7. August and September Safe Kids Thrive Trainings:
The Department and Children’s Trust are offering a Safe Kids Thrive training for preK-12 district and school administrators. Participants in this 90-minute interactive workshop will learn how to identify concrete ways that schools can evaluate and develop policies, procedures, and protocols to prevent child sexual abuse. Using a new website called "Safe Kids Thrive," presenters will demonstrate practical and straightforward tools attendees will use to assess or create a proactive approach to prevent child abuse. The training will be offered at 9:00-10:30 a.m. on Thursday, August 26 and at 7:30-9:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 30. Please register online.
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8. Strategies to Support Student Access to Above Grade-Level Material:
As the new school year approaches, DESE knows that districts, schools, and educators are busy planning how they will assess and meet the needs of their students. While the focus this year will be on providing all students access to standards-aligned instruction and the culturally responsive support they need to be successful in their grade level, some students’ learning needs may require access to above-grade-level material and experiences. Strategies to support access to above-grade-level material may include enrollment in classes with older peers for certain subjects and grade skipping, both of which are allowed under Massachusetts law. Anyone who would like more information about this can email Thomas Zorich, director of DESE’s Center for Strategic Initiatives.
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9. Teacher Diversification Professional Learning Community Update:
The Department’s Teacher Diversification Professional Learning Community will support and enhance schools’ and districts’ understanding of the components needed to implement a comprehensive talent diversification strategy centered on cultural proficiency. The learning community will hold monthly virtual sessions from October 2021 through June 2022. This initiative will support up to 100 schools and districts and is open to charter schools, career/vocational technical education schools, and traditional school districts. School and district teams should be comprised of the following representatives:
- One teacher representative (if scheduling permits)
- One principal representative (if scheduling permits)
- A human resource director or assistant director
- A diversity, equity, and inclusion director (or similar position)
- A district office leader (to be identified by the superintendent or executive director)
Interested charter schools, career/vocational technical education schools, and school districts must complete the interest form by Friday, September 17. Anyone with questions about this opportunity can email the Center for Strategic Initiatives at CSI@mass.gov for additional information.
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10. Teacher Diversification Pilot Program Grant Due Date Extended:
The due date for the FY22 Teacher Diversification Pilot Program Grant has been extended to Friday, September 17. The grant is designed to support school and district efforts to strengthen and diversify existing teacher recruitment and retention programs and is open to all districts, charter schools, and career/vocational technical education schools.
In addition to receiving financial support, schools and districts awarded grant funding will participate in the Teacher Diversification Professional Learning Community (see above), a yearlong professional learning community centered around race, identity, and cultural proficiency. Anyone with questions is invited to email the Center for Strategic Initiatives at CSI@mass.gov.
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11. Supplemental Low-Income Data Collection Forms Available in Security Portal:
Under the Student Opportunity Act, DESE is required to identify eligible students with household incomes of up to 185 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) for the purpose of determining Chapter 70 aid. The Department has posted Supplemental Low-Income Data Collection Forms that districts and charter schools can use to claim students who qualify as low-income under the 185 percent FPL standard but who have not been identified through a match with state public assistance program databases. The forms are now available through the DESE Security Portal in the SIMS File Exchange drop box. In addition to English, the drop box includes versions in Chinese, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, Spanish, and Vietnamese. The Department encourages districts and charter schools to customize the form by using their own letterhead and inserting the district’s or charter school’s name and point of contact information in the places provided on the form, but the text in the form and the required documentation cannot be changed. Districts and charter schools are not required to participate in the supplemental process, and families’ participation is voluntary. Please email SupLIClaims@mass.gov with any questions.
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- Toolkit for an equity-focused pandemic recovery: The Massachusetts Education Equity Partnership has released a web-based toolkit, Keeping Equity at the Forefront: Pandemic Recovery, which highlights ways that districts and schools can leverage federal and state funding to meet the needs of students, families, and educators now and catalyze longer-term improvement in learning experiences and outcomes. The site includes recommendations for actions education leaders can take, questions advocates can ask of education leaders, and additional resources.
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