Office of Student and Family Support (SFS)

Additional Related Programs & Efforts

College and Career Readiness

The College and Career Readiness (CCR) initiative is focused on improving high schools and strengthening the high school diploma for all students, as well as coordinating statewide efforts through a grade PK-16 strategy. Part of this work involves defining "what is college ready" and identifying the types and characteristics of courses that prepare students for success in both college and a career.

Dropout Prevention and Reengagement

The Department's Dropout Prevention and Reengagement website is designed to offer information and resources related to high school dropout prevention, intervention, and recovery in Massachusetts as well as nationally.

Educator Effectiveness Guidebook for Inclusive Practice

Created by Massachusetts educators, this Guidebook includes tools for districts, schools, and educators that are aligned to the MA Educator Evaluation Framework and promote evidence-based best practices for inclusion following the principles of Universal Design for Learning, Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports, and Social and Emotional Learning. Inclusive practice refers to the instructional and behavioral strategies that improve academic and social-emotional outcomes for all students, with and without disabilities, in general education settings. To support inclusive practice, the tools of this Guidebook are based on the frameworks of Universal Design for Learning, Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports , and Social and Emotional Learning . This guidebook is a comprehensive set of tools related to and aligned with all major components of the Educator Evaluation system (e.g. rubrics, observation, artifacts, goal-setting, administrator evaluation, common assessments and student feedback).

Massachusetts Family, School, and Community Partnership Fundamentals (the Fundamentals)

The Fundamentals are the result of a statewide collaborative process of defining guidelines and research-based practices for the engagement of families, schools, and communities in supporting equitable learning opportunities for students. This process was coordinated by the Parent and Community Education and Involvement Advisory Council (PCEIAC) of the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. The Fundamentals recognize that family and community engagement involves everything parents and families do to support their children's learning at home and in the community and support the creation of pathways to partnerships that honor the dynamic, multiple, and complementary ways children learn and grow. Because parent/family support at every age significantly impacts a child's educational outcomes, they apply to all stages of a child's educational career.

Last Updated: January 21, 2024