{"id":579,"date":"2018-04-13T12:32:49","date_gmt":"2018-04-13T16:32:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/shield\/?p=579"},"modified":"2018-04-26T12:35:28","modified_gmt":"2018-04-26T16:35:28","slug":"april-13-2018","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/shield\/2018\/04\/13\/april-13-2018\/","title":{"rendered":"April 13, 2018"},"content":{"rendered":"

Massachusetts NAEP Scores Lead the Nation (Again!):<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\nOn April 10, 2018, the\u00a0<\/span>National Center for Education Statistics<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>released the 2017 results of the National Assessment of Educational Progress, also known as NAEP or the\u00a0<\/span>Nation\u2019s Report Card<\/a>. For the seventh consecutive NAEP administration,\u00a0<\/span>Massachusetts fourth and eighth graders scored first or statistically tied for first<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>on the NAEP math and reading tests. Massachusetts is the only state to have average scores at the top on all four tests. In addition, black students and Hispanic students had their highest average scores ever in fourth and eighth grade reading.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m pleased to see our national standing, but we need to consider areas where we appear to have plateaued,\u201d\u00a0Commissioner Riley said.\u00a0<\/strong>\u201cStanding still will not help all of our students be prepared for opportunities after high school.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Professional Development Opportunities on Safe and Supportive Learning Environments:<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\nThe Department, in collaboration with the Department of Early Education and Care, the Collaborative for Educational Services, and Massachusetts Advocates for Children’s Trauma and Learning Policy Initiative, has created a free, yearlong professional development series on aligning aspects of social emotional learning, trauma sensitivity, and positive behavioral approaches. The series includes webinars, regional networking events, and a statewide convening. The webinar series,\u00a0which is hosted by American Institutes for Research (AIR), has been updated. Registration is open for several upcoming events: a webinar from\u00a0<\/span>2:00-3:30 p.m.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>on\u00a0<\/span>Wednesday, April 25<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>on\u00a0<\/span>assessing discipline trends and calculating disparities<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>and\u00a0<\/span>regional networking meetings<\/a>on safe and supportive learning environments on\u00a0<\/span>May 7<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>in Worcester,\u00a0<\/span>May 17<\/span><\/span>in Holyoke, and\u00a0<\/span>May 31<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>in Bedford. More details on these and other events and updated dates can be found by downloading the\u00a0<\/span>professional development calendar<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>posted on DESE’s\u00a0<\/span>Safe and Supportive Schools web page<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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April Is the Month of the Military Child:<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\nMassachusetts is a member of the\u00a0<\/span>Military Interstate Children\u2019s Compact Commission (MIC3)<\/a>. The goals of the MIC3 are to ensure the timely enrollment and proper placement of students, as well as on-time graduation of children of military families. The Department is committed to providing support for the military-connected student who experience high mobility, resulting in educational interruption. People are invited to show their support by wearing purple on April 25! \u00a0Further information about this initiative and guidance can be found under the\u00a0<\/span>related resources<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>section of DESE\u2019s MIC3 webpage. Other resources available through MIC3 include a\u00a0<\/span>Guide for Parents, School Officials and Public Administrators<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Family Engagement External Stakeholders Regional Meetings:<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\nThe Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Department of Early Education and Care, and DESE are working collaboratively to create a comprehensive birth-grade 12 family engagement framework for use in home visiting programs, early intervention services, childcare centers, public school settings, and more.\u00a0<\/span>Regional meetings of external stakeholders involved in family engagement<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>will bring together members of the cross-agency team, national partners, and stakeholders from a variety of fields to provide insight, guidance, and feedback on the work that is underway to draft the framework. The regional meetings, which will take the form of focus groups, will take place on\u00a0<\/span>May 2<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>in both Bedford and Millbury and on\u00a0<\/span>May 3<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>in Springfield.<\/p>\n

Community members, parents, grandparents, practitioners, and school and district personnel with an interest in informing a family engagement framework are encouraged\u00a0<\/span>to register<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>and participate. We will email logistics a few days before the scheduled date to people who have registered.<\/p>\n

Anyone who is unable to attend the dates listed above is invited to take an\u00a0<\/span>online survey<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>that will be available beginning\u00a0<\/span>May 1<\/span><\/span>. There will also be other opportunities to participate in the future.<\/p>\n

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Spring Early Learning Regional Network Meetings:<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\nIn collaboration with the Department of Early Education and Care, DESE will co-host spring\u00a0<\/span>early learning networking meetings<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>from\u00a0<\/span>12:30-3:00 p.m.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>on\u00a0<\/span>May 7<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>in Worcester,\u00a0<\/span>May 17<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>in Holyoke, and\u00a0<\/span>May 31<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>in Lawrence. Early learning professionals, including coordinated family and community engagement (CFCE) specialists, representatives from community-based early education and care and Head Start programs, and early childhood coordinators and early childhood special education coordinators from public schools, are encouraged to attend one of the sessions. Participants will have the opportunity to hear and share best practices and will have time for planning or discussions around topics such as safe and supportive early learning environments, addressing gender identity in the early years, and building a birth to grade 12 family engagement framework. Please\u00a0<\/span>register online<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Elementary Principals Network Meetings:<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\nThe Department\u2019s Early Learning Team and the Massachusetts School Administrators Association will host six\u00a0<\/span>regional network meetings for elementary principals<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>this spring beginning\u00a0<\/span>May 16<\/span><\/span>. Similar to the fall and winter network opportunities, these sessions will provide elementary principals the opportunity to network with area colleagues and discuss problems of practice. Network topics will be based on the interests of the participants and may include but not be limited to:<\/p>\n