DESE Update: July 26th, 2019

1. Deeper Learning Reminder:

Deeper learning – learning that involves mastery, identity, and creativity (see “In Search of Deeper Learning” by Jal Mehta and Sarah Fine) – was a major focus at Kairos, and it is central to the plans Commissioner Riley outlined in “Our Way Forward,” his recent report to the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.

This fall, DESE will release the application for the Kaleidoscope Collective for Learning pilot program, giving individual schools and entire districts the opportunity to apply to rethink classroom instruction around deeper learning. We encourage school and district leaders who would like to join the pilot program to indicate their interest online.

Picture of the Week:
On July 19, Commissioner Riley visited the summer learning programs at Thompson Island Outward Bound, which serves Boston Public Schools students and has a special focus on students in grades 5-8. The programs at Thompson Island are part of Boston Summer Learning, which offers students free opportunities across the city and which marked its 10th anniversary this year.

In a forest with tall trees, two students stand on a huge ladder made out of long logs and robes. They're wearing helmets and green t-shirts, and other adults and students stnad on the ground wearing the same thing. In the background, a photographer is taking a picture of the giant ladder.

3. Superintendents’ Checklist:

The Department has posted the 2019-20 Superintendents’ Checklist online. The checklist includes tasks, notifications and best practices of which district leaders should be aware. This year’s checklist clearly identifies which items districts must submit to DESE and is organized in a way that makes it easier to sort into categories, record who is working on each task, and mark tasks as complete.Questions or suggestions for improving the checklist should be directed to Helene Bettencourt, associate commissioner for communication and planning.

4. Preliminary 2019 MCAS Data:

Earlier this week, DESE provided districts and schools with embargoed access to their partial preliminary 2019 MCAS achievement data via the MCAS 2019 Data dropbox in Drop Box Central in the Security Portal. The Department anticipates making preliminary achievement data available in Edwin Analytics on Wednesday, July 31. Available data include raw scores only; scaled scores, achievement levels, and student growth percentiles (SGP) will be available in late August.

To help district and school leaders review their MCAS data, preliminary assessment participation rate data are also available in the same dropbox. District and school leaders are asked to review their data and report potential discrepancies via the MCAS Service Center website by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 6. Please keep in mind that discrepancies reported after the deadline may not be included in MCAS Parent/Guardian Reports or in the public release of official results in the fall and that any unreported discrepancies may also negatively impact accountability results.

As a reminder, district and school leaders may discuss their preliminary MCAS and participation results internally, but data should not be discussed publicly until DESE releases official results, including data corrected as the result of accepted discrepancies, in the fall.

Full preliminary 2019 MCAS data (including scaled scores, achievement levels, and student growth percentiles) and accountability results will be available in late August. Please see the 2019 assessment and accountability reporting schedule (download) for more details. For help with questions about MCAS results, please e-mail mcas@doe.mass.edu or call (781) 338-3625. For help with questions about accountability reporting, please e-mail esea@doe.mass.edu or call (781) 338-3550.

5. Teams Needed to Test Drive a How Do We Know? Toolkit:

The Department is seeking 10 teams from districts, schools, or a combination of both who are interested in evaluating a program of their choosing using a new program evaluation toolkit that is part of the department’s How Do We Know? Initiative. This pilot evaluation program aims to build schools’ and districts’ capacity to answer the question: How do we know whether a program we’ve implemented is working? Teams participating in the pilot will identify a program to evaluate, use a set of DESE pilot evaluation tools, and provide feedback on the tools’ usefulness. Groups will participate in three face-to-face convenings throughout the year and monthly technical support calls.Schools and districts interested in participating should complete the applicationby August 15 (Deadline 1) or August 30 (Deadline 2) and may reach out to Brianne Rok at brok@dmgroupk12.com or Kendra Winner at kwinner@doe.mass.edu with any questions.

6. New Innovation Pathways Designations:

Earlier this month, the Baker-Polito Administration awarded Innovation Pathway designations to Agawam, Brockton, and Burlington high schools and Atlantis Charter School in Fall River. They join 14 other high schools that received the designation previously.  Launched in 2017, Innovation Pathways give students experience in a specific high-demand industry through coursework and internships at local employers. Students earn college credits, at no cost to them, and gain insight as to whether the field is something they want to pursue in college or as a career. Congratulations to the newly designated programs!

  • Statistics in Schools Ambassadors: The U.S. Census Bureau is looking for teachers to serve as ambassadors in the bureau’s Statistics in Schools program, which uses statistics to educate pre-K through 12thgrade students about the importance of an accurate census count. Application reviewers will consider factors such as teachers’ past leadership positions, knowledge of or experience with Statistics in Schools materials, and social media presence. To apply, email CLMSO.SISambassador@census.gov.
  • Summer Nights Initiative:The 2019 Summer Nights Initiative offers increased programming and extended operating hours at several Department of Conservation and Recreation facilities in select urban communities during the summer vacation months. The initiative also includes Free Family Flicks.