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A message from the
Massachusetts Department of
Elementary and Secondary Education

July 27, 2018
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News from Commissioner Jeffrey C. Riley and the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

Contents

Superintendents' Checklist: Updated Version Posted


As a service to superintendents each year, we provide a checklist of tasks local school districts must complete throughout the year. The checklist is organized in a manner that we hope is helpful to you. The majority of activities on the 2018-2019 checklist remain unchanged from 2017-2018. Questions or suggestions for improving the checklist should be directed to Helene Bettencourt, DESE chief of staff, at hbettencourt@doe.mass.edu.

Picture of the Week

Michelle Ryan, DESE history and social science support lead, spoke at the 2018 Civics Education Institute this week. Over 250 educators were in attendance to increase their understanding of and to effectively teach the revised 2018 History and Social Science Framework.
Michelle Ryan speaks at a lecturn. Behind her, an illegible presentation is projected on a screen.

SEI Endorsement: New requirements for CVT Educators


On June 26, 2018, the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education approved amended regulations that extend the Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) Endorsement requirements to career vocational technical (CVT) teachers who provide instruction to ELs, and to those administrators who supervise or evaluate them. All CVT teachers who instructed English learners during the 2017-2018 school year, and principals, assistant principals, and supervisors/directors who supervised or evaluated those teachers, will be placed into the initial cohort and must earn their SEI Endorsement by July 1, 2021. Members of the first cohort who fail to meet this deadline will not be eligible to advance or renew their license until they have completed the requirement. Extensions will only be available in case of hardship. The Department will provide SEI Endorsement courses in Spring 2019 and Fall 2019 at no cost to this first cohort.

On July 20, 2018, the Department sent an email to superintendents, vocational leaders and EL directors describing:
  • The new SEI requirements for career vocational technical educators;
  • The roles of school districts in supporting CVT educators who must earn the SEI Endorsement, including hosting information for those districts being asked to host a course;
  • Pathways to obtain the SEI Endorsement; and
  • The cohort assignment process.
The email also included a letter that we are asking district leaders to forward to all CVT educators. The letter to educators provides information about the SEI Endorsement requirements and course availability in Spring and Fall of 2019. For additional information, please contact Diana Gentile at 781-338-3584 or dgentile@doe.mass.edu. 

Innovation Pathways Designation: Upcoming Information Sessions
 

Last summer the Commonwealth launched a High Quality College and Career Pathways initiative, which serves as an overarching strategy for significantly expanding student access to high-quality career pathways. Innovation Pathways are designed to create strong partnerships with employers in order to expose students to career options and help them develop knowledge and skills related to their chosen field of study before they graduate high school. In 2018 DESE is excited to open a second round of applications for the Innovation Pathways Designation.

In the coming weeks we will offer two web-based information sessions (click for instructions on joining the webinars), with an emphasis on the application process – one on Tuesday, July 31, from 2:30-4:00 pm and another on Monday, August 6, from 11am-12:30 pm. We will also host an in-person gathering on Tuesday, August 7th from 10-11:30 am in the Atrium at MassBay Community College - Wellesley Hills Campus. All sessions are optional. Interested districts and prospective employer partners are welcome to attend one or more sessions.

Please contact Shailah Stewart, sstewart@doe.mass.edu, or Jennifer Gwatkin, jgwatkin@doe.mass.edu with any questions and to request a parking pass for the MassBay event.

Instructional Support Networks: Registration Open
 

The Department welcomes educators from across the state to register for the 2018–2019 Instructional Support Networks. The networks cover a variety of areas, including mathematics, literacy, science, digital learning and computer science, history/social science, educator effectiveness, and English learners. These networks are designed to help educators advance teaching and learning by collaborating across districts to learn, test and refine tools and strategies, and innovate. A select number of networks (denoted as “PLN” in their titles) are designed for small teams interested in incorporating DESE's new model for professional learning, which was developed in consultation with Teaching Lab. 

Final FY19 State Budget


The Governor has signed the final FY19 state budget. The Chapter 70 calculations have been posted at http://www.doe.mass.edu/finance/chapter70/fy2019/chapter-19.html. The Department will provide more information on the other education aid programs shortly.
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