5. Teacher Diversification Professional Learning Community Update:
The Department’s Teacher Diversification Professional Learning Community will build schools’ and districts’ understanding of how 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. It will support up to 100 schools and districts and is open to charter schools, career/vocational technical education schools, traditional school districts, and education collaboratives. School and district teams should include 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 schools and districts must complete the interest form by Thursday, September 30. Anyone with questions about this opportunity can email the Center for Strategic Initiatives at CSI@mass.gov.
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6. Teacher Diversification Pilot Program Grant Due Date Extended to September 30:
The due date for the FY22 Teacher Diversification Pilot Program Grant has been extended to Thursday, September 30. This 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, charters, career/vocational technical education schools, and education collaboratives.
In addition to receiving financial support, grant recipients will participate in the Teacher Diversification Professional Learning Community (see above), a yearlong professional learning community centered on 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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7. Relationship Mapping to Cultivate a Sense of Belonging:
LearnLaunch, with support from DESE is offering an interactive workshop to guide district and school leaders through the process of Relationship Mapping to Cultivate a Sense of Belonging. Whether with a teacher, administrator, coach, or staff member, a positive stable relationship with a caring adult has proven benefits for students’ social-emotional, personal, and academic well-being. This workshop will be offered at 3:00-4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 22; Friday, September 24; and Wednesday, September 29. More information on LearnLaunch’s upcoming relationship-focused workshops is posted here.
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8. Updating the Supplement to the History and Social Science Framework:
The Department’s Center for Instructional Support is in the process of revising the Supplement to the 2018 Massachusetts History and Social Science Framework (download) and invites suggestions of resources (e.g. primary document databases, historical sites and associations, digital humanities collections) to be included. Suggestions can be submitted by completing this online form on or before Thursday, September 30. Anyone with questions or additional comments can email Kathryn Gabriele.
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9. Deadline for Parent and Community Education and Involvement Advisory Council Applications:
The Parent and Community Education and Involvement Advisory Council of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education is accepting applications for appointment to the council. Interested candidates should visit the council’s website for application instructions and submit their applications to KathleenT.Rodriguez@mass.gov by Friday, October 1.
The Department particularly encourages applications from parents, community organizers working with families and schools, and speakers of languages other than English who represent diverse communities and historically underserved students. The Department anticipates providing interpretation and translation for at least one language and possibly up to three.
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10. FAQ on History and Social Science Teaching with Respect to Race, Racism, and Culturally Responsive Teaching:
The Department has compiled an FAQ on history and social science teaching with respect to race, racism, and culturally responsive teaching. The document highlights relevant state guidance, including how the state framework promotes the teaching of diverse perspectives and the role of culturally responsive teaching in a history/social science classroom. The document will be posted at https://www.doe.mass.edu/instruction/hss/default.html.
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11. New Procedure for Individual Student Program Requests for Approval:
The Department’s Problem Resolution System Office has launched a new online form, the Individual Student Program form, formerly known as the Authorization for Pricing form. The Individual Student program form is the form districts should use to apply to place a student in an out-of-district private special education school program that DESE has not approved. Effective immediately, all such applications must be submitted using the online system. The new system is easy to use, streamlines the process for improved handling of requests, and will provide a receipt when a form is submitted.
The form is posted on the Problem Resolution System Special Approvals and Notice Requirements webpage. Anyone in need of further assistance can contact Jonathan Spadafora in the Problem Resolution System Office at 781-338-3709 or Jonathan.W.Spadafora@mass.gov.
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12. Reducing or Eliminating the Use of Time-Out Rooms:
The Department has issued a guidance document to assist schools and districts with reducing or eliminating the use of time-out rooms. The guidance document includes a summary of existing requirements relating to time-out, reminders of important safeguards to implement if a school uses time-out rooms, and recommendations for schools and districts. The Department suggests that as this school year begins, schools use this document to facilitate conversations about how to increase the amount of time students spend learning with their peers. This is an important time to focus on this topic, given that the COVID-19 pandemic has been incredibly challenging and isolating for so many students.
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13. Redesigned DESE Website:
During the weekend of September 11-12, DESE launched its redesigned website. The new format is informed by user data and is designed to make the most visited content easier to find and make content more visible. The new mega menu (accessible by clicking on the three lines near the top left corner) features a complete listing of DESE content areas, and the search tool has been updated to yield better results. The Department will be refining the layout and content in the coming weeks and plans to make significant structural changes to the site over the next year to better organize the information.
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- MassCUE workshops: Massachusetts Computer Using Educators (MassCUE) is offering free virtual workshops for educators on a variety of student engagement and technology-related topics. Upcoming workshops include:
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- Tax credits for families: A coalition of non-profit organizations has created
FindYourFunds.org to help eligible families get thousands of dollars in federal tax credits (like the Child Tax Credit) and stimulus payments, even if the families do not usually owe or file taxes. Outreach materials are available in 11 languages.
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