1. COVID-19: Initial Fall School Reopening Guidance, Plus Emergency License Available
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On Thursday, June 25, DESE released initial fall school reopening guidance (download) following weeks of collaboration with stakeholders and the medical community. The guidance calls for schools to reopen this fall while meeting safety requirements for staff and students, including the use of masks for all adults and all students except the youngest students and 3 to 6 feet of social distancing. The guidance calls for districts to prioritize planning for return to in-person learning, while also planning for hybrid learning (in case full in-person learning is not possible), and for remote learning (in case of an outbreak).
The Massachusetts Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (MCAAP) has endorsed the guidance, and Dr. Lloyd Fisher, incoming president of the MCAAP, joined Dr. Sandra Nelson, an infectious diseases physician at Massachusetts General Hospital, at the press conference where Governor Baker, Lt. Gov. Polito, Secretary Peyser, and Commissioner Riley announced the guidance.
In addition, the Baker-Polito Administration announced approximately $200 million from the Commonwealth’s federal Coronavirus Relief Fund for costs related to reopening public schools. This funding is intended to supplement other sources, such as the $502 million from the Coronavirus Relief Fund that Governor Baker previously allocated to cities and towns and $194 million in federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund grants.
In partnership with legislative leadership, the Administration also committed $25 million in federal funds for a matching grant program to help school districts and charter schools close technology gaps.
Also in connection with COVID-19, DESE is now offering an emergency license as a result of special legislation. This license will help aspiring educators looking to join the profession, people who hold a license in one category (teacher, administrator, specialist teacher, or professional support personnel) who have been prevented by COVID-19 from qualifying for a license in another category, and school districts looking to bring on new hires. The emergency license will be valid for employment in the 2020-2021 school year and will expire on June 30, 2021. The emergency license is now available to apply for in ELAR (Educator Licensure and Renewal).
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2. What We’re Reading: Classroom Resources for Discussing Racism
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Many organizations offer resources to help teachers and students discuss racism. Here’s a short list:
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3. Get Involved: Teacher & Principal Advisory Cabinet, Distinguished Educators, MTEL Conferences
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The Department is looking for educators’ help on many fronts! Our work is stronger with the benefit of your insights. Please consider becoming part of one of the following efforts:
- Teacher & Principal Advisory Cabinet Application Deadline Extended: The Department is now accepting applications for the 2020-2021 Teacher & Principal Advisory Cabinet until midnight on Monday, July 6. Please contact educatordevelopment@doe.mass.edu with any questions.
- Distinguished educators: The Department recognizes distinguished teachers and principals through DESE’s Distinguished Educator Recognition Program. The Department may consider these educators for advisory boards, task forces, and special recognition programs. This year, we’re gathering information about distinguished kindergarten through fifth grade educators, and we invite you to recommend distinguished, early- to mid-career elementary classroom teachers, specialists, and/or principals. Please submit a recommendation by Wednesday, July 15. Please direct any questions about the Distinguished Educator Recognition Program to educatorrecognition@doe.mass.edu.
- MTEL conferences: The Department, in collaboration with the Evaluation Systems group of Pearson, is seeking Massachusetts educators to participate in conferences in August for the Massachusetts Test for Teacher Licensure (MTEL) program. Educators are needed for content-specific committees and for bias review and bilingual committees. More information is available online. Individuals can apply to be on a committee or nominate a colleague. Anyone with questions can email evaluationsystemscrg@pearson.com.
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Note: This is the last Teachers’ Top 3 until September. Have a wonderful, healthy summer! If you have suggestions on ways to improve Teachers’ Top 3, please email us at Top3fromESE@doe.mass.edu.
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