DESE Update: December 14th, 2018

1. Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to Meet:

The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education will meet from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 18 in Malden. The agenda includes a discussion highlighting the roles of teacher leaders in supporting learning standards and instruction, updates from the receivers of three chronically underperforming schools, a panel discussion on adult education, and a discussion of feedback about the new accountability system. The meeting will stream online at https://livestream.com/accounts/22459134.

Picture of the Week:

On December 10, Commissioner Riley visited Northampton High School, where he visited classrooms (including an art room, pictured) and met with students and faculty. The commissioner has visited more than 50 schools since April. (Photo courtesy of Northampton Public Schools)

3. Dyslexia Web Page:

The Department’s Office of Special Education Planning and Policy has launched a new webpage entitled Specific Learning Disability: Dyslexia. The webpage includes definitions of dyslexia as a specific learning disability as found in federal and state law, information on recent dyslexia legislation, states’ guidelines on dyslexia, and upcoming DESE professional development on dyslexia. The page also includes resources for professionals working with students who have dyslexia or another learning disability or have demonstrated potential indicators of dyslexia. The resources cover topics such as screening, intervention, accommodations, assistive technology, specially designed instruction, and social and emotional needs.

4. Registration for January MCAS Training Sessions Now Available:

Registration is now open for January MCAS training sessions for administrators. While these training sessions are differentiated by participants’ familiarity with computer-based testing, all are welcome at each session. All principals are encouraged to participate in one of the sessions on test security and administration protocols, and new high school principals are expected to participate. Principals who cannot participate in one of those sessions (held January 29 and 31) will be able to view a recording.

Most MCAS tests in grades 3-8 were given on a computer in spring 2018, and the expectation is for all MCAS tests to be given on a computer in spring 2019. It will be the first year for computer-based testing for the grade 10 MCAS and the first year that computer-based testing is required in grades 3 and 6. Paper tests remain an option for students who require that format as an accommodation.

As always, districts can email mcas@doe.mass.edu for policy questions and email mcas@measuredprogress.org for logistical support, including technical support for PearsonAccess Next and TestNav.

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.

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.