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A message from the
Massachusetts Department of
Elementary and Secondary Education

November 23, 2020
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News from Commissioner Jeffrey C. Riley and the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

Contents:

  1. Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to Meet
  2. Picture of the Week: West Street Elementary School in Southbridge
  3. Webinars on Risk Reduction Strategies
  4. Updated Quarantine Guidance
  5. Health and Physical Education During COVID-19
  6. InSPIRED Fellowship Application Now Open
  7. OPTIC Content Fellows Application Now Open
  8. BinaxNOW COVID-19 Testing
  9. Guidance on Preventing and Addressing Hate and Bias Incidents
  10. DESE Resource Corner: Updated web pages for Strategic Initiatives and the Kaleidoscope Collective for Learning

1. Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to Meet:


The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education will meet at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 24 in Malden. The meeting will be streamed online at https://livestream.com/accounts/22459134. Board members will vote on staffing flexibility for the 2020-2021 school year (download); discuss an update on school reopening (download), including enrollment trends; hear an update on gifted education (download); and discuss early literacy initiatives (download).

2. Picture of the Week:

West Street Elementary School in Southbridge recently honored students of the week for responsible behavior that reflected the school's PBIS (Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports) values. (Photo courtesy of Southbridge Public Schools)
Students holding certificates.

3. Webinars on Risk Reduction Strategies:


Commissioner Riley is excited to host two more webinars led by Professor Joseph Allen from Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Professor Allen’s work on school health has been featured in many publications, including this recent article on managing and weighing risks amid school re-opening. The Chan School’s report regarding risk reduction strategies for reopening is just one of the resources posted at https://schools.forhealth.org/.
  • Webinar on Transportation: At 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, December 2, Professor Allen will share best practices on ventilation for buses and other forms of transportation, especially in winter months. He will also be available for questions from attendees. Superintendents, school transportation directors, and transportation vendors are invited to attend, and Zoom information will be emailed to superintendents.
  • Webinar on School Facilities: At 2:30 a.m. on Wednesday, December 2, Professor Allen will offer a repeat of a previous webinar, “Risk Reduction Strategies for Superintendents and Facilities Directors.” He will share best practices on ventilation in schools, especially in winter months; discuss how to select the right portable air cleaner for classrooms; and be available for questions from webinar attendees. Superintendents and school facilities directors are invited to attend the webinar, and Zoom information will be emailed to superintendents.

4. Updated Quarantine Guidance:


The Department of Public Health issued updated quarantine guidance for those who have been exposed to COVID-19. This update permits individuals to leave quarantine earlier if they meet specific conditions. An updated Protocols for Responding to COVID-19 Scenarios document will be posted here, and the full DPH guidance can be found here: https://www.mass.gov/guidance/information-and-guidance-for-persons-in-quarantine-due-to-covid-19.

In this new guidance, a close contact must remain quarantined for:
  • At least 14 days from the date of last exposure; or
  • At least 10 days, provided all of the following are satisfied:
    • You have not had, and do not have, any symptoms;
    • You are tested on day 8 of your quarantine period or later using a molecular diagnostic test (e.g., polymerase chain reaction (PCR)) to detect the presence of the virus;
    • You receive a negative test result; and
    • You monitor yourself for symptoms for the full 14 days. If you develop symptoms, you should contact your health care provider and be re-tested.
Also, a reminder: Please remember that if a student or staff member tests positive, only close contacts should quarantine. Other students and educators in the classroom should not be instructed to quarantine unless they are confirmed close contacts.  A close contact is defined as only those who have been within 6 feet of distance of the individual for at least 15 minutes while the person was infectious. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s updated “Protocols for responding to COVID-19 scenarios in school, on the bus, or in community settings” guidance will be posted at https://www.doe.mass.edu/covid19/on-desktop.html.         
 

5. Health and Physical Education During COVID-19:


The Department has partnered with Lighthouse Wellness & Health Education Consulting to offer a series of webinars focused on supporting health and physical education teachers and administrators in delivering high quality instruction during COVID-19, whether in person, remote, or hybrid. Register here for the first session, “Utilizing Resources to Support Remote Instruction in Health and Physical Education,” which will be held from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 2. The session will feature Sean Nevills from SHAPE (Society of Health and Physical Educators) America. The one-hour webinar will explore resources available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and SHAPE America to support educators in planning meaningful instructional experiences for students in health and physical education classes.

6. InSPIRED Fellowship Application Now Open:


The Department is now accepting applications for the third cohort of InSPIRED (In-Service Professionals Increasing Racial and Ethnic Diversity) Fellows. This opportunity is for current educators with close connections to their school communities and the ability to help current and prospective educational leaders understand the impact of Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, and multiracial educators on PreK-12 students. Fellows will receive a $2,000 stipend for successful completion of projects. To learn more or apply, visit the InSPIRED Fellows application by Monday, December 14. Please contact EducatorDevelopment@mass.gov with any questions.

7. OPTIC Content Fellows Application Now Open:
 

The Department is convening a group of educators with expertise in culturally responsive practices to serve as OPTIC (Online Platform for Teaching and Informed Calibration) content fellows. The fellows will  establish benchmark scores and create exemplars of written feedback for teaching videos on the OPTIC professional learning platform, a tool educators can use to calibrate perceptions of great teaching. As content experts and skilled practitioners in culturally responsive practice, OPTIC content fellows will provide Massachusetts educators with important reference points for ongoing reflection and discussion about great teaching. Content fellows will also support the development of a “what-to-look-for” tool focused on observable elements of culturally responsive, anti-racist teaching. Fellows will receive a $2,000 stipend for their work. More information and details on how to apply or nominate someone is available online. Applications are due by Monday, December 28. Please email EducatorDevelopment@mass.gov with any questions.

8. BinaxNOW COVID-19 Testing:
 

The Baker-Polito Administration recently announced the distribution of the first round of Abbott BinaxNOW tests from the federal government that has been prioritized for use in K-12 schools providing in-person instruction. Phase 1 of this testing initiative will reach 134 public school districts, charter schools and special education schools across the Commonwealth. Guidance was released from DESE on Monday, November 16, and the tests are expected to be released by December 1.

9. Guidance on Preventing and Addressing Hate and Bias Incidents:

Attorney General Maura Healey’s Office recently issued guidance to school officials about their legal obligations to prevent and address hate and bias incidents at their educational institutions. The AG’s Guidance on Schools’ Legal Obligations to Prevent and Address Hate and Bias Incidents, which was sent today to school superintendents, charter school leaders, and school administrators, describes how schools must respond to hate and bias incidents involving students and what proactive steps schools must take to prevent such incidents. It also highlights several best practices that schools should consider for preventing and responding to hate incidents. The AG’s Office is also offering a directory of relevant training and other resources.
 

10. DESE Resource Corner:
 

Updated web pages for Strategic Initiatives and the Kaleidoscope Collective for Learning: Two major centers in DESE, the Center for Strategic Initiatives and the Kaleidoscope Collective for Learning, now have their own section of the DESE website. The Center for Strategic Initiatives coordinates and partners with stakeholders to identify, design, pilot, and elevate strategies that advance educational equity for Massachusetts students - particularly those traditionally or currently underserved. The Kaleidoscope Collective is a pilot program created to nurture Deeper Learning in Massachusetts public schools.
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