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A message from the
Massachusetts Department of
Elementary and Secondary Education

January 10, 2020
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News from Commissioner Jeffrey C. Riley and the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

Contents:

  1. Perkins V Opportunities for Public Comment and Implementation Sessions
  2. Picture of the Week: Beal Early Childhood Center in Shrewsbury
  3. Invitation to Student Engagement Webinar
  4. Increasing FAFSA Completion
  5. Registration for Student Government Day Still Open
  6. Performance Review Program for Initial Licensure
  7. Save the Date for the Civics Literacy Conference
  8. Hate Crimes Task Force Education Recommendations
  9. Publication Day to Change

1. Perkins V Opportunities for Public Comment and Implementation Sessions:


In July 2018, the "Strengthening Career and Technical Education in the 21st Century Act", also known as Perkins V, was signed into federal law. Perkins V is closely aligned with Massachusetts' High Quality College and Career Pathways work and provides additional opportunities to better prepare students as they acquire the knowledge, skills, and experiences that will enable them to lead productive and fulfilling lives.
 
Perkins V offers an opportunity to update the state plan that will guide this work for the next several years. New draft resources and background information are available for download, and people who would like to give input into possible updates to the state plan are invited to do so through an online survey or by attending a public hearings. Two of the hearings were in December and early January, and the last will be from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 14 at Greater New Bedford Vocational Technical High School in New Bedford. Registration for the public hearing is open online.
 
In addition, DESE is offering three daylong workshops in February to help districts understand new Perkins V resources and incorporate them into career, vocational, and technical education program improvement efforts. Participants will have an opportunity to explore and use Perkins V resources, such as core indicator reports, a comprehensive local needs assessment, and more. Registration is open online. Anyone with questions is asked to email CCTE@doe.mass.edu.
 

Picture of the Week:

Kindergarten students at the Beal Early Childhood Center in Shrewsbury play and learn in the makerspace in the school’s media center. (Photo courtesy of Shrewsbury Public Schools)

3. Invitation to Student Engagement Webinar:


At 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 28, DESE will hold a webinar for school and district staff about the results of the 2019 Views of Climate and Learning (VOCAL) Survey, which is designed to measure student perceptions of school climate. The webinar will provide an overview of the survey and of state results and then delve into the VOCAL data to identify factors that promote or inhibit student engagement and equitable outcomes. Registration is open online. Anyone with questions about the webinar can email vocalsurvey@doe.mass.edu.

4. Increasing FAFSA Completion:


Financial barriers to education are one of the leading factors of lower college attendance for many first generation and economically disadvantaged students. Completing and submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) gives students access to the largest source of financial aid for postsecondary education.
 
In partnership with the Massachusetts School Counselors Association, the Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority, Reach Higher, and Springfield Promise, DESE invites district staff to participate in an  informational  webinar at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, January 30 on increasing FAFSA completion. The webinar will cover some basic information about the FAFSA process, the FAFSA tool in Edwin Analytics (download) and some great work happening through Springfield Promise in the Springfield Public Schools. Registration is open online.

5. Registration for Student Government Day Still Open:


There is still space available for the 73rd annual Student Government Day program that will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Friday, April 3 at the State House. All public and private schools are invited to elect and register two students. Don’t miss the opportunity for 11th and 12th grade students to take on the roles of senators, representatives, judges, or constitutional officers for an immersive experience in government. Registration closes Friday, February 7. For more information, visit the Student Government Day website.

6. Performance Review Program for Initial Licensure:


The Department is seeking providers to implement the Performance Review Program for Initial Licensure (PRPIL). The program is a mechanism through which a provisionally licensed Massachusetts teacher can demonstrate the skills, knowledge, and abilities required for an initial license. The bid solicitation/request for responses is posted online. See attachment A for full guidance, including information about submitting inquiries. Responses must be uploaded by 12:00 p.m. ET on Monday, March 2.

7. Save the Date for the Civics Literacy Conference:


The Department is pleased to again host the annual Civics Literacy Conference, which this year will be held from 8:45 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 5 at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the U.S. Senate and select rooms at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. This conference is a convening of representatives from educators from K-16 as well as leaders from state and community organizations to promote high-quality civics teaching and learning. Events will include an opening plenary, a panel discussion, and more than 20 workshops on civics knowledge and skills. The Department will announce when registration is open and when workshop proposals will be accepted.

8. Hate Crimes Task Force Education Recommendations:


In November 2017, Governor Baker re-established the Hate Crimes Task Force through Executive Order 578. The task force developed recommendations for educators and local law enforcement officials to help educate students about the impact of hate crimes and to highlight best practices for responding to incidents if they occur.
 
The recommendations call for the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, in coordination with DESE, to develop a resource guide for district and school leaders. That work is in progress. In the meantime, anyone with questions about how to implement any of the recommendations can contact DESE Safe and Healthy Schools Coordinator Anne Gilligan at 781-338-6309 or agilligan@doe.mass.edu.

9. Publication Day to Change:


In response to a request from superintendents, the Commissioner’s Weekly Update will transition to Monday publication. There will not be a Commissioner’s Weekly Update on Friday, January 17. Instead, the next edition will be come out on Tuesday, January 21, after Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
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