4. 2020-21 EWIS information Available:
Early Warning Indicator System (EWIS) information for the 2020-21 school year is available in Edwin. Data for the upcoming year will be different than in years past due to COVID-19 and its impact. Students are not assigned a High, Moderate, or Low EWIS risk level for this year. Student-level EWIS reports with available information from the 2019-20 school year, as well as their risk level from the prior school year, their 2019 MCAS scores and other data points from the 2018-19 school year can still be powerful tools in understanding students’ needs. For more information on this year’s EWIS reports, please download Understanding the 2021 EWIS Student Level Files.
Student claiming must be complete to see EWIS information for the 2020-21 school year. See the Student Claiming User Guide for details.
Want to learn more? The Department is offering a series of workshops this week (the week of August 24) dedicated to understanding EWIS and other data and incorporating it data inquiry habits. More information is available online, and sessions will also be recorded for future viewing.
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5. School Nutrition Update:
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced that all current flexibilities (area eligibility, non-congregate meals, parent/guardian pick up and meal pattern flexibility) for the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and the National School Lunch Program's Seamless Summer Option (SSO) have been extended through Wednesday, September 30, 2020 or until the start of the
academic school year, whichever is earlier. Last week, school nutrition directors and business managers should have received 1.) an invitation to a virtual town hall at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 25 to discuss updates, and 2.) an updated Q&A on the USDA regulatory updates and their impact on meal service.
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6. Become a Youth Mental Health First Aider:
The Department is pleased to begin offering Youth Mental Health First Aid training sessions in September. The training helps teachers and other school staff develop knowledge, skills, and confidence to recognize, support, and refer (if needed) students who may be experiencing mental health or substance use challenges. This training is particularly important now, because regardless of the model in which schools return (fully in person, hybrid, or fully remote), it is likely that teachers and other school staff will find more students are experiencing mental health challenges or illness, as well as more intense anxiety and stress.
Please note that there is about two hours of required pre-work to be completed before each virtual session, and the work must be completed at least one day before the session. If interested, please register for one of the courses below. Please note: When registering, participants will be asked to create an account and then can search for their chosen session using the course IDs listed above.
- Friday, September 11, 8:00 a.m. -12:30 p.m. (Please register by Friday, August 28 using course ID 00173567)
- Tuesday, September 15, 10:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. (Please register by Tuesday, September 1 using course ID 00173584)
- Thursday, September 17, 8:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (Please register by Wednesday, September 2 using course ID 00173686)
- Friday, September 18, 10:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. (Please register by Thursday, September 3 using course ID 00173585)
Space is limited to 20 participants per session. Additional trainings are being scheduled and will be promoted throughout the year. Districts that would like to host a training can reach out to Kristen McKinnon, assistant director, Office of Student and Family Support.
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7. PD Provider Registry Application:
The Department’s 2020 Fall Professional Development Provider (PD) Registry Application will be available from Wednesday, September 9 up to Monday, October 12 at http://www.doe.mass.edu/pd/providers.html. The Department welcomes a variety of new and continuing providers, i.e., professional organizations, non-public schools, not-for-profit organizations, private and for-profit organizations, individuals, educational partnerships, corporations, educational agencies, and associations whose PD program demonstrates characteristics of the Massachusetts Standards for High Quality Professional Development.
The PD Provider Registry Application will serve those who:
- Want to become approved for the first time,
- Are already approved and simply want to add new content area offerings to their already approved application not yet up for renewal, or
- Want to renew an expired or soon to expire Approved PD Provider status. Please note: Applications must be renewed every three years.
The Department encourages providers to consider implementing online learning to demonstrate content knowledge, pedagogy, etc., as an alternative path for educators seeking high-quality PD opportunities.
Staff will begin reviewing applications on October 13 in the order of receipt, with an expected turnaround time of one to two months. Anyone with questions about the registry can email profdev@doe.mass.edu.
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