5. Rethinking Discipline Initiative Convening:
The Department’s Rethinking Discipline Initiative has continued its partnership with Engaging Schools to host in-person convenings about restorative and equitable approaches to discipline. Although the convenings are designed for participants in the Rethinking Discipline Initiative, there are a limited number of additional slots available for the first convening of the school year, “Recalibrating Schoolwide Discipline and Student Support: Building a Restorative and Accountable Approach.” The event will run from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Friday, October 19 in Sturbridge. The deadline to register is Friday, October 12. Email Stacy Cabral at Stacy.Cabral@doe.mass.edu for a detailed description of the event, information about availability, and registration details.
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6. U.S. Presidential Scholarship Nominations Sought:
Commissioner Riley is seeking nominations for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. All Massachusetts high school seniors graduating between January and August of 2019 who are U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents and who attend a Massachusetts public or private high school are eligible. Each school may nominate one female student and one male student. Students may be nominated in the general category or the career and technical education student category. More information is available at the link above. Nominations should be emailed to Donna Pisaturo at dpisaturo@doe.mass.edu by 5:00 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19.
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7. STEM Week:
Gov. Baker and Lt. Gov. Polito are planning to declare October 22-26 STEM Week in Massachusetts, and all schools are invited to highlight or enhance their science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) course offerings, activities, and partnerships. For example, schools could showcase a high-impact, project-based STEM curriculum like Project Lead The Way; implement a week-long immersive STEM experience, like i2 Learning; promote participation in Hour of Code; invite employers to talk with high school students about internship opportunities through MA STEM@Work, part of DESE’s Connecting Activities; bring in local college students to talk about their experiences participating in a STEM Starter Academy; or invite students from a local school to put on a robotics demonstration.
In addition, regional STEM networks are planning and coordinating STEM Week events. Contact information for each local network is available online.
Anyone with questions about STEM Week can contact Alexis Lian, staff director of the STEM Advisory Council, at alexis.lian@mass.gov or (617) 979-8348.
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8. Public Comment Open for Proposed Changes to Hearing Rules for Special Education Appeals:
The Division of Administrative Law Appeals/Bureau of Special Education Appeals and DESE are soliciting public comment on proposed amendments to the hearing rules for special education appeals. The proposed changes are in response to a monitoring and support site visit that the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs made to DESE in 2017. The changes are intended to improve the state’s dispute resolution system.
Copies of the proposed amendments are available on the web site of the Division of Adminsitrative Law Appeals/Bureau of Special Education Appeals or by calling 617-626-7250. Written comments on the proposed amendments may be submitted by mail to Reece Erlichman, Director, BSEA, One Congress St., 11th floor, Boston, MA 02114; by fax to 617-626-7270; or by email to bsea.director@mass.gov. The Division of Administrative Law Appeals/Bureau of Special Education Appeals expects to adopt final rules by December 17. The deadline to submit public comment is November 17.
Additionally, a public hearing regarding the proposed changes will be held from 4:00-7:00 p.m. on November 5 at DESE, 75 Pleasant St., Malden. Members of the public are invited to attend the hearing.
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9. Green Ribbon Schools Application Process Open:
Each year, Massachusetts selects one or more schools or districts to honor at the state level for exemplary work in reducing environmental impact and costs, improving the health and wellness of students and staff, and delivering effective environmental and sustainability education that incorporates STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math), civic skills, and green career pathways. State honorees are forwarded to the U.S. Department of Education, where they have the opportunity to be honored as national Green Ribbon Schools/Districts. The 2019 Green Ribbon Schools program is taking applications through Friday, January 11.
This month, Arlington Public Schools and the Mendon-Upton Regional School District were honored in Washington, D.C. as the 2018 National Green Ribbon Schools from Massachusetts. Congratulations to both districts!
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