K-12 Education
K-12 Education
News releases, reports, statements and associated documents from public policy organizations influencing the debate on education policy.
Featured Stories
Albemarle County School Board Presents 2023-24 Funding Request to Board of Supervisors
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Virginia, March 17 (TNSsel) -- Albemarle County Public Schools issued the following news:On Monday afternoon, Katrina Callsen, Chair of the Albemarle County School Board, and Kate Acuff, school board member, presented the school board's balanced 2023-24 funding request of $257,346,842 to the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors. The request proposes an increase in expenditures totaling just under $10.9 million.
The funding request, which was approved by the school board at its March 9 meeting, is structured to accomplish the three goals of the division's strategic plan, Learning ... Show Full Article CHARLOTTESVILLE, Virginia, March 17 (TNSsel) -- Albemarle County Public Schools issued the following news: On Monday afternoon, Katrina Callsen, Chair of the Albemarle County School Board, and Kate Acuff, school board member, presented the school board's balanced 2023-24 funding request of $257,346,842 to the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors. The request proposes an increase in expenditures totaling just under $10.9 million. The funding request, which was approved by the school board at its March 9 meeting, is structured to accomplish the three goals of the division's strategic plan, Learningfor All, including thriving students; affirming and empowering communities; and equitable, transformative resources. Expenditure changes in the funding request are linked to each of these goals and supported by a logic model to ensure that programs will be implemented in a timely manner and evaluated on both a short- and long-term basis. The request includes such investments as safety enhancements; directed staffing for reading and intervention specialists at all schools; staffing to keep class sizes low; and competitive compensation.
Albemarle County Public Schools (ACPS) projects that K-12 enrollment in 2023-24 will rise by 136 students to reach 13,721 and, when including pre-K students in enrollment projections, will surpass 14,000.
Other notable funding priorities include a learning recovery fund to address the lingering impact of the pandemic on student achievement; an expansion of summer school opportunities with an emphasis on academic enrichment; increased support services for special education students and English Learners; additional security assistants at each secondary school and funding for a School Resource Officer; investments in student mental health; and career learning academies aligned with high-growth professions in the county.
Of this process, School Board Chair Katrina Callsen stated, "I want to express the admiration and gratitude of the school board to those who have provided input to the budget planning process and for those delivering services and support to the students, families, staff, and community partners of the ACPS community. Another invaluable contributor to this process is the Albemarle County local government, which has worked closely with the school division to provide early revenue projections and information and shares our firm belief in the contributions that a high-quality, responsive and innovative public education system will make to the future well-being and prosperity of all county residents."
Overall, this funding request includes an increase of $15 million in local revenues, an 8.8% increase over the current fiscal year, and $4.6 million in additional state funding, a 6.9% increase. Nearly three-fourths of the school division budget next year will be funded by local revenues and about 28% supported by state revenues.
To follow the progress of the ACPS funding request, interested parties may consult the division's 2023-24 Budget Development web page, which the school division will update regularly.
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Original text here: https://www.k12albemarle.org/our-departments/communications/news-board/~board/newsroom/post/albemarle-county-school-board-presents-2023-24-funding-request-to-board-of-supervisors
SCUSD Statement on Racist Material Distributed at Kit Carson International Academy
SACRAMENTO, California, March 15 -- The Sacramento City Unified School District issued the following news release:The District is aware of racist material distributed at Kit Carson International Academy today and wants all of our families to know this matter is being handled with the utmost seriousness. Sac City Unified strongly condemns the use of racist language or material and has taken swift disciplinary action against the two students involved. The district is also providing support for students and staff who may have experienced trauma or harm as a result.
"Racism, including the use of ... Show Full Article SACRAMENTO, California, March 15 -- The Sacramento City Unified School District issued the following news release: The District is aware of racist material distributed at Kit Carson International Academy today and wants all of our families to know this matter is being handled with the utmost seriousness. Sac City Unified strongly condemns the use of racist language or material and has taken swift disciplinary action against the two students involved. The district is also providing support for students and staff who may have experienced trauma or harm as a result. "Racism, including the use ofharmful language and stereotypes have no place in our schools," said SCUSD Superintendent Jorge A. Aguilar. "It threatens the safety and well-being of students and staff and will not be tolerated."
"The racist messages circulated among students at Kit Carson are profoundly upsetting," said SCUSD Board President Chinua Rhodes. "There is no place for racist language or imagery at our schools, and the SCUSD Board condemns these messages in the strongest possible terms. Our schools should be centers where everyone feels valued so each student can learn, grow, and reach their greatness."
"I am deeply disappointed by today's incident at Kit Carson International Academy," said SCUSD Board Member Jasjit Singh. "There is zero tolerance for hate and racism at Sacramento City Unified. My support is with all those affected, and my gratitude is with the staff who worked quickly to take action. I ask that disciplinary action includes restorative justice practices, and we work with the students involved, so as to help them understand why their actions have no place in our district or in our community."
Sacramento City Unified takes a zero tolerance approach to acts of racism and has partnered for more than a year with attorney Mark T. Harris, the District's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion monitor, to address such incidents. Harris investigates incidents through a lens of objectivity and identifies areas for improvement district-wide.
"The incident today underscores the need to fully educate our students and families about the shameful history of the N-word," Harris said. "Clearly, the students have misguided ideas around the use of the word and the District must do more to reach them. We need to send a stronger message that the use of this word - by anyone - must stop."
In the coming days, the District Climate and Culture staff will look for additional opportunities to partner with Kit Carson and other schools to turn this horrible incident into a learning opportunity for students. In the meantime, we urge families to talk with their students to help them understand that any use of the N-word or other racist language is unacceptable regardless of context and will carry consequences.
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Original text here: https://www.scusd.edu/press-release/scusd-statement-racist-material-distributed-kit-carson-international-academy
Fairfax County Public Schools: Superintendent's Weekly Reflections
FALLS CHURCH, Virginia, March 15 -- Fairfax County Public Schools issued the following statement on March 14, 2023, by Superintendent Michelle Reid:* * *
What a great week ahead, -- one of my favorites because of course it includes a significant mathematics holiday. Pi Day (which is 3/14) will be celebrated across the division. Pi is the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter and is a constant number, meaning that for all circles of any size, Pi will be the same. It is such a comfort that some things in this amazing and oft changing world stay the same regardless of size ;>)
I started ... Show Full Article FALLS CHURCH, Virginia, March 15 -- Fairfax County Public Schools issued the following statement on March 14, 2023, by Superintendent Michelle Reid: * * * What a great week ahead, -- one of my favorites because of course it includes a significant mathematics holiday. Pi Day (which is 3/14) will be celebrated across the division. Pi is the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter and is a constant number, meaning that for all circles of any size, Pi will be the same. It is such a comfort that some things in this amazing and oft changing world stay the same regardless of size ;>) I startedmy week with a visit to Rolling Valley Elementary School with School Board member Karen Keys-Gamarra. Principal Maureen Boland and Special Education Department Chair Amy LaCrosse kindly showed us around their beautiful school as we met students, staff, and stopped in classrooms along the way.
In Anna Markel's kindergarten classroom, students were counting with their favorite stuffed animal. It was lovely to see how excited the students were about learning next to their stuffed besties! I was impressed with the library as librarian Samantha Reynolds recently redesigned the space into a colorful and inviting place to learn. Keep rockin' Robins!
I had previously met teacher Betsy McArdle so it was great to connect again. Betsy's husband Chip is the assistant wrestling coach at West Springfield High School. This year's inaugural Girl's Wrestling State Champion is Elaina Primozic from West Springfield High School. NBC Washington featured a story about Elaina that you can watch on their website. Betsy also shared this quote from Elaina, " I'm so grateful that opportunities for girls in wrestling are growing. The physical and mental benefits of wrestling don't compare to any other sport, but they transfer over. I would love to see more girls involved." Head Coach Pat Smith added, "Elaina's accomplishments serve as inspiration and encouragement for girls that may have been undecided about wrestling to step forward and get involved in the sport." Elaina is breaking barriers in sports but as Betsy shared, she's keeping her academics in focus as a 4.0 scholar. Elaina is a role model for all our young women! Never believe there's something you can't do. As Thomas Edison once said, "If we did all the things we are capable of, we would literally astound ourselves."
FCPS students are shining their light across Northern Virginia this week - quite literally in the spotlight at the recent CNN Town Hall on education. If you watched Thursday night, you saw West Potomac senior Callie Walsh (second from left), who was able to ask Governor Youngkin a question. Callie was one of only three students who asked questions during the event. Callie chose to ask him about possible legislation that would guide the selection and removal of public school library materials.
Three of Callie's classmates were also selected to be in the audience. They are from left to right, Nairi, Haskew, and Hailey. Nicole Boghard, a history and social studies teacher, shared that the students said it was an amazing experience! Our students continue to show this nation that they are committed to being global and ethical citizens who will play an important role in shaping the future of our country! Way to go, Wolverines!
Speaking of student leaders, shout out to Kendyl and Cael from West Springfield High School who invited me to the Patriot Pact event Friday. Patriot Pact is a chance for students from West Springfield, Lake Braddock, Woodson, Fairfax, South County, West Potomac and Robinson high schools to collaborate, hear insightful conversations, get inspired, and connect with fellow student leaders. As marketing education leader Sam Jonsson shared, the event has been going on for the last 8-10 years. The most important thing in our schools is to not just hear the voices of our diverse and dynamic students, but to give our students the power to bring real change. Our students will continue to lead us!
Student voice has been critical to our strategic planning process. Since it began last Fall, we have heard from students through our student survey and student focus groups. The work continues as two surveys launched this week will obtain feedback from parents/ caregivers and community members on the draft goals and pillars. As shared last week, throughout the month of March, all FCPS employees will hear strategic plan updates from their principal/ program manager and review the strategic plan draft goals and pillars. Please complete the exit ticket at the end of the "Reality Check" session to ensure your voice is heard. Across all three stakeholder input opportunities, we've heard from over 10,000 stakeholders. The Instructional Focus Team convened this week to hear a high-level overview of the planning framework and engagement process, provide feedback on the draft goals and pillars, share and learn about existing bright spots within the division, and draft professional practices. Strategic planning materials continue to be updated on the Strategic Planning website. Three additional community forums are planned for this spring. We also welcome all parents, students, staff, and community members to provide input in the Let's Talk Strategic Plan Feedback form here. Stay tuned for more information.
I was able to speak with our staff at the Equity Lead Institute this week. This year's theme was Learn, Liberate and Lead. It is our intent to have our FCPS Equity Policy in place before the end of the current academic year. As I have shared many times, our responsibility is not only for the time our students are in the classroom, but to be able to lead and empower them for the rest of their lives. We need the best thinking of each of our staff members; it is not easy to lead in these challenging times. We need to speak with courage and act with compassion. I look forward to continuing to support this important work. It matters!
We must also commit to keeping our students safe in school. I hope you will join me Monday evening at Fairfax High School as we host a conversation around the dangers of opioid abuse, and the deadly danger of opioids laced with fentanyl. It's time to get real and realize that this crisis is here, in our schools and communities. During Monday's event, we will hear from individuals and family members affected by the opioid epidemic, medical experts, and law enforcement representatives. We will also have an opportunity to hear directly from Fairfax County Public Schools and the Fairfax County Police Department about local initiatives to address this issue. Register for the March 13 event. This is the first in our series of conversations in our #Fight Against Fentanyl.
Back in January, I shared the story of Courtney White, who is our coordinator of grants programs. Courtney is president of a nonprofit hazing prevention organization called the Love Like Adam Foundation. The foundation was established in honor of a recent hazing victim, Courtney's cousin, Adam Oakes. The group's mission is to educate high school and university students on hazing, its psychological and physical impacts, bystander intervention, and alcohol intoxication. I am excited to share that the Love Like Adam Foundation will be hosting the first session for students in FCPS at Annandale High School on March 27. I hope this will be the first of many opportunities and know that Courtney and the work she is leading will continue to make a difference.
Thursday afternoon, I participated in a panel as part of a Leadership Greater Washington (LGW) event. Dr. Monica Goldson, the CEO of Prince George's County Public Schools joined me for a conversation around the impacts of the pandemic on learning, school safety, and the future of public education. Learning happens best in community so I am always grateful for the opportunity to share the challenges and triumphs that we experience every day as educators.
Thursday evening during the Academic Matters presentation at this week's School Board meeting, I shared information on work-based learning experiences for students that help develop career readiness. Not all learning happens in the classroom. Job shadowing, career fairs, and exploration options such as internships and mentoring are all fabulous ways for our students to put their classroom learning to work in a real world setting.
In a Fairfax Inspires moment - congratulations to Toshieba Ragland, the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) advisor at Lake Braddock Secondary School. The Virginia Association of the FCCLA has honored Toshieba as the 2022-2023 Adviser Mentor Award! Having a trusted adult in a student's life is critical to academic success, bolstered by social and emotional wellness. Thank you Toshieba and everyone across FCPS who make an indelible mark in the lives of each and every one of our students by providing them with a mountain top experience in our schools every day!
Friday evening, I had the great experience of watching our FCPS basketball teams compete for the state championship in both the girls and boys tournaments. The 6:00 pm game had our Madison HS girls team winning an exciting game in overtime. This was the fourth year in a row for the Madison HS girls' basketball team to win the championship. Way to go Warhawks, the 2023 State Champions!!
Additionally, Friday night was an orange out on the campus of VCU for the Boys Basketball Championship game! Congratulations to the Hayfield Hawks for back-to-back State championship wins! This time over Patriot High School with a final score of 52-41. It was such a privilege to be there to celebrate these joyful moments! Well done Hawks, the 2023 State Champions!!
One final "note"! I neglected to share the kind invitation I received last month from Kim Andray, Band Director at Oak View, Bonnie Brae and Little Run elementary schools. She invited me to attend the 2023 Robinson Pyramid Concert featuring the Robinson Area Band directed by Kim and Randy Hamm and the Robinson Cadet Band directed by Judy Einuis. The Robinson Area Band showcased 93 members from Bonnie Brae, Fairview, Laurel Ridge, Oak View, and Terra Centre Elementary Schools. A few members of the Robinson High School Bands were mentors to these elementary students during the 14 week program. Many of the Cadet Band and the High School Band students were once part of the Robinson Area Band Program. Music makes connections, and it was so wonderful to see kids from different schools come together! Thank you to Kim, Randy and Judy for fostering these connections - This work matters and is core to a world class education!
Saturday morning, I had the opportunity to make the first move in several sections of a chess tournament held at McNair ES. The excitement and thoughtful planning was clearly evident as we got down to business beginning at 9:00 am. I learned that the likely first move is E-4. I am now planning to be ready for the next chess tournament ;>) as the excitement builds for our young chess competitors across the division. It is great to put our learning into action!!
As I close out this evening, I trust that I will see you Monday evening as we host our conversation around the dangers of opioid abuse, and the deadly danger of opioids laced with fentanyl. It is here in our community and in our schools and we must better understand the dangers so that we can better address prevention and mitigation, together all things are possible. As one of my favorite scientists shared, "Half the battle is just showing up." -- Stephen Hawking
Wishing you and yours an abundantly joyful week ahead,
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Original text here: https://www.fcps.edu/blog/superintendents-weekly-reflections-26
BPS SUPERINTENDENT ANNOUNCES KEY APPOINTMENTS TO LEADERSHIP TEAM
BOSTON, Massachusetts, March 15 (TNSper) -- Boston Public Schools issued the following news release on March 14, 2023:Boston Public Schools (BPS) Superintendent Mary Skipper today outlined her new organizational chart and district-wide management team as she marks her fifth month as Superintendent. The new structure is centered on equity as a throughline across the organization in support of academics, family and community advancement, and operations for the District's 119 schools and administrative offices. It prioritizes practices and policies to eliminate opportunity and achievement gaps throughout ... Show Full Article BOSTON, Massachusetts, March 15 (TNSper) -- Boston Public Schools issued the following news release on March 14, 2023: Boston Public Schools (BPS) Superintendent Mary Skipper today outlined her new organizational chart and district-wide management team as she marks her fifth month as Superintendent. The new structure is centered on equity as a throughline across the organization in support of academics, family and community advancement, and operations for the District's 119 schools and administrative offices. It prioritizes practices and policies to eliminate opportunity and achievement gaps throughoutthe organization.
"We must do everything we can to ensure that our students, especially our black and brown students, students with disabilities, and multilingual learners who have been historically underserved, have full access to the highest quality teachers, classrooms, and schools; that our families feel a strong sense of belonging and support; and that our operations and facilities are working smoothly and fully support teaching and learning," said Superintendent Skipper. "The district office must be in service to our schools so that our schools can be in service to our students and families. Each school, each student, and each family has their own unique needs. The district office must provide clear district-wide expectations and accountability while also still maintaining the flexibility schools need to meet their individual needs.
"The structure of our leadership team will streamline processes and create a more efficient system, enabling us to sustainably assist students, improve communication, and address long-standing systemic issues we see reflected in the Council of Greater City Schools Reports. I believe in the power of shared leadership and decision-making. As we endeavor to be an antiracist organization, we are fully committed to ensuring that we are addressing the barriers to equity, pursuing areas of growth, and leaning on our strengths as a district."
At the root of Superintendent Skipper's vision are her and her team's focus on the growth and development of the whole child, which means taking a holistic approach to educating students and providing them with the resources, support, and guidance they need to be successful. The organizational structure announced today aligns with the key priorities Superintendent Skipper outlined for the District at the start of her tenure in late September, which: prioritizes and accelerates academic performance and provides equitable access to quality education, particularly for those most historically underserved, including Black and Latino/a/x students, students with disabilities, and multilingual students; strengthens access to social-emotional learning; streamlines operations and ensures student safety; develops authentic and equitable family and community engagement practices; improves internal and external communication with families and staff; and increases accountability for both the Central Office and our schools.
The newly announced leadership team is within one of the three Deputy Superintendent's bodies of work:
* Chief of Staff - Leading the team as the Superintendent's right hand is Rochelle Nwosu. Her job is to remove unnecessary barriers so our work can move forward and our leaders can do their jobs effectively. She will also hold the leadership accountable for their work, regularly monitoring the implementation of the District's priorities and projects.
* Senior Deputy Superintendent of Academics - Under the leadership of Dr. Linda Chen, the academics division is focused on support and accountability for students' academic outcomes through teaching and learning. Using an equity lens, the academics team will build on the work of the Opportunity and Achievement Gap task force to close gaps that persist for Black, Latina/o/x, economically disadvantaged students, students with special learning needs, and students who are multilingual learners with and without disabilities.
* Deputy Superintendent of Equity, Family, and Community Advancement - Under the leadership of Dr. Ana Tavares, the Equity, Family, and Community division is focused on ensuring equity as a throughline across BPS, developing authentic engagement practices with families and our communities, providing language access and delivering vital customer service to all our families.
* Deputy Superintendent of Operations - Under Dr. Samuel DePina, the Operations Division is streamlining operations across the District, focusing on the work in the Human Capital and Budget and Finance Offices. The Operations Division also ensures student safety, reliable transportation, and healthy and nutritious meals are provided for every student. Lastly, they work closely with the City on all facilities needs, including the Green New Deal for BPS.
"We do not need to reinvent the wheel," continued Superintendent Skipper. "Great work has been planned out through the strategic plan, which reflects a lot of hard work, good thinking, and stakeholders' voices. My priority right now is to implement structural changes that will help us execute the work more effectively as an organization. Planning is critical, but following through with good execution and accountability measures will allow us to deliver the results our students need."
Earlier in her tenure, Superintendent Skipper prioritized building a Regional Network Support Model to maximize the central office's direct school support. Within this framework, each of the nine regions will be equipped with a school superintendent, operational leader, district social worker, special education assistant director, human capital liaison, equitable literacy coach, multilingual compliance and academic supports, accelerated improvement and inquiry manager, budget liaison, supervisor of attendance, and restorative justice support. Each of the nine school superintendents leads between 10 and 15 schools and a team of regional liaisons to support schools efficiently and expeditiously by delivering critical resources directly to schools in real-time.
This model also provides shared academic and professional learning services, data analysis and systems level improvements, multilingual learning resources, and special education support to improve culture, climate, instruction, and increasing attendance rates, with equity as a top priority.
"Superintendent Skipper has put forth a team that has the expertise, commitment, and heart to deliver for all our students," said School Committee Chairperson Jeri Robinson. "It is exciting to see that this team truly reflects the experiences of our students and families across the district. We have an obligation to meet the needs of all students, and this new structure and team will provide much-needed momentum for this work. My fellow School Committee colleagues and I stand ready to ensure this team has the resources and support necessary to deliver on our mission."
The diversity of the district's leadership team comprises many identities, cultures, and spoken languages representative of the district's demographics, including Spanish, Mandarin, Cape Verdean Creole, and Portuguese. In addition, several members of the leadership team are also BPS parents and alums.
BPS Leadership Team (presented in alphabetical order):
* Mary Skipper, Superintendent
* Indira Alvarez, Chief of Operations
* Raecia Catchings, Interim Chief of Human Capital
* Dr. Linda Chen, Senior Deputy Superintendent of Academics
* Neva Coakley, Chief of Safety
* Megan Costello, Senior Advisor* *
* Dr. Samuel DePina, Deputy Superintendent of Operations
* Dr. Drew Echelson, Chief of Schools and Accountability
* Gabrielle Farrell, Chief of Communications
* Dr. Charles Grandson, Chief of Equity, Strategy, and Opportunity Gaps
* Monica Hogan, Assistant Superintendent, Data Strategy, and Implementation
* Jillian Kelton, Chief of Student Support
* Nathan Kuder, Chief of Finance
* Lisa Maki, Legal Advisor
* Rochelle M. Nwosu, Chief of Staff
* Myriam Ortiz, Chief of Community Engagement
* Annie Qin, Executive Director of Government Relations
* Lesley Ryan-Miller, Chief of Teaching and Learning
* Delavern Stanislaus, Chief of Capital Planning
* Denise Snyder, Chief of Family Advancement
* Dr. Ana Tavares, Deputy Superintendent of Equity, Family, and Community Advancement
* Christine Trevisone, Senior Advisor of Specialized Services
* TBD, Chief of Multilingual and Multicultural Education
* TBD, Chief of Specialized Services
Newly appointed department leads include:
* Chief of Teaching and Learning, Lesley Ryan-Miller - As Chief of Teaching and Learning, Ryan-Miller will oversee the departments of Early Childhood, Humanities, English Language Arts, History/Social Studies, Professional Learning, MTSS, Teacher Leadership, Health and Wellness, STEM, Math, Science, and World Languages.
* Chief of Community Engagement, Myriam Ortiz - In her new role as Chief of Community Engagement, Ortiz will oversee the Community Engagement, BPS Helpline, partnerships, and Language Access Departments, including translations and interpretation. Her team will continue to support the Superintendent's Office in designing and coordinating authentic, open, and engaging district-wide opportunities for BPS families, staff, and the general public.
* Chief of Capital Planning, Delavern Stanislaus - As the district's first-ever Chief of Capital Planning, Stanislaus will oversee the implementation of the Green New Deal for BPS, the District's long-term facilities plan, the BPS' FY24 capital budget proposal, and the numerous capital projects already underway.
* Senior Advisor of Special Education, Christine Trevisone - As the district's Senior Advisor of Special Education, Trevisone will oversee instructional compliance with regard to special education initiatives across the district. She will also work closely with Senior Deputy Superintendent of Academics Linda Chen and the Academics Division to ensure that the recommendations provided by the Council of Great City Schools are implemented. She will work to ensure that all students have equal access to the support and services they need to attain academic success and that compliance indicators across the district and within each school are above 95%.The Senior Advisor of Special Education will also ensure compliance with laws, regulatory requirements, policies, and procedures by working with various departments and external entities and partners and supporting the implementation of the Council of Greater City Schools recommendations for Special Education.
Superintendent Skipper also announced she is recruiting for several priority positions through a national search, including Chief of Specialized Services, formerly known as Special Education, Senior Advisor of Organizational Development & Equity, Chief of Multilingual and Multicultural Education, and Chief of Human Capital:
* The Chief of Specialized Services will be responsible for designing, delivering, and executing key restructures in the District's approach to special education and inclusion strategy to better meet student and family needs, including targeted reductions in class sizes and taking a collaborative approach to assessing the needs of students who have individualized education plans (IEPs) and who are English Learners. These efforts stem from the landmark agreement with the Boston Teachers Union, which places a premium on inclusion work being conducted across the entire District and within every classroom.
* The Senior Advisor of Equity and Organizational Development will advise the Superintendent and the leadership team, leading with equity strategy as a primary function of the role, on matters involving organizational development and improvement, as well as the district's capacity to lead through an anti-racist lens while ensuring that equity becomes a throughline throughout the entire BPS organization across the three divisions: academics, community and family advancement, and operations. This role will drive student learning outcomes, facilitate shared awareness across departments and divisions, ensure tight alignment and coordination across cross-functional projects, and improve district service quality, experiences, and outcomes for students and families.
* The Chief of Multilingual and Multicultural Education will work to ensure all multilingual learners feel a sense of belonging, safety, welcome, and joy for learning and that they have access to native language instruction and support from qualified educators who reflect the linguistic and cultural diversity of the students; are socially and emotionally healthy; have many opportunities to celebrate and show pride in their identity, culture, and language; perform at grade level in content and 21st-century skills, complex communication and collaboration, critical thinking, technology literacy, and self-direction and agency; have skills and options to pursue post-secondary opportunities and are prepared to be active agents for social change.
* The Chief of Human Capital will provide direction and leadership on critical policy decisions and implement district-wide strategies that support approximately 11,000 BPS employees. This role will address complex managerial challenges, restructuring, creating, and streamlining data systems and infrastructure to ensure accurate tracking and maintenance. This role will also manage numerous divisions: Labor Relations, shared services, performance management, payroll, strategic staffing, HR data analytics, employee services, and recruitment.
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Original text here: https://www.bostonpublicschools.org/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&DomainID=4&ModuleInstanceID=14&ViewID=6446EE88-D30C-497E-9316-3F8874B3E108&RenderLoc=0&FlexDataID=40998&PageID=1
DPS STEAM Launches Innovative Discovery Education Program
DENVER, Colorado, March 14 (TNSres) -- The Denver Public Schools issued the following news:The Denver Public Schools STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, PE, Health and Media Literacy) Department is excited to announce the launch of a new initiative with Discovery Education which will help educators district wide provide K-12 students with innovative and engaging multilingual learning experiences and resources.
"We are thrilled to bring Discovery Education's digital resources to our students," said Nadia Madan Morrow, Chief of Academics of Denver Public Schools. "This initiative will ... Show Full Article DENVER, Colorado, March 14 (TNSres) -- The Denver Public Schools issued the following news: The Denver Public Schools STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, PE, Health and Media Literacy) Department is excited to announce the launch of a new initiative with Discovery Education which will help educators district wide provide K-12 students with innovative and engaging multilingual learning experiences and resources. "We are thrilled to bring Discovery Education's digital resources to our students," said Nadia Madan Morrow, Chief of Academics of Denver Public Schools. "This initiative willhelp us enhance and enrich the educational experiences of our K-12 students, while also empowering our teachers with tools and resources to enhance the district's adopted curriculum."
Discovery Education, a worldwide edtech leader whose state-of-the-art digital platform supports learning wherever it takes place, offers K-12 educators a range of digital tools and resources that support the design and delivery of exciting educational experiences every day. The program includes science simulations, STEM connection videos and activities, virtual field trips and more!
"Discovery Education is more than just a program, it's an experience," said Beth Vinson, Director of STEAM at Denver Public Schools. "We believe that this initiative will help our students develop a love of learning and a curiosity for the world around them."
Discovery Education's supplemental curriculum offers a wide range of interactive and engaging resources that align with Colorado state standards. With Discovery Education's science simulations, students can explore and experiment with scientific concepts in a safe and engaging virtual environment. The program's STEM connection videos and activities provide real-world examples of STEM concepts in action, while the virtual field trips take students on exciting adventures to explore new places and learn about different cultures.
Denver Public Schools use of Discovery Education's digital resources is funded in part by the STEM Careers Coalition and Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds.
"Discovery Education is excited to support the talented team at Denver Public Schools as they launch this important effort," said Coni Rechner, Discovery Education's Senior Vice President of State and Strategic Partnerships. "The district's innovative use of federal funding is a model for school systems nationwide seeking to engage and inspire all learners-even our youngest students-to explore the careers of tomorrow."
Denver Public Schools will be rolling out the Discovery Education program to all K-12 schools in the district in the coming weeks. The program will be available during the school day and to use at home, ensuring that all students have access to the same high-quality educational resources.
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Original text here: https://www.dpsk12.org/dps-steam-launches-innovative-discovery-education-program/
BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS CONTINUES EXPANSION OF EARLY COLLEGE AND CAREER PATHWAYS WITH STEM TECH CAREER ACADEMIES AND YEAR 13 PROGRAMS
BOSTON, Massachusetts, March 14 -- Boston Public Schools issued the following news release:Boston Public Schools continues to expand early-college opportunities and career pathways for students with the launch of a Year 13 pilot program at Fenway High School, in partnership with UMass Boston; and the STEM Tech Career Academy at Dearborn STEM Academy in Roxbury, a program funded by a state grant, in partnership with Franklin Cummings Tech, formerly the Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology. These five- and six-year programs seamlessly blend the high- school and post-secondary experience to ... Show Full Article BOSTON, Massachusetts, March 14 -- Boston Public Schools issued the following news release: Boston Public Schools continues to expand early-college opportunities and career pathways for students with the launch of a Year 13 pilot program at Fenway High School, in partnership with UMass Boston; and the STEM Tech Career Academy at Dearborn STEM Academy in Roxbury, a program funded by a state grant, in partnership with Franklin Cummings Tech, formerly the Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology. These five- and six-year programs seamlessly blend the high- school and post-secondary experience toallow students to earn their high school diploma and post-secondary credentials at no cost.
Mayor Michelle Wu officially announced the Fenway High School program Jan. 25 during her State of the City address.
"We're building an education system to match our role as the academic capital of the world--taking every step to ensure our kids have the skills and experience to meet this moment," said Mayor Michelle Wu. "This program will give our students an additional full year of college-level courses debt-free as they transition to college and accelerate toward a degree."
Fenway High School and UMass Boston will deepen their existing Early College partnership by piloting a Year 13, which will allow Fenway seniors to remain in high school for an additional year to continue their college coursework at UMass Boston completely for free, while still having access to much needed academic, social, and emotional support staff, ultimately completing their first two years of postsecondary education for free.
The STEM Tech Career Academy at Dearborn STEM Academy will significantly expand access to higher education and Boston's science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) economy for marginalized students. STEM Tech Career Academies are six-year programs that enable high school students to earn associate's degrees and industry-recognized credentials in key STEM fields, including manufacturing, IT, and environmental and life sciences.
"These partnerships are a shining example of what can be achieved when post-secondary, business and philanthropic institutions come together as a village to support BPS and our students," said Superintendent Mary Skipper. "Expanding early college and career pathways across BPS is a key part of our strategy. We're eager to work with school leaders and our partners to expand BPS' Early College programs at the Dearborn STEM Academy in partnership with Franklin Cummings Tech and Fenway High School in collaboration with UMass Boston. We are immensely grateful to the Smith Family Foundation, State Street Foundation, Mayor Wu, and the Massachusetts Alliance for Early College for their generous contributions and advocacy, which will have a lasting impact on the educational outcomes of Boston's students."
This programming builds on last year's pledge, under Mayor Wu's leadership, to drastically expand early college and career pathways across secondary schools. Enrollment in Early College and Career Pathways programs has increased 29% since the 2020 school year, with the largest increases in participation in Innovation and Early College Pathways.
"Early college programming addresses some of the financial and socio-emotional issues that prevent some young people from achieving class mobility through education," said Boston School Committee Chairperson Jeri Robinson. "Supporting students in familiar environments as they begin taking college-level courses is an innovation that will help our District meet some of the biggest challenges of education in the 21st century. Early college programming not only provides students with the opportunity to gain college credits and experience, but also helps to build their confidence and resilience. By providing a supportive environment that encourages exploration and growth, we can help our students reach their full potential."
These landmark partnerships come after years of advocacy and work from countless partners across the city. City Councilor Michael Flaherty has prioritized programs that offer a Year 13 program during his tenure.
"The vision for Year 13 is, and always has been, about providing all of our students with the resources they need to close the achievement gap and thrive in a global and innovative economy," said Councilor Flaherty. "We boast of the best colleges and universities in the world, but yet not enough of our Boston Public School graduates are able to get into those institutions. Year 13 will be a game changer while getting them an extra year of instruction and exposure to college courses and career pathways."
The Year 13 program accompanies a joint BPS and UMass Boston initiative to expand early college access to BPS students. Numerous studies show that Early College programs reduce the time it takes to receive a degree, reduce the cost, and minimize the systemic barriers many students face in higher education while dramatically increasing graduation rates and equitable outcomes for students.
"UMass Boston is committed to expanding access to higher education, particularly to those who face systemic barriers to succeeding in college," said UMass Boston Chancellor Marcelo Suarez-Orozco. "This partnership and support will open doors and opportunities for first-generation students, students of color, those facing economic challenges, and many others."
"For 15 years, Franklin Cummings Tech has honed early college delivery models that catapult college degree attainment and unlock career paths that build generational wealth," said Franklin Cummings Tech President & CEO Dr. Aisha Francis. "We appreciate the Commonwealth Executive Office of Education for investing in this partnership to boost our future workforce by providing expanded access to early college education for BPS students."
Administrators at BPS and the school leaders at Fenway High School and Dearborn STEM Academy see these expanded programs as a way to enhance the high school and college experience for countless students in their respective schools.
"Our role is to be that connective tissue with higher education partners to be a more holistic experience for our students," said Ted Lombardi, Secondary Superintendent for college, career, and life readiness. "The Year 13 and STEM Tech Career Academy are two important innovations at BPS. They will bridge these two crucial phases of life for our students and make the transition as easy as possible."
Fenway High School and Dearborn STEM Academy school leaders are largely optimistic about the programs because of how this program will cut the cost of tuition for college, which is a barrier to many of their students.
"As we all know, the cost of college is skyrocketing," said Dearborn STEM Academy Head of School Darlene Marcano. "This program will alleviate so much of the financial burden on our students and give them the opportunity to go to college at an affordable price while still taking advantage of the love and support we offer here at BPS."
Early College programs have been shown to boost college completion rates for low-income, minority, and first-generation college students. For example, since the Massachusetts Early College initiative launched in 2018, students who've participated in early college programs have been found to complete their applications for federal financial aid and enroll in college at significantly higher rates than their peers.
"The theory, in action, is to kind of blur the lines between high school and college," said Fenway High School Head of School Geoff Walker. "So they can experience college in a supportive setting. This will be a great program for our students and we cannot wait to start."
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