5. Introducing MassSTEP:
On Friday, September 24, DESE introduced MassSTEP, the new brand for DESE’s Adult Education Integrated Education and Training Programs. The MassSTEP (Skills, Training, Education Programs) brand unifies the state’s network of 24 Integrated Education and Training and Integrated English Literacy and Civics Education programs. These models provide concurrent adult education, workforce preparation activities, and workforce training relevant to in-demand occupations and industries and conclude with participants earning one or more industry-recognized credentials. The state plans to issue MassSTEP planning and implementation requests for proposals on an annual basis starting in FY2023.
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6. COVID-19 Testing Webinar:
At 10:00 am on Friday, October 1, DESE will hold a webinar on the COVID-19 testing program and protocols. The webinar will provide information on the newly released mask mandate extension and the vaccination policy guidance as well as recent updates to the COVID-19 testing program. The webinar will be held via Zoom and is limited to 1,000 participants. The webinar is only open to school leaders and staff, and people may need to limit the number of participants from their school or district. The Department will post a recording of the webinar and slides at https://www.doe.mass.edu/covid19/testing/. For access to the webinar, please email k12COVID19testing@mass.gov.
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7. Exploring Interest in Potential Math Acceleration Academy Grant Opportunity:
The Department is exploring the possibility of creating a Math Acceleration Academy Grant opportunity and is seeking district and school interest. An Acceleration Academy is a week-long academic program designed to accelerate student learning through engaging, standards-aligned lessons that meet the specific academic needs of participating students. Acceleration Academy classes are small (12:1 student to teacher ratio) and can either provide students with targeted supports to master grade-level standards or provide accelerated learning opportunities for advanced learners.
School and district leaders who are interested in running a Math Acceleration Academy this school year during the February and/or April vacation week(s) are asked to please complete this short survey by Monday, October 4. The survey indicates interest but is not binding. This opportunity is open to traditional public schools, charter schools, career/vocational technical schools, and education collaboratives. Please email Thomas Zorich (thomas.zorich@mass.gov) with any questions.
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8. College and Career Readiness through MyCAP:
My Career and Academic Plan (MyCAP) is a planning process that engages students in aligning current course taking with future planning. Beginning in grade 6 and continuing through grade 12, students identify interests, talents and skills that will drive the students’ work in the three domains of college and career readiness: personal/social/emotional, career development education, and academic achievement.
The Department will offer a three-workshop training program for the design and implementation of MyCAP at the middle school level starting on Tuesday, October 19. The Department will also offer the three-workshop professional development series at the high school level again starting on Tuesday, October 26. For schools that have previously attended the training series, there will be a “MyCAP Refresher” on Tuesday, October 5. All trainings will be held virtually. For information about a grant that is available to pay stipends to planning teams attending these trainings, click here. For more information, email Lisa Harney at lisa.m.harney@mass.gov.
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9. Workshop Series on the Education Triangle of Students, Staff, and Families:
LearnLaunch, with support from DESE, is offering a workshop series on Developing Well-Being for the Education Triangle: Students, Staff, and Families. These workshops will help support leaders as they implement the first priority listed in DESE’s Acceleration Roadmap: to foster a sense of belonging and partnership for students and families. The series is open to educators at the classroom, school, and district levels, and participants are welcome to attend any one or all three of the workshops in the series. The three workshops will be held at 3:00-4:30 p.m. as follows: Understanding the Impact of Trauma and Building Educator Resilience, Wednesday, October 13; Strategies for Building Secure Relationships and Positive Classroom Culture, Wednesday, October 27; and Building Strong and Sustaining Partnerships with Students’ Families, Wednesday, November 10. Registration is open online.
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10. U.S. Senate Youth Scholarship Program Registration Open:
The U.S. Senate Youth Scholarship Program is a nationwide college scholarship program designed to promote student leaders' awareness of, participation in, and interest in government. The program is open to high school juniors and seniors in Massachusetts public (including charter) and private schools who are currently serving in an elected or appointed position in student government or in a civic or educational organization in which they represent their peers. Eligible students must submit a completed application with essay by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, October 15.
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11. Considering Offering Perkins V CTE Programming for the First Time in FY23?:
Districts that are considering offering Perkins V career and technical education (CTE) programming for the first time in FY23 are asked to please complete this survey by Friday, October 15. The form signals intent to develop new, Perkins V-eligible, non-Chapter 74 CTE program(s) and provides DESE’s College, Career and Technical Education staff with information needed to advise districts. Districts are asked to please review the requirements of Perkins V and the assurances in the survey and email Elizabeth Bennett with any questions.
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12. Elementary School Principals Networking and PD Series:
The Department’s Early Learning Team, the Massachusetts School Administrators’ Association, and the Massachusetts Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators will host a series of networking and professional development opportunities for elementary school principals (preschool to third grade) and early childhood administrators and educators during the 2021-2022 school year. The theme for this year’s series is Anti-Racist Leadership in the Early Grades. The series will be virtual (unless otherwise noted), will commence with a statewide kick-off, and will be followed by webinars, networking sessions, book discussion groups, an EdCamp forum, and a culminating statewide convening in the spring. Register online for the first convening, which will be at 3:00-5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 19 with Matthew Rodriguez from Equity Imperative speaking on anti-racist leadership in elementary schools. Interested principals can download more information here (download), and updates will be posted on the Early Learning Team’s news headlines page.
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13. Massachusetts School Wellness Website:
The School Wellness Initiative for Thriving Community Health (SWITCH) Movement, a collaborative effort dedicated to supporting school wellness efforts statewide, has launched its new website, MassSchoolWellness.org, featuring wellness resources for educators, administrators, and families.
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14. Innovation Pathway Grants:
The Baker-Polito Administration recently announced nearly $452,000 in grants to 20 school districts to launch new Innovation Pathway programs, which give high school students early career experience and expertise. The grants are designed to support schools which are committed to seeking official designation for the programs from DESE in spring 2022. Congratulations to all!
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- Translation Day: In celebration of International Translation Day on Thursday, September 30, the Translation Center of the University of Massachusetts Amherst asked several school districts, "What do you want your school community to know about translators and interpreters, or their work in Massachusetts schools?" The attached poster depicts their answers, and the Translation Center plans to send printed color copies to school districts. Staff who want to make sure that their district is on the list can email desetranslates@umass.edu.
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- Google PD opportunities: Districts that use Google Workspace for Education may be eligible to receive free professional development if they are new customers for purchasing Chromebooks, purchased 100 or more Chromebooks and Chrome Education Upgrade in 2021, or upgraded to Google Workspace for Education Plus licenses. Districts must apply for the PD by Thursday, September 30, or while available services last, and can do so through this application form.
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