The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (Department/ DESE) is continuing to develop and share this newsletter during the COVID-19 pandemic and throughout the 2020-2021 school year. As schools, districts, teachers, students, and families navigate an especially challenging school year, we hope that these resources are helpful and welcome any feedback.
If you have any questions, concerns, or comments, please email the Office of Student and Family Support at achievement@mass.gov.
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The Department, in partnership with the Massachusetts School Mental Health Consortium (MASMHC), is pleased to again offer an opportunity for district teams to engage in a learning collaborative facilitated by the National Center for School Mental Health (NCSMH) during the 2021-2022 school year. Selected district teams will be given access to professional development, technical assistance, and ongoing coaching as they work to pilot practices to support the establishment of a comprehensive school mental health system.
For more information, see the brief overview and feel free to attend an optional information session, held Tuesday, May 11 (10-10:30am); Friday, May 14 (12:30-1pm); and Thursday, May 20 (2-2:30pm). Register online to join a session and/or receive the application (due June 4, 2021). Question? Contact achievement@doe.mass.edu or 781-338-3010.
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In collaboration with the MA School Administrators Association (MSAA), the Department’s Early Learning Team is pleased to announce that registration is now open for the next session in a year-long professional development series for elementary principals related to early learning. The next convening will be held from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 27th (rescheduled from a previously announced date). The session will include a 60 minute presentation with Dr. Nicole Christian-Brathwaite focused on trauma-informed practices for students, staff, principals and families, followed by breakout sessions in which principals can connect and network with each other. Please register online to join us!
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The Massachusetts Family Engagement State Coalition, in partnership with the Statewide Family Engagement Center (MSFEC), will host virtual listening sessions in May for families, practitioners, community organizations and other interested community members to hear about current experiences related to schools and COVID-19 and racial equity. Similar to the sessions held last summer and this winter, these sessions will inform the coalition’s plans related to family engagement offerings in the upcoming year. For more details and to register, see the links for the Regional Coalition and Affinity Group sessions.
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Applications for the Safe Schools Program for LGBTQ Students' 2021-2022 GSA Student Leadership Council and Summit (Summer 2021) are now open! All youth who are in grades 9-12 during the upcoming school year and who live in MA are eligible to apply as students. Anyone interested in applying as a volunteer must be over 18 years old. All interested in making social change in their community are encouraged to apply. Applications are due Friday, May 14th and decisions will be sent by May 26th. Accepted applicants will both attend the Summer 2021 Summit and be a member of the 2021-2022 GSA Leadership Council.
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Online registration is still open for the 5th pathway: Equity Lens on School Discipline
The Department is partnering with The Equity Imperative for virtual professional development opportunities throughout the 2020-2021 school year. Join us in a learning series to support the use of tools in your racial equity journey. This series is offered through five learning pathways (topic areas). Each learning pathway will have three virtual sessions (two hours each), aligned with Equity Imperative’s theory of action to Illuminate, Indicate, and Navigate.
PATHWAY #5 EQUITY LENS ON SCHOOL DISCIPLINE: This path will support educators to unpack the research on school discipline and develop strategies to interrupt inequitable systems. The dates for this pathway are May 6, 13, and 20. All sessions are from 8AM to 10AM.
For more details, see the online registration form. If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Student and Family Support via achievement@mass.gov.
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Mental Health Lunch & Learn Series
Enhancing and Promoting Resiliency in Black and Brown youth during a pandemic
May 19, 2021 - 12-1 PM
Register Now
Audience: Youth workers, mental health clinicians, teachers, social workers, parents, and other social service professionals.
Panelists:
- Maria King-Bynoe, Marriage and Family Therapist with 20+ years family stabilization experience utilizing the Internal Family System model.
- Alexa Dume, Student in her junior year at the John D. O'Bryant School of Mathematics & Science.
- Ashley King, MSW, school-based clinician focusing on child-centered play therapy using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy models.
Moderator: Lesbie Bramble, Director of Adult Services, Brookview House.
Learning Objectives: Define culturally-responsive strategies that promote and foster resiliency in Black and Brown youth. Identify principles of mental health and well-being of children living in marginalized communities. Recognize and reinforce best practices.
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