4. Public Comment Sought on Proposed Amendment to Accountability and Assistance Regulations:
The Department is soliciting public comment on a proposed amendment to 603 CMR 2.00: Accountability and Assistance for School Districts and Schools. Among other matters, the regulations describe the Commonwealth’s framework for district accountability and assistance and the process for issuing annual performance determinations for districts and schools. The proposed amendment would allow DESE to refrain from issuing new accountability determinations for districts and schools in fall 2021. Instead, DESE would use each district’s and school’s most recent accountability determinations (from 2019), to ensure that they continue to receive support as needed. The Department would resume its regular annual accountability reporting practices following the 2021-2022 school year.
A copy of the proposed amendment is posted on DESE’s Accountability Lists, Materials, and Tools page. Comments may be submitted via email to ElementarySecondaryEd.Act@mass.gov until Friday, May 28.
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5. Acceleration to College Program for Students Earning the Modified CD:
The Department is funding summer 2021 programs at Massachusetts community colleges to help students in the class of 2021 who graduated under the modified competency determination prepare for college-level English and mathematics courses. The goal is to help students transition effectively into and ultimately complete college. These programs will be offered in 14 community colleges across the Commonwealth. Schools that have students who would be interested in such programming are asked to visit https://www.doe.mass.edu/news/news.aspx?id=26423 and reach out to the designated contact for their area.
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6. Extended Licenses Will Expire July 31:
Any educator licenses that were extended as a result of Governor Baker’s Emergency Order #18 (which provided that professional licenses would not expire during the state of emergency) will remain valid through July 31, 2021. Under the terms of Emergency Order #41, the Department has established July 31, 2021 as the end date of the extension of validity for these licenses. Selecting this date ensures that educators and school districts are not disrupted during the close of this school year and provides at least 90 days, as indicated in the original executive order, for educators to complete any remaining licensure requirements. Additional information is posted online.
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- Massachusetts Civic Learning Week: Massachusetts Civic Learning Week, April 26-30, aims to build broader awareness of and support for civic learning; amplify and celebrate youth voice; and empower participants to envision themselves as changemakers in a democracy. The week’s 30+ programs, events, and activities are hosted and organized by the Massachusetts Civic Learning Coalition in partnership with teachers and students. All events are free and will be hosted virtually; a full list of events is available at: macivicsforall.org/clw2021.
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