5. Views of Instruction, State Standards, Teaching, and Assessment (VISTA) Survey:
The VISTA survey is a DESE-sponsored annual survey of superintendents and principals. The 2019 administration is coming soon, with surveys available on January 16. In 2019, educators will be asked to share their views on educator effectiveness (hiring, developing and retaining educators), curriculum frameworks, social and emotional learning, health, safety, and DESE’s data tools and overall support. Educator views help DESE focus and target its resources to benefit our schools and districts.
Superintendents and principals can visit the VISTA webpage to view last year’s superintendent and principal executive summaries and to view 20 issues of The VOICE. The VOICE provides one-page data, policy, and resource snapshots on, for example, supporting students with disabilities and English learners, district and school access to social and emotional learning experts, and a summary of feedback for the new commissioner.
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6. Prevention of Substance Use/Misuse and Promotion of Social and Emotional Learning:
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) is offering professional development in evidence-based prevention of substance misuse and promotion of social and emotional learning through the Life Skills Training Program and the Good Behavior Game. All third- through ninth-grade curriculum administrators, teachers, counselors, and nurses are invited to participate in a one-day certification training. Trainings will occur in February and March in multiple venues across the Commonwealth, and registration is available online. The training, curriculum, and student supplies are available free of charge.
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- Massachusetts History Day Competition: Schools have until February 11 to sign up for Massachusetts History Day, an affiliate of National History Day. Massachusetts History Day is an inter-disciplinary research competition that engages 6th- through 12th-graders in the deep exploration of local, state, national, and world history. Students choose a topic that relates to an annual theme and present their research in one of five presentation categories. Students enter their projects into competitions at school, local, state, and national levels. The Massachusetts Historical Society runs the Massachusetts competition. Email Kate Melchior at kmelchior@masshist.org for more information.
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