#21 MCAS Resources, Illuminate Reports, Student Surveys, Assessment PD, Recruitment

Wow, it's cold outside... 

School will be open on Thursday.

Budget Collab/Probable Orgs Almost Done!

I want to thank all of you again for the preparation you have done to get set for 2019-20 school year. With the drop in enrollment across the district, and based on projections, some of you have had to make some difficult decisions that weigh on you, the staff, and your community while others have been more fortunate. Once again, I'm thankful for your hard work and commitment. I'm looking forward to getting back out into schools!

Links to MCAS Resources

Computer-based Released Items

MCAS Digital Item Library

Student Tutorial and Practice Tests

New Illuminate Reports Available

Interim/MCAS report Side-by-side view of each student's 2018 MCAS data and their performance on this year's Interims. This report only shows data for students in grades 4-10 and is visible to school leaders and principals, but not teachers. It looks like this:

The highly used Matrix Report tile on the Illuminate homepage is available for ELA Interim #2 and looks like this:

Chronic Absenteeism

Several principals have been unable to access the Attendance Dashboard from Aspen to monitor chronic absenteeism. Try going directly to this link: Data Warehouse We are more than halfway through the school year, so those students at 89% attendance can still increase their attendance rate by 5% if they make it to school every day for the rest of the year. 

Student Feedback and Climate Surveys Being Combined

In March 2019, the student feedback and student climate surveys will be combined, which will reduce overall survey length, increase ease and flexibility of survey administration, streamline the survey experience for students, and simplify accessing survey data. Please see this FAQ for some further information. Please complete this survey by January 31 to ensure that the administration goes smoothly and there aren't any data issues that arise. 

The following information will be requested in the survey:

• Identify a survey coordinator for their school (to attend a webinar in early March)
• Identify non-instructional courses at their school from a pre-populated list (to prevent a data issue that arose at some pilot schools last year) Purpose: to ensure that students are only giving feedback to teachers who are teaching them content. Some courses coded as "instructional" by the district are actually non-instructional at some schools, e.g. Study Skills.
• Identify teacher codes for full classroom teachers (to prevent a data issue that arose for co-teachers at some schools last year) Purpose: to ensure that all full classroom teachers receive feedback. 

Thanks in advance for your help with this.

Literacy Assessment Professional Development Dates

Literacy Assessment Professional Development Dates:

• Lexia: January 22, January 29, February 7
• NWEA/MAP: January 28, February 5, February 14
• All sessions will be at the Bolling Building
• Register on My Learning Plan

Register for Upcoming Recruitment Events

Partner & Pipeline Program Candidate Demonstration Day on Saturday, February 9th and the 5th Annual Boston Diversity Career Fair for Teachers on Tuesday, February 12th. The link to register a school for recruitment season events is here: 2019 Recruitment Events Registration

Educator of the Year Nomination Link

Nominations link is here and are due by March 4, 2019.

#20 Budget Collab, Formative Data, Retirement, Principal Hiring, etc...

Budget Collab/Probable Org Update

At this writing, I've attended 12 meetings in three days, and by the end of the week, it will be 18 meetings in five days. I am impressed by the incredible preparation and attention to detail that you have done so that the meetings go smoothly. Thank you.

Formatives - January 15th

Out of 26/27 schools in EDFS (one school uses TeachPoint), our network had 203 staff on self-directed/developing plans due for a formative, and 164 or 80.8% were on time. Of 164 completed, the ratings were: 10 (6%) Exemplary, 10 (6%) Needs Improvement, and 144 (87.8%) rated Proficient. There were zero Unsatisfactory ratings. I have sent an email to each of you with some data regarding the formatives that were completed according to EDFS. This will be an automated email, so please don't take offense. I will follow up with you by phone if formatives are missing.

Retirement 

Please join me in congratulating Baldwin Pilot Early Learning Center Principal Tavia Mead, who has announced that she will retire in August. I have been in touch with the Governing Board Co-Chair to launch the search process. Please communicate with your networks about this leadership opportunity. Meanwhile, Tavia continues to carry out this year's plans and setting the stage for next year. Thank you, Tavia, for informing us early so that we have ample time to conduct a search. 

Principal Hiring

Screening Committees are in place and will be interviewing for the permanent principal at the East Boston EEC and Mary Lyon K-8 during the next two weeks. I aim to complete the process before February vacation.

Sad News

Hurley School Principal Marjorie Soto's mother passed away last weekend. The services for Loida Muniz will be held on Thursday at 6 - 8 pm, and the final prayer Friday at 9:30 am. It will be held at Iglesia La Familia 357 Luzerne St. Philadelphia, Pa 19125.

My Visits

I'm counting Budget Collab as a meeting this month!!!! Budget preparation is a major responsibility of yours and its success stems diligent - I'm still working on a visit schedule to see you before February vacation. Please call me if you need anything.

FYI

Grade 5 and 8 Mock MCAS Tests on Illuminate

Perception Survey:  Perception Institute Teacher Survey will be sent to your teaching staff on Tuesday, January 22nd via email. Teachers that complete the survey will receive a $20 Amazon gift card courtesy of the Perception Institute. The survey window will close on Friday, March 1st.

Please find an updated Opportunity Portfolio Catalog here.

Hiring Supports: The OHC Recruitment, Cultivation & Diversity Programs (RCD) Team has compiled a list of resources to share as you engage in both the probable org process and the hiring and staffing process.

• MTEL Prep and ESL Mentoring Support Info Sheet
• MTEL Prep and ESL Mentoring Support Winter 2019 Schedule
• RCD Team Program Info
• SY 18-19 Recruitment and Cultivation Events
• SY 18-19 Retention Strategies
• BPS ALANA (African, Latino, Asian, and Native American) Educators Program Events-

BPS Recruitment -- Upcoming Events:
LINK to Events & Registration Links

• Feb 12th- BPS Diversity Career Fair
• March 30th- Turnaround & Transformation Showcase & Interview Day
• April 8th - Multilingual and ESL Career Fair
• April 27th- Showcase in high needs areas (including ESL & STEM)

Spending Deadlines: Please see the attached memo for the district's FY19 spending deadlines. These deadlines apply to all schools and central offices.

BPS Budget Website: will go live: As of February 6th, the BPS website will have a new budget tool, which will provide detailed information on each school's FY20 budget. Schools leaders will have the chance to preview and provide feedback on their school's budget page on the week of January 28th. Stay tuned for more information.

Obtaining Student Feedback: BPS is excited for all schools to include student voice as part of a school's improvement process with the implementation of a student feedback survey this spring 2019. Teachers will use individual data to inform their goals; aggregate data will help inform school goals. Watch the attached Student Feedback video! Student Feedback Slides

#19 January 15 Eval Reminders, Math/ELA Content Facilitators & much more!

Welcome Back!

During break, I spent time with family, ate too much, slept late, and read a couple of books. I hope you had time with loved ones and time just to be still.

We are entering a phase of the year when evaluation and budget deadlines collide, when resources are stretched tight, and state and local testing begins in earnest. Please know that your steady leadership is greatly appreciated!

In coming weeks, I will see most of you during your budget collab meetings. Meanwhile, I have worked on my schedule, but it is quite limited at the moment. Please forgive me for invitations that are short notice or need to be rescheduled. Please reach out via text/call/email anytime. I'll get back to you when I can.

My major tasks over the next six weeks:

• Form screening committees to recommend permanent leaders at the East Boston EEC and Mary Lyon K-8 School.
• Complete formative evaluations.
• Participate in Budget Collab/Probably Org meetings.
• Conduct school visits.

Do you have a math/ELA content facilitator? (repeat post)

Teachers have applied for math facilitator in nine network 6 schools. Below, please find applications for Math and ELA; they require your sign off and are due today or as soon as possible. Ideally, these facilitators are on your ILT so that information can be shared back to your school. 

Math Teacher Leader Application

ELA Teacher Leader Application

Take a moment to listen to this story about Guild's fourth graders' climate change poetry

From Mary Driscoll, our K0-8 Associate Superintendent 

"In the weeks leading up to the January 15th Formative Evaluation and May 15th Summative Evaluation deadlines school leaders can schedule up to two days (one in January, one in May) to work off-site at the Bolling Building or other BPS location in order to write evaluations. The scheduling of the off-site work days must be approved by your Academic Superintendent. The leader must share the plan for coverage at the building with the AS, OS and OL."

From OHC: January 15 - Formatives Due

Evaluations for your Staff: Tuesday, January 15, 2019

The Formative Assessment Dashboard is up and running. 

Use the same link as the Fall Deadlines tracker (click this link and bookmark for quick access if you don't have it already). 

Use your 6-digit school RC number (101XXX) and your own Employee ID# (six-digits), then click enter/return (not the refresh button on the screen) to view your dashboard. 

Good evening school leaders,

Thank you for all of your work approving goals and observing educators in your buildings over the past few months! A quick reminder that Formative Assessments for educators on Developing and one-year Self-Directed Growth plans are due by 11:59pm Tuesday, January 15, 2019.  As you are working, remember to reference the EDFS Tips to help troubleshoot any potential issues.

Note: This is not a flexible deadline

REMINDER: The January 15th deadline does not apply to educators on 2-year plans.

Information on: 1. Immediate action items 2. Resources for formative assessments and 3. Deadline reminders  for other employee groups.

1. Immediate Action Items (please share with your evaluator team):

• Data trackers: We will send the link to your formative assessment data tracker on or about December 14 so you can confirm who needs a January 15 assessment. If you want to run a report in EDFS before then, instructions are here.

• Make any proposed Exemptions submissions using the linked google form. EDUCATORS WHO ARE ALREADY LISTED AS ON LEAVE IN PEOPLESOFT, AND WHO WILL REMAIN ON LEAVE IN PEOPLESOFT ON JANUARY 15TH NEED NOT BE REPORTED. Exemptions include such cases as BTU educators in non-DESE-licensed roles, educators piloting TeachPoint, and educators in split positions evaluated by another school.

• Artifact submission notification: Notify all educators of artifact submission due date for Formative Assessments. Educators should be given 3 weeks' notice of their deadline. If you give an extension, it must apply to all educators. We encourage you to modify this sample notification email.

• REMINDER: In order to limit system traffic during peak usage time, only evaluators will be able to log in to EDFS from 10am Friday, January 11 through 10am Wednesday, January 16. Please ensure educators are aware of this lockout and have submitted artifacts prior to January 11.

• REMINDER: Google docs can now be linked directly into the artifact rationale box in EDFS, so educators can be given the option to link artifacts rather than upload them.

•  Observations: The first observation for educators on one-year, Developing, or the first year of 2-year plans were due November 15. Please continue to complete these observations and ensure you are releasing formative assessment with sufficient observation data. It is best practice to include evidence in each standard from 2-3 elements; please keep this in mind when observing to ensure you have sufficient evidence.

2. Resources:

• Reach out to eval@bostonpublicschools.org for Formative Assessment Support. Our team members are offering one-on-one or small group formative assessment reviews and technical support by appointment from Wednesday, January 2 through Friday, January 11. We will be available either in person at Bolling or via Google Hangouts. Evaluators can also sign up for a reserved private work space in Bolling.

• Artifact/Formative Assessment Resources section in the OHC School Leader Handbook includes EDFS tips, next steps/prescriptions bank, artifact guidance, criteria for strong evaluations, and more

3. Reminders for other employee groups:

• Evaluation Dates and Deadlines gives an overview of all employee deadlines and links to circulars

• Non 5-step presentation pulls out specific steps for employee groups and also links to circulars

Upcoming deadlines for non-teacher employee groups include:

Other Employee Groups:

Item	By when
Conduct evaluation of paraprofessionals new to the building or who received a Does Not Meet in any area	As soon as possible
Assign evaluation plans for long term substitutes in EDFS	As soon as possible
Optional interim evaluation meeting with managerial employees	No later than Jan 31
First Interim evaluation for all lunch monitors	No later than Feb 1

We will be sending additional reminders leading up to the Formative Assessment deadline. If there are other supports that would be helpful in the meantime, please let us know!

Best,

The Performance Management Team

BBPS: McCormack 5-6 Pathway Messaging

• In SY 19-20 the McCormack will continue to operate as a 6-8 on its current site.
• In June 2020 the McCormack building will close for renovations
• In SY 20-21and 21-22 McCormack will operate as a 7- 8th-grade school in swing space (location TBD) 
• In September 2022 the McCormack building will re-open as a 7-12 school.

Most students entering the McCormack in September 2020 as 6th graders (current 5th graders) will have the opportunity to continue their high school career in the renovated McCormack building when it re-opens. (The exceptions will be based on any programming shifts that happen as part of the 7-12 expansion) They will also have the opportunity to be part of the design process for the newly renovated and reconfigured school.

Network 6 EdVestors Seed Grant Recipients

Congratulations to Hale and Otis!

Nathan Hale Elementary School (Roxbury)
Close literacy achievement gaps for boys of color and engender a love of reading by engaging students and their families through culturally responsive and affirming texts

James Otis Elementary School (East Boston)
Transform elementary science instruction to an inquiry-based, student-centered approach

Terra Nova Parent Reports from Fall 2018

Parent/Guardian letters with test results from the fall 2018 TerraNova tests will be available for schools to pick up from the Cluster Mailrooms on 01/9/19. The letters are also available in the schools' Google drive. Individual student test results are posted on Aspen.