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A message from the
Massachusetts Department of
Elementary and Secondary Education

July, 2021
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Volume 5, Issue 32 - July, 2021

A Message from Associate Commissioner Elizabeth L. Bennett
On June 22, 2021, the MA Board of Elementary and Secondary Education took an historic vote approving changes to the vocational technical education regulations (see link). These changes will allow for more equitable access to career and technical education across the Commonwealth. Help spread the word about Mass VaxMillions! Communications from our team will lighten up through the summer, moving to monthly e-newsletters and field calls. The next CCTE call will be in August and a zoom link will be sent.

Contents:

News & Updates
Upcoming Webinars and Office Hours
The Office for College, Career and Technical Education will be providing webinars and office hours to assist with admissions guidance and data resources starting July 19, 2021. A full schedule will be sent out next week. 

Perkins V State Determined Performance Levels
DESE is seeking public comment on proposed revisions to the State Determined Performance Levels (SDPLs) for the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for 21st Century Act, commonly known as Perkins V. The U.S. Department of Education allows for revisions to performance measures within Perkins V state. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, DESE proposes changes to several SDPLs (2S1, 2S2 and 2S3). To examine the proposed performance levels or weigh in before August 2, see the Perkins V Manual website.

Thinking about Perkins
Districts have asked about resources to help complete or update their Comprehensive Local Needs Assessments. The Perkins V Manual page has some key information, specifically the Enrollment & Performance Reporting and Performance & Accountability sections. Districts can find their latest data in the Security Portal, in the CVTE Reports application. Instructions for access to CVTE Reports, as well as strategies to use the reports, are in this Guide.

College and Career Ready and My Career and Academic Plan (CCR/MyCAP)
In this month’s Part 1, we highlight the value of MyCAP in engaging secondary school students when they return in September. Next month’s Part 2 will cover opportunities to use MyCAP in the coming school year.

How will we engage our secondary school students when they return to school in September? At the high school level, incoming ninth graders are entering with little knowledge of high school and future interests; returning tenth graders had limited experience with in-school learning and planning.  Our eleventh and twelfth graders are entering critical years for postsecondary planning. How will we ensure they are making authentic plans for postsecondary success?

MyCAP is a process and tool designed to empower students to develop a plan based on their individual interests, talents, and skills. Using a scope and sequence of grade-level lessons and activities created by a school design team, the process allows students to identify career interests; align course-taking to support those interests; and engage in career development activities – all while gaining the personal/social/emotional skills to be successful in the classroom and the workplace. The MyCAP tool may have lessons and activities and powerful search engines to support the learning while also acting as an e*portfolio to capture the learning.

ICYMI: Commonwealth Launches "Mass VaxMillions" Vaccine Lottery Program  
Recently the Baker-Polito Administration, Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg and the Massachusetts State Lottery announced the Massachusetts VaxMillions Giveaway for residents who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Fully vaccinated residents 18 and older will have the opportunity to enter to win of five, $1 million cash prizes. Fully vaccinated residents between 12-17 years of age may enter for the chance to win one of five $300,000 scholarship grants. Eligible residents will be able to enter the drawing beginning July 1 at VaxMillionsGiveaway.com. Drawings will be held once a week for five weeks beginning the week of Monday, July 26 and continuing through the week ending Friday, August 27.  Read more here.

Communications Survey
Clear communication is essential to bring us together and plan for a safe future. DESE is continuously working to improve communication with all those involved in and impacted by our public schools. Please take this two-minute survey to help inform DESE's communication efforts. Thank you!

Safety Corner - from Dave Edmonds, CCTE's Safety Specialist
A safe and healthy workplace not only protects workers from injury and illness, but it can also lower injury/illness costs, reduce absenteeism and turnover, increase productivity and quality, and raise employee morale. In other words, safety is good for business. Safety is equal to productivity. Plus, protecting workers is the right thing to do.

Everyone's safety on the job depends on not only on their own choices but also the choices of all the workers there. Working safely allows business to continue thus providing the opportunity for you to continue to pay your bills as well as your fellow coworkers to do the same.

Look back over the safety conversations we have had in this newsletter this past year.  There is lots of good information to keep you safe at work, at home and at leisure.  Be safe!

www.doe.mass.edu/CCTE
www.doe.mass.edu/CCTE/CVTE
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Office for College, Career and Technical Education
781-338-3910
CCTE@doe.mass.edu
Copyright © 2021 Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, All rights reserved.


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