DESE Update: March 1st, 2019
1. Safe and Supportive Schools Statewide Conference:
Please save the date for a statewide conference on March 27, Safe and Supportive Learning Environments: Using an Equity Lens to Support All Students. Participants will learn about equitable and inclusive practices that support healthy social, emotional, and physical well-being. Teams and individuals from early childhood, elementary, middle, and high schools are invited to attend, as are as community-based representatives from early childhood and after-school and out-of-school time programs. The event will run from 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. at the DoubleTree in Leominster. Registration will open March 4. Please use this online form to register after that date. For more information, download this save the date flier. Anyone with questions can contact the Office of Student and Family Support at 781-338-3010 or achievement@doe.mass.edu.
Picture of the Week:
Holyoke STEM Academy students examine chicken tissue. The academy and Holyoke High School are two of 58 schools statewide that are receiving grants to expand computer science, engineering, and biomedical science education. Both Holyoke schools will use their grants to establish Project Lead The Way programs. (Photo courtesy of Holyoke Public Schools)
3. Additional Planning for Success Workshop Dates and Locations:
The Department is offering several free training opportunities for educators interested in learning about Planning for Success, DESE’s recommended strategic planning process. Due to demand and a weather postponement, DESE has added additional workshop dates and a new location. Upcoming workshops include:
Half-Day Workshops on Applying Planning for Success to Your District: Registration is open now to individuals or district groups for:Creating a Plan for Your District: Register by March 11 for the March 14 workshop at DESE in Malden or the March 20 workshop at Devens Common Center.
Improving Your Existing District Plan: Register by March 27 for the April 4 workshop in Malden or the April 22 workshop at the Hilton Garden Inn at Devens.
Implementing and Aligning Resources to Support Your Plan: Register by April 26 for the May 2 workshop in Malden or the May 20 workshop at Devens Common Center.
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 with colleagues in an Action Plan Network. Participants can earn 12 professional development points. The deadline to apply is March 29.
Contact Planning for Success Consultant Lori Likis (lorilikis@ccoaching.com) or Kathy Cross (kcross@doe.mass.edu) for an application or additional information.
4. Elementary Principals Network Meetings:
The Department’s Early Learning Team and the Massachusetts School Administrators’ Association will host a round of four regional network meetings for elementary principals on March 18 (Falmouth), 22 (Shrewsbury), 25 (Berkshires), and 29 (Springfield). These sessions will provide elementary principals the opportunity to network with area colleagues on topics related to early learning (preschool-third grade), receive professional development, and discuss problems of practice. Network topics will be based on the interests of the participants and may include but will not be limited to:Early literacy and math curriculum and instruction,
Assessment practices,
Social and emotional learning,
Safe and supportive early learning environments,
Serving English language learners,
Addressing gender identity in the early years, and
Birth to grade 12 family engagement.
Elementary school principals can register online for one of the sessions and are encouraged to share the information with other elementary school principals. Anyone with questions can contact a member of the Early Learning Team at 781-338-3010 or achievement@doe.mass.edu.
5. Spring Early Learning Network Meetings:
The Department’s Early Learning Team and teams from the Department of Early Education and Care will host three regional networking opportunities in April. Teams that include a coordinated family and community engagement coordinator, Early Intervention representative, Head Start representative, community-based early education and care representative, and public school early childhood coordinator, special education coordinator, elementary principal and/or district administrator are invited to attend. The meetings will run from 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 3 at the Holyoke Public Library in Holyoke; Friday, April 5 at the EDCO Collaborative in Bedford; and Wednesday, April 10 at the Falmouth Public Library in Falmouth. More information and registration are available online. Anyone with questions can contact a member of the Early Learning Team at 781-338-3010 or achievement@doe.mass.edu.
6. Student Government Day:
There are 50 registration slots still available for Student Government Day! The Department is honored to sponsor and coordinate the 72nd annual Student Government Day Program from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Friday, April 5 at the State House in Boston. This program encourages students from Massachusetts public and private high schools to learn about the structure of state government and become engaged citizens through active participation in the legislative process. Students will assemble at the State House, where most will replicate activities of the General Court (the Massachusetts State Legislature), while others will meet as constitutional officers or as members of the Supreme Judicial Court. The Student Government Day team is also hosting a speech competition to select the student governor for the event. The competition is opened to registered student designees. More information about the speech competition and Student Government Day is available online. Schools are encouraged to select one student designee and one student alternate.
7. Survey on Draft Arts Curriculum Framework:
The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education recently voted to send the draft updated Arts Curriculum Framework out for public comment. It includes:the addition of media arts to the existing disciplines of dance, music, theatre, and visual arts; an increased emphasis on the importance of (1) creating original work in the performing arts and (2) presenting in visual and media arts;
an increased emphasis on responding to the work of other students and to work from masters, with a focus on understanding the context in which art works were created;
a structure organized around a common set of artistic practices across the five disciplines to encourage integrated instruction and collaboration; and
ambitious standards that highlight the importance of art as part of a well-rounded education that prepares students for college, careers, and civic participation.
The Department is seeking feedback on the draft and has created a survey at https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/4828710/Public-Comment-Arts-Framework-2019. The survey will be open until April 23.
8. DESE Resource Corner
The How Do We Know Initiative: Looking for evidence-based interventions? The Department has developed a set of resources to help schools and districts locate evidence-based interventions that address their identified needs. The How Do We Know? web pages include a list of research summaries, literature reviews, and policy briefs as well as a page with links to evidence clearinghouses. The Department is posting new materials on a regular basis and is developing and scheduling trainings for superintendents and principals. Please contact Kendra Winner at kwinner@doe.mass.edu with any requests for assistance with evidence-based interventions.