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A message from the
Massachusetts Department of
Elementary and Secondary Education

October 4, 2019
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News from Commissioner Jeffrey C. Riley and the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

Contents:

  1. Nominations and Applications Open for Teacher of the Year
  2. Picture of the Week: Andover High School
  3. Requests for Waivers from Computer-Based Testing
  4. OPTIC Roadshow
  5. U.S. Presidential Scholarship Nominations Sought
  6. New Foster Care Transportation Reimbursement Program
  7. Tuition Rate for Virtual Schools
  8. Reminder about Survey on Professional Development
  9. DESE Resource Corner: E-learning about IDEA equitable services/proportionate share
  10. For Your Info:
    • NewSchools Venture Fund opportunity
    • Jane Ortner Education Award

1. Nominations and Applications Open for Teacher of the Year:


The nomination and application forms for the 2021 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year are now available! Anyone can nominate a teacher, and educators can apply regardless of whether they have been nominated. The Commonwealth is full of strong public school teachers (just look at the #aMAzingeducators submissions we received and published on social media), and DESE hopes to receive at least one nomination from every district.
 
Nominations will be accepted only online and are due February 3, 2020, and applications must be completed by February 14. Before completing an application, teachers are asked to download and read the Massachusetts Teacher of the Year Overview. Anyone with questions can email educatorrecognition@doe.mass.edu.

Picture of the Week:

On September 20, Commissioner Riley visited schools in Haverhill, Topsfield, and Andover. At Andover High School, he saw innovative initiatives including the augmented reality sandbox (below) with (left to right) Superintendent Sheldon Berman, Director of Strategic Innovation Steve Chinosi (behind Commissioner Riley), and Principal Philip Conrad.
Commissioner Riley and Andover Public Schools Director of Strategic Innovation Steve Chinosi poke their fingers at what looks like a sandbox but is actually a projected imaged that responds to what they're doing. Superintendent Berman and Principal Conrad look on. Kids are sitting on stools in the background, working on something else.

3. Requests for Waivers from Computer-Based Testing:


As part of the transition to computer-based testing, schools are expected to administer the following MCAS tests online in 2020: grades 3–8 English language arts and mathematics, grades 5 and 8 science and technology/engineering, and grade 10 English language arts and mathematics. High schools are also expected to administer the spring 2020 computer-based tests in biology and introductory physics to students in grade 9 who are enrolled in either a biology or introductory physics class. More information about high school science and technology/engineering tests in 2020 is available online.
 
Districts/organizations may apply for a waiver from the computer-based testing expectation by Friday, October 11, if they have technology constraints or related issues, if all of their students will take paper-based tests as an accommodation, or if all of their students will take the MCAS-Alt in accordance with students' IEPs/504 plans. More information is available in this memo.

4. OPTIC Roadshow:


The Online Platform for Teaching and Informed Calibration (OPTIC) is a collection of more than 100 videos of classroom instruction that can help  educator teams develop a shared understanding of high quality practice; rigorous, standards-aligned instruction (aligned to the Massachusetts curriculum frameworks); and actionable feedback to strengthen teaching and support deeper learning.
 
The Department is traveling throughout the state to demonstrate the platform. Register here to join one of four regional demonstrations in October and December or contact
Shannon.Clancy@doe.mass.edu with questions.

5. U.S. Presidential Scholarship Nominations Sought:


Commissioner Riley is seeking nominations of high school seniors for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. Schools may nominate up to two students (of different genders) in either the general category or the career and technical education student category. Nominations are due via email to Donna Pisaturo at dpisaturo@doe.mass.edu by 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, October 30. For eligibility criteria and additional information, please download the guidelines for nominations by schools, the individual school form, and the student information form.

6. New Foster Care Transportation Reimbursement Program:


Title IV-E of the Social Security Act provides federal reimbursement to states for a portion of the cost of services provided to children in foster care. The Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS), in partnership with DESE and the Department of Children and Families (DCF), has developed a methodology for districts to isolate transportation costs for foster care students returning to their schools of origin. Districts should use this methodology, which is posted on DESE’s transportation finance page, when submitting requests to DESE for Title IV-E reimbursement. After the requests are received, DESE will forward the claims directly to EOHHS’ contractor for processing.

7. Tuition Rate for Virtual Schools:


The FY20 tuition rate for the two Commonwealth of Massachusetts Virtual Schools – the Greenfield Commonwealth Virtual School and TEC Connections Academy – is $8,497. This amount was calculated by multiplying the FY19 base tuition rate by the Chapter 70 inflation rate of 1.0375. There is also a $75 per pupil administrative fee, so in FY20, districts will be charged $8,572 per pupil. More details are available in this September 25 memo from the commissioner (download).

8. Reminder about Survey on Professional Development:


The Department is seeking to better understand the professional development decision-making process in districts across the state. To that end, DESE invites superintendents (or their designee) to complete the District Professional Development Survey by Friday, October 11. Districts’ perspective will help shape the approach and resources that DESE pursues to better support educator growth. This 5-10 minute survey should be completed by a district representative who is involved in decision-making related to professional development providers. For additional information, please email Meagan Comb

9. DESE Resource Corner


E-learning about IDEA equitable services/proportionate share: The Office of Special Education Planning and Policy invites districts to explore a new online e-learning resource about IDEA Equitable Services for Children With Disabilities Enrolled by Their Parents in Private Schools (34 CFR §§ 300.130 - 300.144), also known as proportionate share. The eight sections of the self-paced course explain IDEA equitable services through text, regulatory information, graphics, knowledge checks, true/false quizzes, sorting activities, matching games, and more. The course is posted on DESE’s IDEA equitable services webpage and can also be accessed directly via this link. For help with any questions related to IDEA equitable services, please email ideaequitableservices@doe.mass.edu.

10. For your info:

  • NewSchools Venture Fund opportunity: NewSchools Venture Fund is hosting a gathering on November 19-20 in San Antonio, Texas for district leaders who are interested in starting new, innovative schools within their districts. The application deadline is 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time on October 9. Districts may send up to three participants, and NewSchools will provide selected districts with a stipend of up to $2,000 for travel costs. Anyone with questions can email invent@newschools.org.
  • Jane Ortner Education Award: The Jane Ortner Education Award from the GRAMMY Museum honors a non-music educator who uses music in their classroom. The prize includes a $3,000 personal honorarium and a $1,000 honorarium for their school. Applications are due December 4.
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