Massachusetts
The recipient of a Phase 2 Race to the Top (RttT) grant award, Massachusetts is pursuing five reform efforts to attract and retain an effective, academically capable, and culturally proficient educator workforce. To this end, NECC is assisting the state's Center for Educator Policy, Preparation and Licensure in a range of activities related to developing an effective and equitable teacher evaluation process, ensuring disadvantaged students' access to high-quality teaching, and strengthening and expanding teacher preparation programs and professional development. Following on previous work, NECC continues to support the MA DESE's statewide dropout prevention initiative, which engages districts throughout the state in ongoing study and implementation of evidence-based programs and policies to reduce school drop-out rates.
Prior work focused on assisting the state's Executive Office of Education to support a statewide network of six Readiness Centers established to engage stakeholders throughout the state in addressing priority education reforms. NECC also worked with the MA DESE to build the capacity of the six District and School Assistance Centers which operate within the larger system of Readiness Centers.
In prior years, NECC worked with the Massachusetts Department of Education's Office of Reading to support the creation of a PK-16 statewide literacy plan.
Contact
Carol Keirstead is the NECC liaison for Massachusetts.
Email: ckeirstead
rmcres.com
Related events
Webinar: Expecting Success
How Policymakers and Educators Can Help Teen Parents Stay in School
2:00 - 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Online
National data indicate that teen parenthood is a leading reason that some 26% of students drop out of high school; it is the primary cause of dropouts among female students.
The Massachusetts Alliance on Teen Pregnancy shared highlights and concrete recommendations for promising practices detailed in its recent report Expecting Success: How Policymakers and Educators Can Help Teen Parents Stay in School.
The NECC's Massachusetts Dropout Prevention and Recovery Work Group sponsored the webinar.
An invitation-only event.
Contact: Karen Laba
Email: klaba
rmcres.com
Massachusetts Readiness Centers Network Meeting
10:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Bridgewater, MA
Bridgewater State College
In service of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Education, NECC staff facilitated a meeting of representatives of the six Massachusetts Readiness Centers for the inaugural meeting of the Readiness Centers Network. Announced by Governor Patrick last fall, the Readiness Centers are intended as a key strategy to improve teacher quality from early childhood to higher education.
An invitation-only event.
Contact: Carol Keirstead
Email: ckeirsteadrmcres.com
Massachusetts Urban District Dropout Prevention Teams Meeting
8:30 - 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Worcester, Massachusetts
College of the Holy Cross
In conjunction with the Massachusetts Dropout Prevention and Recovery Work Group, NECC coordinated this first whole-group meeting of the Massachusetts Urban District Dropout Prevention teams. Dr. Jay Smink, executive director of the National Dropout Prevention Center and author of Helping Students Graduate: A Strategic Approach to Dropout Prevention, was the keynote speaker. Participants also took part in a cross-district consultancy process to promote peer sharing and learning in the continuing development of district dropout prevention plans.
An invitation-only event.
Contact: Karen Laba
Email: klabarmcres.com
Massachusetts Dropout Prevention and Recovery Advisory Group Meeting
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Worcester, MA
Worcester Technical High School
NECC staff facilitated a meeting of the Advisory Group to review and discuss plans for the 2009-2010 school year.
An invitation-only event.
Contact: Karen Laba
Email: klabarmcres.com
Massachusetts Dropout Prevention and Recovery Initiative Meeting
Worcester, MA
Holy Cross College
This was the kick-off meeting of a state effort to help urban districts address problems related to school dropouts.
Contact: Karen Laba
Email: klabarmcres.com
Massachusetts Dropout Prevention and Recovery Initiative Meeting
Malden, MA
MA DESE (Department of Elementary and Secondary Education)
NECC staff worked with Massachusetts DESE staff to design a January conference and ongoing study groups on droupout prevention and recovery.
Contact: Steve Hamilton
Email: shamiltwested.org
Massachusetts Dropout Prevention and Recovery Initiative Meeting
Malden, MA
MA DESE (Department of Elementary and Secondary Education)
NECC staff met with DESE staff to plan a January conference and support ongoing study groups.
Contact: Steve Hamilton
Email: shamiltwested.org
Massachusetts Dropout Prevention and Recovery Initiative Meeting
Malden, MA
MA DESE (Department of Elementary and Secondary Education) Office
Initial meeting between Massachusetts DESE and NECC staff members.
Contact: Steve Hamilton
Email: shamiltwested.org
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Mathematics Team Meeting
Malden, MA
NECC facilitated an all-day meeting to organize and strengthen a forthcoming report on math education.
Massachusetts Statewide Systems of Support Regional Meetings
NECC staff facilitated five regional meetings that brought local districts together to apply for state grants designed to spur inter-district collaboration on areas in need of improvement.