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SPECIAL EDITION - September 2020

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Welcome to the
DESE STEM Newsletter!

We encourage you to share this newsletter with colleagues and subscribe here.
In this Newsletter...
 
     RESOURCES
     OPPORTUNITIES
 

 

See yourself in STEM

In 2020 there are a variety of STEM Week Challenges for all ages to participate in.  
https://www.massstemweek.org/ 
Many partners are also including free PD to support you - check it out now!

Follow @MassSTEMWeek on twitter to get the most up to date information and stay connected!

RESOURCES


OpenSciEd Covid-19 instructional mini-units 

OpenSciEd has released multidisciplinary COVID-19 & Health Equity units for grades 3-5 and high school. The COVID-19 pandemic is a clear example of how science and society are connected, and these units explore how different communities are impacted by the virus through the lens of historical inequities in society. The elementary units include integrated social-emotional learning and supports for teachers and families in addressing these emotional topics. The HS materials can be appropriate for science, social studies, and health courses. Epidemiologists, public health experts, equity and antiracist education experts, community groups, as well as social-emotional learning experts contributed to the material development. K-2 unit available on September 30th and middle school in January 2021. Sign up for the webinars to learn more about the units!
 

No-Cost, DESE-Approved Screener and Diagnostic Assessments

In an effort to help educators better understand their students’ academic needs in the 2020-2021 school year, DESE requested proposals from assessment companies for no cost screening and/or diagnostic assessments. The Department has currently approved the following assessments and will update this list on a rolling basis through the end of the calendar year. 

Currently, there are two vendors on the list:
  • Istation: Indicators of Progress: mathematics preK-8, reading PreK-8, and Spanish literacy preK-5 for Spanish language educators to assess in Spanish are on the list.
  • Riverside Insights: Iowa Flex: Mathematics 2-8 and ELA 4-8
The bid solicitation seeking vendors to provide assessments at no-cost to districts remains open for submissions until noon on Tuesday, December 1. Visit the DESE website for additional information.
 

WIDA eSummit

Free WIDA virtual learning opportunity for all Massachusetts educators, from ESL to all other content! This WIDA event will be held between October 12-30, 2020 so mark your calendars! Details can be found at: https://wida.wisc.edu/esummit 
 

OPPORTUNTIES


MTEL committee recruitment 

The DESE and Evaluation Systems group of Pearson are currently seeking Massachusetts educators to participate in Item Review Committees for the Massachusetts Test for Teacher Licensure (MTEL) program. 

We will be holding Item Review Committees for the development of the following tests: 

  • General Science (middle school) - October 8th and 9th 

  • Physics - October 15th and 16th 

  • Elementary Mathematics - October 20th and 21st 

  • Digital Literacy and Computer Science - October 26th and 27th 

  • Technology/Engineering - October 29th and 30th 

Item Review Committee members will review, approve, and/or revise the draft test items as necessary. Committees will meet in October and each committee will take place virtually over the course of at least two days. 

How You Can Get Involved

Learn more—Visit the Massachusetts Educator Recruitment website to learn more about educator involvement in the test development process, eligibility criteria, and benefits of participation.

Apply—Click here to complete an application for consideration for committee participation.

Nominate—Click here to submit your nominations of colleagues who may be interested in participating.

Share—Forward this information to other educators/colleagues.

Questions—Contact evaluationsystemscrg@pearson.com if you have questions or need additional information.

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This school year, we all have a role to play to keep each other healthy. Learn more.
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