DESE Update: January 4th, 2019

1. Student Discipline:
The U.S. Department of Education recently released a Final Report of the Federal Commission on School Safety and a Dear Colleague Letter detailing the U.S. Department of Justice’s and U.S. Department of Education’s decision to rescind certain policy and guidance documents that those agencies issued in January 2014. State laws and policies relating to school discipline remain in effect, and Massachusetts remains firmly committed to promoting safe and supportive learning environments for all students.
Schools in the Commonwealth have been implementing An Act Relative to Student Access to Educational Services and Exclusion from School (Chapter 222) since the state law took effect in 2014. It aims to reduce the use of long-term suspensions and ensure that students have access to education services even when they are suspended or expelled.
Since June 2016, DESE has been working collaboratively with over 30 schools and districts through the Rethinking Discipline Initiative to reduce the inappropriate, disproportionate, or excessive use of suspension and expulsion. Anyone with questions related to the Rethinking Discipline Initiative can contact Rachelle Engler Bennett, associate commissioner, student and family support, or Stacy Cabral, safe and supportive schools specialist, at achievement@doe.mass.edu or 781-338-3010.

Picture of the Week:
On December 6, Senior Associate Commissioner Cliff Chuang visited Bristol Community College’s Step Up to College Transition Program, which provides adult learners with a seamless transition from adult education into certificate and degree programs. Pictured left to right: Mr. Chuang, nursing student Sandra Caceres, Bristol Community College (BCC) President Laura Douglas, BCC Step Up to College Transition Program Director Heather Harrison, computer information systems student Ron Lecuyer, business administration student Debbie Berube, fire science student Martins Akinola, BCC Fall River Adult Education Program Director Eileen Cruz, BCC Taunton Adult Advisor Angela Boffi, and BCC Step Up to College Advisor Mary Holds.

3. Green Ribbon Schools Application Deadline:
Schools have until Friday, January 11 to apply for recognition as a 2019 Massachusetts Green Ribbon School. More information is available online.

4. E-rate Funding Year 2019 Application Window Opens January 16:
The Funding Year (FY) 2019 FCC Form 471 application filing window for E-rate funding will open at noon on Wednesday, January 16 and will close at 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, March 27. Applicants can begin preparing now by taking the following steps:Install Browser Updates: Google Chrome is the recommended browser for the E-rate Productivity Center, but no matter which browser an applicant uses, be sure it is the latest version of the browser.
Establish Account and User Rights: Anyone for whom this is the first year participating in the E-rate Program can call the E-rate Productivity Center’s Client Service Bureau at 888-203-8100 to create an EPC account. Anyone who already has an EPC account should log in and review, update, and/or assign user rights for people who will need access for FY2019.
Update Your EPC Profile Now: To ensure a smoother filing process, EPC profiles will lock at 11:59 p.m. January 15. Applicants will not be able to make changes to their EPC profile after that.
Proceed With Competitive Bidding: Applicants who have not started the competitive bidding process by filing their FCC Form 470 should begin now. Applicants must wait 28 days after filing the FCC Form 470 before entering into an agreement and filing an application. For FY2019, applicants must certify their FCC Form 470 on or before February 27 in order to wait the required 28 days and then certify their FCC Form 471 before the window closes.

5. Planning for Success Training Opportunities:
The Department is offering several free training opportunities about Planning for Success, DESE’s recommended strategic planning process:Facilitation Training, February 19-22: This training prepares participants to facilitate the full strategic planning process in their own district or for others. Participants can earn 24 professional development points (PDPs).
Action Planning Network (series), April 24, May 14, and June 5: Districts interested in building an annual action plan from an existing multi-year strategic plan are invited to participate in an Action Plan Network. Participants can earn 12 PDPs.
One-Day Workshops on Applying Planning for Success to Your District: Registration is open online forCreating a Plan for Your District: February 7
Improving Your Existing District Plan: March 14
Implementing and Aligning Resources to Support Your Plan: May 2
Contact Planning for Success Consultant Lori Likis (lorilikis@ccoaching.com) or Kathy Cross (kcross@doe.mass.edu) for an application or additional information.

6. For your info:
League of Innovative Schools – Massachusetts Network: The League of Innovative Schools is a regional professional learning network for middle schools and high schools. Membership is open to any New England secondary school — including charter schools, career/vocational technical education schools, and private schools — committed to educational equity, student-centered learning, and ongoing improvement. Massachusetts schools might join the LIS to advance priorities such as pioneering innovative learning and leadership practices in secondary schools, designing language acquisition programs that best fit the needs of English learners, and utilizing competency-based approaches to expand student access to appropriately rigorous, standards-aligned computer science courses. More information is available at https://www.newenglandssc.org/league/about-the-league/ or by contacting Aaron Townsend, senior associate for the Great Schools Partnership, the Maine-based nonprofit that convenes the League.