In accordance with the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) in 2015, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) must ensure that all eligible private school children, teachers, and other educational personnel have an equitable opportunity to participate in certain services and programs as mandated by the Act, including programs under Titles II-A, III-A, and IV-A.
Many nonpublic schools receive services through a consultation process with local public-school districts, who are subrecipients of ESSA funds. In addition to district level equitable services, nonpublic schools may also be eligible to receive services directly through DESE. To further our commitment to providing high-quality equitable services and to better understand the most pressing needs of private schools for the 2023-24 school year (FY24), DESE conducted a comprehensive needs assessment in the Fall 2023.
After analyzing the results of the comprehensive needs assessment, DESE developed a calendar of offerings tailored to address the specific needs of private schools for the 2023-24 school year. The calendar of offerings provided below is designed to optimize the use of ESSA State Activities funds and ensure that the services provided are well aligned with the priorities identified by the nonpublic schools.
DESE is committed to facilitating effective and efficient access to resources, providing equitable opportunities for educational enhancement for all eligible nonpublic schools.
State Level Equitable Services Needs Assessment — FY24
State Level Equitable Services Needs Assessment — FY24 — Summary of Results
Arts Leaders Network — Academic Enrichment
ELA/Literacy Leaders Network — Improve Academic Performance
Science and Technology/Engineering District Leaders Network (STEDLN) — Improve Academic Performance
History/Social Science Leaders Network — Improve Academic Performance
Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) Training — Mental Health/Social Emotional Supports
OLA Leadership Network Meeting — Cultural and Linguistic Needs
DLCS District Leader Network — Academic Enrichment
Math Leader Network — Improve Academic Performance
WIDA Professional Development — Cultural and Linguistic Needs
Register
Description: The Arts Leaders Network will support current and aspiring PreK–12 arts leaders to collaborate, to engage in discussions relevant to the arts and their role as leaders, and to share resources and strategies for addressing various arts content priorities across the state. Sessions may be considered stand-alone opportunities for attendance. However, participating in all sessions provides participants with a more deeply connected community and cohesive experience overall.
Type: Virtual
Date(s): Thursday, March 7, 2024 from 4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Cost: No Cost
Contact: Dawn.M.Benski@mass.gov
Description: The ELA/Literacy Leaders Network is a community of school and district level leaders with responsibility for ELA/Literacy education. Our meetings include a combination of structured professional learning on topics of high interest to the group, role- and context-alike problem solving and resource sharing, informal relationship building and networking, and structured opportunities to collaborate around developing resources. There are also opportunities to provide input on DESE initiatives and priorities. Specific agendas for each session are determined based partly on the group's interests and needs.
Date(s): Thursday, March 14, 2024
Contact: Linda.Sewnarine@mass.gov
Description: The Science and Technology/Engineering District Leaders Network (STEDLN) is a professional network and community of learners that include PK–12 Science and Technology/Engineering district and school leaders in MA. Members of the network engage in collaborative discussions relevant to their role as STE educators and leaders within their districts. There are opportunities to expand your professional network, share resources and strategies around equitable implementation of the MA curriculum frameworks using high-quality instructional materials, and to receive key information and provide input on DESE initiatives.
Date(s): Wednesday, March 27, 2024 from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Contact: Casandra.Gonzalez@mass.gov
Description: The History/Social Science Leaders Network is a community of school and district level leaders collaborating to support great history, social science, and/or civics education. Our meetings include a combination of structured professional learning, role- and context-alike problem solving and resource sharing, informal opportunities for relationship building and networking, and structured opportunities to work together to develop shared resources. We also maintain an active email group for ongoing conversation and collaboration. Participants are welcome to engage with the network in whatever way best suits their needs and capacity; conflicts with one or more meeting times should not be seen as a barrier to registration. While the focus of the network changes in response to participant needs, previous years' work has centered on topics such as elementary social studies, supporting classroom discussions of race and racism, and engaging students in historical inquiry.
Type: Devens, Information Provided Upon Registration
Date(s): Thursday, March 28, 2024 from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Contact: Reuben.F.Henriques@mass.gov
Register (Minimum 5 attendees, Maximum 30 attendees)
Description: DESE is partnering with Walker Therapeutic & Educational Programs to offer the following Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) training. The training helps teachers, broader school staff, parents, and others who interact with youth to recognize and support students ages 6–18 who may be experiencing mental health or substance use challenges and if needed, to refer them to mental health services. As everyone continues to navigate the impacts and challenges of the pandemic, it is likely that teachers, broader school staff, family and community partners who serve as trusted adults in the lives of young people are seeing increased numbers of students who report and demonstrate changes in mood as well as more intense feelings of anxiety and stress. Though school mental health professionals may find this training to be helpful, the intended audience is individuals without mental health training who work or interact with young people. The training comprises 2 hours of asynchronous pre-work that must be completed prior to the 5 to 5.5 hour live session via Zoom (4.5 hours of content with breaks). Upon completion of the virtual training, all participants must complete the course evaluation in the learning management system (LMS) to receive a certificate for the training. By registering, applicants are committing to attending and completing the full training. Registration will close one week prior to each scheduled session to ensure that there is sufficient time to set up participants in the YMHFA LMS and for individuals to complete the required pre-work.
Type: Virtual with Required Pre-Work
Date(s): Monday, April 1, 2024 and Monday, April 8, 2024 from 3:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. (each day, participants must attend both days)
Description: The Digital Literacy and Computer Science (DLCS) District Leaders Network is a professional network and community of learners that includes PreK–12 DLCS district and school leaders in MA. Members of the network engage in collaborative discussions relevant to their role as DLCS educators and leaders within their districts. Participants will share resources and strategies around broadening participation in DLCS education and selecting and implementing high quality DLCS curricula. There are opportunities to expand members' professional networks and provide input on DESE statewide initiatives and to participate in working groups.
Type: In-Person, Information Provided Upon Registration
Date(s): Tuesday, April 9, 2024
Contact: Paula.B.Moore@mass.gov
Description: Full day virtual conference for OLA Networks (Bilingual Leadership, ELE Leaders, & World Language). In addition to attending general sessions, members can choose breakout sessions by strand or interest to dive deeper into their areas of interest.
Date(s): Wednesday, April 24, 2024 at 9:30 a.m.
Contact: David.Valade@mass.gov
Date(s): Thursday, May 9, 2024
Date(s): Tuesday, May 14, 2024 from 4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Description: DESE is partnering with Lighthouse Wellness and Health Education Consulting to offer the following Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) training. The training helps teachers, broader school staff, parents, and others who interact with youth to recognize and support students ages 6–18 who may be experiencing mental health or substance use challenges and if needed, to refer them to mental health services. As everyone continues to navigate the impacts and challenges of the pandemic, it is likely that teachers, broader school staff, family and community partners who serve as trusted adults in the lives of young people are seeing increased numbers of students who report and demonstrate changes in mood as well as more intense feelings of anxiety and stress. Though school mental health professionals may find this training to be helpful, the intended audience is individuals without mental health training who work or interact with young people. The training comprises 2 hours of asynchronous pre-work that must be completed prior to the 5 to 5.5 hour live session via Zoom (4.5 hours of content with breaks). Upon completion of the virtual training, all participants must complete the course evaluation in the learning management system (LMS) to receive a certificate for the training. By registering, applicants are committing to attending and completing the full training. Registration will close one week prior to each scheduled session to ensure that there is sufficient time to set up participants in the YMHFA LMS and for individuals to complete the required pre-work.
Date(s): Thursday, May 23, 2024 from 8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Type: In-Person DLCS Summit, Information Provided Upon Registration
Date(s): Thursday, May 23, 2024
Date(s): Thursday, May 23, 2024 from 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Description: The Math Leaders Network (MLN) is a professional network and community of learners that include PreK–12 Math district and school leaders in MA. Members of the network engage in collaborative discussions relevant to their role as Math educators and leaders within their districts. There are opportunities to expand your professional network, share resources and strategies around equitable implementation of the MA curriculum frameworks using high-quality instructional materials, and provide input on DESE initiatives.
Date(s): Wednesday, May 29, 2024
Contact: Jennifer.L.Sauriol@mass.gov
Date(s): Wednesday, May 29, 2024 from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Description: WIDA professional development provides great information and strategies to support multilingual learners in Massachusetts public schools. These DESE sponsored courses are available at no cost to participants and are perfect for teams of teachers seeking impactful collaboration to support students' access to rigorous course content. For more information about DESE-sponsored WIDA PD offerings, please contact David Parker.
Date(s): Ongoing
Contact: David.E.Parker@mass.gov
Under ESSA, each state must designate an ombudsman to monitor and ensure ESEA equitable services requirements are carried out under both Title I and Title VIII (comprising Titles II-A, III-A, and Title IV-A&B) of the law.
Ombudsman Contact Information: Alex Lilley ESEAequitableservices@mass.gov
Last Updated: March 18, 2024
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 135 Santilli Highway, Everett, MA 02149
Voice: (781) 338-3000 TTY: (800) 439-2370
Disclaimer: A reference in this website to any specific commercial products, processes, or services, or the use of any trade, firm, or corporation name is for the information and convenience of the public and does not constitute endorsement or recommendation by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.