1. Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to Meet:
The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education will meet at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, February 12 in Malden. The agenda includes a vote on the commissioner’s recommendation that Excel Academy Charter School, which has campuses in Boston and Chelsea, be allowed to expand its enrollment by 56 Chelsea students; a report on probation and a charter amendment request for the Paulo Freire Social Justice Charter School in Holyoke; a progress report on the Alma del Mar Charter School-New Bedford partnership; a vote to solicit public comment on the draft updated arts curriculum framework; a vote to establish an interim competency determination standard on the high school science MCAS as the state transitions to the next-generation science MCAS; and discussion of Governor Baker’s education funding proposals.
Commissioner Riley speaks with students at the LearnLaunch Across Boundaries Conference on February 1 in Boston. The students were participating in the Learning Innovation Showcase to demonstrate education technology tools. View all teams and projects here.
3. 2019 Massachusetts Green Ribbon Schools Announced:
Each year, the state recognizes select schools and districts for excellence in reducing environmental impact, delivering environmental education programming, and improving the health and wellness of all members of the school community. The following schools and districts are exemplars in these areas:
Boston Green Academy Horace Mann Charter School, Boston
Ipswich Middle/High School, Ipswich
Wellesley Public Schools, Wellesley
These honorees have been elevated to the U.S. Department of Education for consideration as National Green Ribbon Schools. Congratulations to the 2019 Massachusetts Green Ribbon Schools, and best of luck at the national level!
4. 2018 School and District Report Cards:
Earlier this week, DESE published the newly redesigned 2018 school and district report cards. A requirement of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), report cards were developed with the input of parents and stakeholders across the state and are intended to be a user-friendly tool that provides information about school and district performance.
In addition to the reports themselves, DESE created a dedicated report cards website where you can search for a school’s or district’s report card: reportcards.doe.mass.edu. The site also contains supporting documentation related to report cards, including a glossary and a sample report card cover letter, both of which are available in English and nine other languages.
All districts receiving Title I funds are required to distribute school report cards annually to all parents or guardians of students enrolled in district schools. The Department asks that districts distribute report cards to families by the end of February 2019. For more information on distribution requirements, please visit the report card website, email esea@doe.mass.edu, or call (781) 338-3550.
5. Teacher Diversification Pilot Program:
DESE is excited to announce the release of the competitive Teacher Diversification Pilot Program RFP! This new grant opportunity is designed to support local school district efforts to strengthen and diversify existing teacher recruitment and retention programs. Through the use of state funds, participating pilot school districts will engage in thoughtful approaches intended to increase the number of effective and diverse teachers in their schools. The RFP can be found on the Department's grants management website at http://www.doe.mass.edu/grants/2019/216/. If you have any questions regarding this grant opportunity, please send us an email at MA_Educator_Diversification@doe.mass.edu.
6. Prevention of Substance Use/Misuse and Promotion of Social and Emotional Learning:
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health 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.
7. Digital Learning Day Countdown:
Digital Learning Day (#DLDay) 2019 is on February 28. The day celebrates great teaching practices and showcases innovative teachers, leaders, and instructional technology programs that are improving student outcomes. Schools that are planning to participate in Digital Learning Day 2019 can add their DLDay celebration to the official DLDay map, register for the DLDay webinar, and download shareable graphics and DLDay posters.
8. Building Inclusive Communities in Early Childhood:
The Department of Early Education and Care and DESE invite special education directors, early childhood coordinators, elementary principals, teachers, early care and education directors, Head Start disabilities/education coordinators, family services coordinators, preschool expansion grant coordinators, early intervention directors, and community partners to attend “Building Inclusive Communities in Early Childhood,” a free conference from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. March 15 at the Devens Common Center at Devens. Participants will hear from 10 Massachusetts school and community teams about implementing recommended practices in early childhood inclusive education, and they will also learn about a decision-making process for determining where, when, and how to address individualized education program goals for young children with intensive support needs. More information and a link to registration are available online. Professional development points (PDPs) will be available for participants who attend the entire conference. Please email Lauren Viviani with any questions.
9. Public Comment Open on Revised Guidelines for Reading Specialist License:
To guide educator preparation programs as they align their training with the 2017 Massachusetts Curriculum Framework for English Language Arts and Literacy, DESE has revised the subject matter knowledge guidelines for the reading specialist license. The proposed subject matter knowledge revision (download) is now available for public comment until March 29. The changes to the subject matter knowledge guidelines will also lead to revisions of the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL) for the reading specialist examination.
10. VISTA 2019 Survey Reminder:
Superintendents and principals should have received a link from Westat to DESE's 2019 statewide Views of Instruction, State Standards, Teaching, and Assessment (VISTA) survey. The survey asks educators to share their views on four strategic areas of the agency's work: educator effectiveness; the Massachusetts curriculum frameworks; support for social and emotional learning, health, and safety; and DESE supports. The Department values this feedback and uses it to inform its policies and how to implement them. In response to last year’s survey, for instance, DESE is expanding the View of Climate and Learning student school climate survey to fourth grade.
Superintendents and principals who have not received a survey or who are having issues accessing their surveys can contact the VISTA Study Help Desk at MAVISTA@westat.com. For help with questions that are not related to access, please email Shelagh Peoples, the VISTA coordinator, at speoples@doe.mass.edu.
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