Copy
A message from the
Massachusetts Department of
Elementary and Secondary Education

November 27, 2019
View this email in your browser
Commissioner's Weekly Update banner/logo.
News from Commissioner Jeffrey C. Riley and the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

Contents:

  1. Message from Commissioner Riley about the Student Opportunity Act
  2. Free Healthy Schools Program Professional Development Opportunities
  3. Financial Literacy Planning and Implementation Grant
  4. Civics Teaching and Learning Grant
  5. New Digital Literacy Now Grant Program
  6. Become a Massachusetts Literacy Champion
  7. DESE Resource Corner: Guidelines for Preschool and Kindergarten Learning Experiences
  8. For Your Info:
    • Profiles in Courage essay contest
    • STEM Teacher Leadership Network

1. Message from Commissioner Riley about the Student Opportunity Act:


On November 26, Governor Baker signed into law the Student Opportunity Act (Chapter 132 of the Acts of 2019). The bill implements the recommendations of the 2015 Foundation Budget Review Commission and includes a number of other provisions to benefit our public schools. My sincere thanks to all of you who helped to frame these proposals and pushed for their enactment, and to the Legislature and the Governor for getting the job done. We have once again reaffirmed public education is cherished in the Commonwealth. It is now up to all of us to ensure we spend these substantial new funds in the way the Act intends, making certain that all of our students have access to an excellent education.
 
I know you all have many questions about the new law. We are working hard to fully develop the guidance, procedures, and regulations needed to implement its provisions. This message provides some initial information and guidance, with much more to follow.
  • Chapter 70. While the Student Opportunity Act updates the formula, we are still collecting and processing the enrollment, municipal revenue, wage adjustment, and inflation data needed to calculate the state aid allotments and local contribution requirements for FY21. As always, we will provide this information to you in January, in conjunction with the release of the Governor’s House 2 budget proposal.
  • Low-income census. The updated Chapter 70 formula applies the low-income increment to students in families at or below 185 percent of the federal poverty level, replacing the 133 percent threshold used for the “economically disadvantaged” count in recent years. For FY21, we will use the greater of (a) the current economically disadvantaged count obtained through our direct certification process or (b) the district’s FY16 low-income percentage applied to its current foundation enrollment. We are studying options for collecting updated low-income data for FY22 and beyond.
  • Special education circuit breaker. The act phases in the reimbursement of out-of-district transportation costs required by individualized education programs for students with disabilities. In FY21, we will reimburse 25 percent of the eligible costs incurred during the 2019-20 school year (subject, of course, to appropriation). School business managers will receive detailed instructions from our School Finance office on accounting for and reporting these costs. 
  • Charter school tuition costs and reimbursements. The act does not affect charter tuition costs and reimbursements in FY20. For FY21, (a) tuition rates will begin to reflect the changes to the foundation budget rates, and (b) the act commits to funding at least 75 percent of the tuition reimbursement formula. The preliminary cherry sheets issued in January 2020 for FY21 will include tuition and reimbursement estimates, but please remember that the final amounts can differ significantly from the initial estimates.
  • District evidence-based three-year plans. Each superintendent, in consultation with the local school committee, must develop a three-year, evidence-based plan to address persistent disparities in achievement among student subgroups. In developing its plan, each district must consider input and recommendations from parents and other community stakeholders, including special education and English learner parent advisory councils, school improvement councils, and educators. The law requires that DESE prescribe the form and manner of these plans, and we are working to finalize plan templates and guidance documents for release to districts as soon as possible. The commissioner could add more requirements at his discretion, but at a minimum, the plans will require each district to address four areas outlined in the new law:
  1. Establish targets and outcome measures for addressing persistent disparities in achievement among student subgroups;
  2. Identify specific evidence-based programs the district intends to implement to effectively reduce these disparities;
  3. Outline how Chapter 70 funds, as well as other local, state, and federal funds, will be used to implement the plan, including information about school level spending and resources for selected student subgroups; and
  4. Specify ongoing plans to effectively engage families and measure family engagement efforts, including targeted plans for families of low-income students, English learners and students with disabilities.
         Each district’s initial three-year plan must be submitted to DESE by
         April 1, 2020. Upon receiving a plan, the commissioner has the authority
         to  require amendments from districts to ensure the plan meets the
         requirements of the law. Annually, each district must report data to DESE
         reflecting progress made in addressing disparities in achievement among
         student subgroups as a result of this plan. In addition to addressing any
         amendments required by the commissioner, districts may also voluntarily
         amend their plans to reflect changes necessary to meet district targets.
 
         For charter schools, DESE will update the annual report and
         accountability plan requirements to incorporate all of the information
         required in the district evidence-based plans.
  • School district reserve funds. School districts that have established reserve funds under G.L. c. 40, s. 13E (for unanticipated or unbudgeted costs of special education, out-of-district tuition, or transportation) may now also use these funds for payment of tuition to recovery high schools.
  • Twenty-First Century Education grant program. The act establishes a new competitive grant program to address persistent disparities in achievement among student subgroups, improve educational opportunities for all students, share best practices for improving classroom learning, and support efficiencies within and across school districts. We need to await further legislative action in an appropriations bill to fund this program.
We will continue to update you on implementing the Student Opportunity Act. If you have general questions or questions specific to your district, please email commissioner@doe.mass.edu, and we will follow up.

Picture of the Week:

On November 26, Governor Baker signed the Student Opportunity Act at The English High School in Boston.
Governor Baker sits at a table in the English High School gym with politicians and education leaders standing behind him, including Boston Superintendent Brenda Cassellius, Secretary peyser, Education Committee Co-Chair Alice Peisch, Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz, Lt. Governor Karyn Polito and Speaker DeLeo. students fill the bleacher seats behind them.

2. Free Healthy Schools Program Professional Development Opportunities:


The Department is pleased to announce several opportunities related to healthy schools: Individuals who attend more than 10 hours of WSCC-related or Healthy Schools PD can complete the Healthy Schools PDP Request Form to access PD points. Please contact lenore.maniaci@doe.mass.edu for more information.

3. Financial Literacy Planning and Implementation Grant:


The Department is pleased to announce the Financial Literacy Planning and Implementation Grant to fund curriculum development, curriculum implementation, professional development, and experiential learning relating to financial literacy. The goal of the grant is to support integration of financial literacy concepts outlined in Chapter 438 of the Act of 2018, An Act relative to financial literacy in schools, and the Standards for Personal Financial Literacy found in the 2018 History and Social Science Frameworks. Grant activities may target any grade(s) K-12 and a variety of content areas (e.g. math, business, history and social science, career readiness-related courses, and advisory periods). Districts may partner with education and community organizations. Applications are due Wednesday, December 11.

4. Civics Teaching and Learning Grant:


The Department is pleased to announce the Civics Teaching and Learning Grant to support civics teaching and learning, including but not limited to implementation of Chapter 296 of the Acts of 2018, An act to promote and enhance civic engagement. Grant activities may target high quality professional development for teachers focused on instruction of civic knowledge, skills, and dispositions; implementation of civics projects; and civics learning experiences for students (e.g. field trips, special programs, and extracurricular activities). Districts may partner with education and community organizations or apply as a group of districts. Grant activities may extend to June 30, 2021. Applications are due Wednesday, December 18.

5. New Digital Literacy Now Grant Program: 


The new Digital Literacy Now Grant offers district teams of district administrators, school leaders, and educators the chance to engage in an in-depth, facilitated process to develop a digital literacy and computer science implementation plan for their district, select curriculum, and complete professional development. The grant will fund about 30 districts, and this cohort will focus on middle grades (grades 6-8). This grant is perfect for districts that are looking to start or expand their digital literacy and computer science middle grades program. Proposals are due Friday, December 20.

6. Become a Massachusetts Literacy Champion:


The Department is seeking teachers, administrators, and education preparation faculty with experience in and a passion for early literacy to serve as Literacy Champions. Literacy Champions will advise DESE on a statewide early literacy initiative that kicks off in 2020. Applications are available online and are due by the end of Sunday, January 5, 2020.

7. DESE Resource Corner


Guidelines for Preschool and Kindergarten Learning Experiences: The Department’s Early Learning team is happy to announce that the revised Guidelines for Preschool and Kindergarten Learning Experiences is now available. The document has been developed  by early childhood professionals representing the diverse sectors of our early childhood system (Head Start, public preschool and kindergarten, early education and care programs, institutions of higher education, and professional development providers) to include and expand on previous publications, including the Guidelines for Preschool Learning Experiences (2003) and Kindergarten Learning Experiences (2008). The revised guidelines will useful to district and school administrators and educators as they plan and provide diverse learning opportunities that address the state preschool and kindergarten learning standards and help children develop a solid foundation for life and learning.

8. For your info:
  • Profiles in Courage essay contest: The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum’s Profile in Courage Essay Contest asks high school students to submit an essay describing an elected official’s political courage. The first place winner receives $10,000 for college, and submissions are open until Friday, January 17, 2020.
  • STEM Teacher Leadership Network: TERC has launched the STEM Teacher Leadership Network, STEMTLnet.org, a new initiative funded by National Science Foundation to connect and support STEM teacher leaders across the country.
Teach Mass logo
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education logo
Copyright © 2019 Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, All rights reserved.


Superintendents, assistant superintendents, principals, and charter school leaders will receive the update automatically. For others wishing to receive this update, please subscribe

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list

Twitter Facebook You Tube Website