DESE Update: May 5th, 2019

1. Free Two-Day MTSS Leadership Institute:

The Department will sponsor a FREE Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) Leadership Institute for district and school level administrators. This opportunity is being developed in response to administrators’ requests for additional guidance, professional development, tools, and resources to help them design, implement, and lead cohesive tiered systems of support. The Leadership Institute will complement the work being supported through DESE’s six Multi-Tiered Systems of Support Academies, which focus specifically on Inclusive Tier 1 instruction, tiered literacy, tiered math, Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), Systemic Student Support (S3), and social and emotional learning/mental health. (Links to applications and more information about the academies are available online). Please note that enrollment in one of the Academies is not a prerequisite for participation in the Leadership Institute.

District and school administrators who are interested in participating should complete this brief survey by Tuesday, May 14, to indicate their availability and preferences. The dates, location, and focus areas for the two-day Leadership Institute will be determined based on the feedback collected. Anyone with questions can email Rebecca Shor.

2. Evaluating Science Materials Network Opportunity:

The Department invites educators from across the state to join the 2019–2020 Evaluating Curricular Materials in Science Network. Over the last few years, DESE has been trying to make it easier for schools and districts to select high-quality, standards-aligned curricular materials. The network is a professional learning experience that will train and prepare district teams to select or evaluate science curricula that is aligned to the 2016 Massachusetts Science and Technology/Engineering Curriculum Framework.

The training will be based on the NextGen TIME process. A flyer with more information and the application are both available online. Applications are due by Monday, May 20. Please email Nicole Scola with any questions about this opportunity.

(Please note that DESE will offer additional STEM and content-area networks, including selecting math and English language arts materials, in 2019-2020. The Department will announce these additional networks before July.)

3. Spring Event for Elementary Principals:

The Department’s Early Learning Team and the Massachusetts School Administrators Association will host a statewide event from 9:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 30 in Worcester for principals of schools that serve students in preschool through grade 3. The convening will include a keynote presentation from the Boston Public Schools Early Childhood Department, networking opportunities, and a chance to talk about early learning topics.

Registration is open online. Elementary principals who register will receive a separate email with additional details. Anyone with questions can contact the Early Learning Team at 781-338-3010 or achievement@doe.mass.edu.

4. Influence 100 Pilot District Grant Coming:

The Department will be launching Influence 100, an initiative to increase the racial and ethnic diversity of superintendents in Massachusetts and create more culturally responsive districts and leaders across the state. The Department will share information on how districts can apply to be a part of the pilot program in the coming weeks. Please email Cheryl Camacho with questions or for more information.

5. License Renewal Reminder:

This year is one of the largest licensure renewal cohorts since the requirements of license renewal began in 1994. By June 16, DESE expects approximately 25,000 educators to have renewed one or more Professional licenses. To date, over 16,000 educators have done so. The Department encourages educators who hold a Professional license with a renewal expiration date that falls on or before June 16 and who have met all of the requirements for license renewal to apply to renew their Professional license today via ELAR.

Information on license renewal, including guidelines, FAQs and other resources, is available online. Anyone with questions can also contact the Licensure Call Center at (781) 338-6600 from 9:00 a.m. to noon and 2:00-5:00 p.m. Monday–Friday or visit DESE’s Walk-in Welcome Center Service Counter from 8:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Monday–Friday at 75 Pleasant St. in Malden.

  • Teacher Appreciation Week: Teacher Appreciation Week is May 5-11, and the National PTA has ways to help teachers feel special. On a related note, DESE plans to announce the Massachusetts Teacher of the Year later this month.