January 11th, 2019

1. Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to Meet:
The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education will hold a special meeting from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Monday, January 14, 2019 in Malden. The agenda includes a discussion of redesigned school and district report cards, an update on automated test scoring and a discussion of New Bedford charter school matters.
The meeting will be streamed online at https://livestream.com/accounts/22459134.
The Board’s regular meeting this month is on Tuesday, January 22, 2019. (The meetings are separate this month because of Martin Luther King Jr., Day.)
2. Picture of the Week:
As part of Commissioner Riley’s continued celebration of teachers, DESE has released a second public service announcement, this one focused on teachers’ varied roles. Look for it on TV, radio, posters on subways and buses, and on DESE’s aMAzing Educators webpage. The Department would like to thank all the Malden Public Schools teachers, students, and community members who helped create it!
3. School/Community Based Targeted Intervention Services Grant:
Public school districts, licensed outpatient mental health and/or substance use treatment providers, and school-based health clinics are invited to apply for School/Community Based Targeted Intervention Services grants, which are administered by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Bureau of Substance Addiction Services, in cooperation with DESE. More details are available in the request for response on Commbuys.
The grant seeks to fund targeted prevention and/or intervention programming in schools. It is targeted at high risk youth ages 8-17. Registration is open online for a bidders’ conference at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, January 15. Applications are due by 4:00 p.m. February 12.
4. Program Quality Workgroup:
The Department’s early learning team invites educators to participate in its 2019 Program Quality Workgroup for kindergarten through third grade. While adjustments to the work-plan may be made along the way, it is anticipated that this year, the workgroup will focus on:informing the design of an observational walk-through tool for principals and other administrators;
continuing the development of resources aligned with current preschool and kindergarten social and emotional learning and approaches to play and learning standards; and
developing resources related to the science and technology/engineering standards in grades 1-3.
Anyone interested in joining the workgroup should complete the online survey by January 18. Workgroup participants commit to five meetings in the Worcester area during the 2019 calendar year and to participation in one of three subcommittees (social and emotional learning, science and technology/engineering, or support for elementary principals).
5. Elementary Principals Network Meetings:
The Department’s Early Learning Team and the Massachusetts School Administrators’ Association will host three winter regional network meetings for elementary principals on January 25, 28, and 31. These sessions will provide elementary principals the opportunity to network with area colleagues on topics related to early learning (preschool through third grade), receive professional development, and discuss problems of practice. Network topics will be based on participants’ interests. More information and registration are available at the link above.
6. Integrating Elementary Computational Thinking in Science and Mathematics Curricula:
The Department invites grades 1-6 teachers and coaches (such as instructional technology specialists) who are interested in integrating computational thinking in their mathematics or science classes to attend a free, one-day professional development session in February or March. Participants will build a shared understanding of the complementary Digital Literacy and Computer Science and mathematics or science and technology/engineering standards by grade level and learn strategies and structures that will strengthen and balance computational thinking and math and science instruction and learning. Participants will learn about integrated curriculum and have time to work through grade-specific activities. Mini-grants are available for teachers who implement the integrated units this school year and provide feedback.
The one-day sessions will each run from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and will be held on February 2 in Waltham, February 9 in West Springfield, and March 2 in Southeastern Massachusetts. Please register online.
7. Summer Planning Grants for High-Quality Instruction:
This competitive grant will provide districts with funding to help teachers deepen their understanding and implementation of high-quality instructional materials, methodologies, and programs related to the 2017 English Language Arts and Literacy Framework, 2017 Mathematics Framework, and the 2016 Science and Technology/Engineering Framework. Districts can apply for one or more of three pathways: Path 1: Planning for high-quality instructional materials, Path 2: Implementing high-quality instructional materials, and Path 3: Piloting high-quality middle school science and technology/engineering instructional materials. Awards will range from $5,000 to $20,000 depending on the pathway and the size of the district. More information is available in the request for proposals (RFP). Proposals are due at 5:00 p.m. on February 15.
8. Update on Federal Funding for Nutrition Programs:
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has provided Massachusetts with additional available appropriated funding to support nutrition program operations despite the current federal government shutdown. Therefore, reimbursements for the National School Lunch Program, the School Breakfast Program, the Special Milk Program, the Child Adult Care Food Program, and the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program will continue through at least April.
In addition, USDA Foods deliveries will continue, as most products that would be delivered to state contracted warehouses through February have already been purchased. The USDA Department of Defense Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program will also continue to operate.

Anyone with questions can contact DESE’s Office for Food and Nutrition Programs at nutrition@doe.mass.edu or 781-338-6480.

For your info:
Supporting a diverse and learner-ready workforce: The Council of Chief State School Officers has developed A Vision and Guidance for a Diverse and Learner-Ready Teacher Workforce to outline actions chiefs, leaders in educator preparation and local education agencies, and others can take to ensure every child is taught by a diverse and learner-ready teacher workforce. Massachusetts is part of this initiative and contributed to the vision and guidance document.
Used computers available: The Social Security Administration is interested in donating technology equipment to school systems in Massachusetts. Available equipment includes: Panasonic Fax Machines (UF-8000 and 7200), Dell KMM LED 185, PowerVault TL2000 tape drive, PowerEdge R720 server, Polycom HDX 4000 Video Conferencing Device with 720p Monitor, Cisco 3800 Series Integrated Services Routers, Samsung SyncMaster 940Be 19-Inch LCD Monitor, etc. If interested in receiving one of the items listed or a more detailed list of all the equipment, please contact Roberto Medina, center director for the Social Security Administration’s Center for Automation, Security and Materiel Resources.