Students with Severe Disabilities, Teacher of the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing [ASL/TC], Teacher of the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing [Oral/Aural], or Teacher of the Visually Impaired).
As of July 1, 2018, individuals submitting a waiver request associated with one of those licenses will need to affirm that the candidate is either enrolled in an approved preparation program or will be participating in the Structured Guidance & Supports competency review. Those enrolled in an approved preparation program will need to receive additional supervision and professional development from the district. District officials who have questions about this new process can contact the Office of Educator Licensure via the Commissioner’s Hotline and/or review detailed information about this new process on our District and School Resources page.
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College and Career Advising Professional Development Series:
The Department, in partnership with the Massachusetts School Counselor Association, will sponsor a three-day workshop series beginning this fall designed to provide schools an opportunity to create a high quality college and career advising program in combination with a student-driven academic and career planning process called MyCAP (My Career and Academic Plan). This training is aligned with the Massachusetts definition of college and career readiness and the Massachusetts Model for Comprehensive School Counseling 2.0 to better prepare students for success after high school. This workshop series will be offered in regional locations on three separate days throughout the 2018-2019 school year. Schools are invited to register teams of four to five high school staff led by counselors but including teachers and administrators.
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Deadline Approaching for Feedback on Subject Matter Knowledge Guidelines:
The Department is seeking additional and diverse stakeholder public comment on the Subject Matter Knowledge Guidelines, which outline the content knowledge and pedagogical skill educators must have for licensure. To provide public comment, please use the online survey by Friday, June 29. Anyone who needs help with the survey or who has any questions can email SMKRevisions@doe.mass.edu.
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Openings on Racial Imbalance Advisory Council:
The Racial Imbalance Advisory Council (RIAC) has seats open for individuals interested in advising DESE and the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education on matters related to the development and maintenance of school desegregation/integration, closing achievement and opportunity gaps, and improving all students’ achievement. The council will meet three or four times annually. In 2018-2019, the council may advise on topics including the refinement of the superintendent evaluation rubric with a particular focus on cultural competency; recruitment, hiring and retention of administrators and staff of color within DESE and in Massachusetts public school districts; and increasing the cultural competency of Massachusetts educators. Interested candidates should submit a cover letter addressed to Commissioner Riley and a résumé to Cheryl.Camacho@doe.mass.edu or 75 Pleasant St., Malden, MA 02148 by July 15, 2018. The Department particularly encourages representatives of diverse communities, organizations focused on school diversity and integration, school committees, students, and parents to apply.
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E-Cigarettes and Vaping Devices:
Attorney General Maura Healey recently issued a letter with detailed information and resources for school officials to help address the growing use of e-cigarettes and vaping devices among young people.
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DPH Survey to Inform Comprehensive School Health Services Programs:
The state Department of Public Health’s Bureau of Community Health and Prevention is issuing a request for information that includes a school survey, and DESE encourages districts to respond. They Department of Public Health is interested in stakeholder input on elements of a request for response (RFR) that will fund local and regional public school districts, charter schools, vocational schools, collaborative programs and non-public schools through the School Health Services (SHS) Unit to develop comprehensive school health services programs.
The RFR is expected to be released in October 2018, with new contracts active approximately July 1, 2019. This RFR will replace current Essential School Health Services programs funded under RFR #900419. For more information, download the “RFI 191929 Comprehensive School Health Services” file attachment from COMMBUYS.
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- Skills Capital Grants: The Baker-Polito Administration recently awarded $10.9 million in Skills Capital Grants to 33 high schools and educational institutions to help them purchase equipment. Congratulations to all the recipients!
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