Words from Grace
December 20 - Fall Trimester Grading Window Closes (grades K-5, K-6, K-8)
December 24 - January 4 - Winter Recess
January 5 - students return from Winter Recess
January 18 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday
Division of Academics
Summer Learning Academy Funding Opportunity
For school leaders interested in receiving funding to run a summer program, the Office of Expanded Learning Opportunities invites interested schools to apply through the 5th Quarter Portfolio Application. The deadline to complete the application is January 11, 2021 at 5PM. You can preview the full application here before submitting answers through the Google form. For questions, contact summerlearning@bostonpublicschools.org for more information or use this link for office hours to receive additional support.
Professional Learning on January 4th
The Office of Academics and Professional Learning will provide PD offerings on January 4th to support schools that are holding a PD day or for teachers who would like to opt into learning opportunities to support hybrid learning. Sessions can be found on the Academics website.
Collaboration between ELA Teams and Libraries
The Library and ELA teams are partnering in their work to provide equitable access to texts to all BPS students. If your school is interested in discussing how the two teams can partner in your school, or simply strategies in which students are able to access more texts in a remote setting, please reach out to Deborah Froggat, Director of Library Science at dfroggat@bostonpublicschools.org, Stacie Withington, Elementary ELA Program Director at swithington@bostonpublicschools.org or Sharon Abraham, Secondary ELA Program Director at sabraham@bostonpublicschools.org to learn more! Thank you.
Teacher Leadership Fund Midyear Grants
The Teacher Leadership Fund is happy to announce a new midyear grant opportunity for this year only. We know that now more than ever educators are innovating and creating to address the immense challenges that our students and schools are facing, especially those that have been created or exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Grants of up to $5000 will be awarded to teams of educators. Applications will be reviewed on a monthly basis. The initial deadline is December 15th. For more information, please click here.
Boston Citywide/Region VI Science Fair
On Wednesday-Friday, March 3rd - 5th, 2021, Boston Public Schools will conduct the 75th annual BPS Citywide/Massachusetts State Region VI Science Fair. This year the event will be hosted virtually. We know the Science Fair provides an opportunity for our students to demonstrate and celebrate their accomplishments in the fields of science and engineering. Thus, your support of this event is essential. More information can be found in this memo.
Annual BPS Arts Professional Development Day
January 4th, 2021 - 9:00am-2:30pm
This year's pd day will begin with an engaging keynote from Grammy Award-Winning performing artist and community organizer Wyatt Jackson. The following breakout sessions will focus on student engagement and techniques for remote/hybrid instruction:
Differentiated General Music Instruction in Remote and Hybrid Settings with Will Houchin of the Sumner Elementary School
OBS How-To: Bringing Actors from Different Locations Together Into a Virtual Scene to Livestream or Record Performances with Brendan Baley
Visual Thinking Strategies and Teaching With Artistic Behavior (TAB) on Zoom with Julia Einstein of MassArt
Naming the World: Constructing an Activist Music Education with Dr. Juliet Hess of Michigan State University
Creating Dance Performances by Students with Disabilities with Ava Untermyer of the Curley K8 School
Basic Brass and Woodwind Repairs on Zoom with Steve Johnson of Virtuosity Music
Finding Your Light: Sharing Theatre Resources to Uplift Your Practice with Company One Theatre
Targeting Student Engagement through Tech Tools Curriculum Swap
Register on TeachPoint: Arts PD Day 2021: Student Engagement in the Arts or email Anthony Beatrice at abeatrice2@bostonpublicschools.org.
2021 Winter Wellness Day!
Attention all BPS Physical Educators and Health Educators: Join us for an engaging and interactive day to kick off the New Year! This professional development will include a range of health and wellness topics conducted through synchronous and asynchronous sessions.
Date: January 4, 2021 9am
Contacts: Jessica Greene, Physical Education Director and Cheryl Todisco, Health Education Director. See our flyer for more details and to register!
Division of Accountability
SY21-22 Opportunity Index Score Reports Uploaded
ODA has uploaded SY21-22 OI score reports to Google Data Folders. These reports show the relative ranking of your school on each of the OI metrics, compared to other schools in the BPS.
Please contact Stephanie Marek (smarek@bostnopublicschools.org) with any questions.
MCAS Assessment Announcements
January 2021 MCAS High School Testing window eligibility (January 14 – February 12)
- Students in grade 12 (class of 2021), as well as adult test-takers, are eligible to participate in one or both tests (ELA/Math) to earn their CD during the January testing window.
- Students in grade 11 (class of 2022) do not participate in testing during the January window. Testing for this class in ELA and mathematics was postponed until later in the year.
- Students who were in Grade 12 last year (class of 2020) and are still enrolled this year remain eligible for the 3rd round of the modified CD (info on this has not been shared with districts yet). These students do not need to participate in MCAS testing during the January window.
- Students in grade 9 (class of 2024) who have completed or are expected to complete a biology course by the time of testing. Parents/guardians, in consultation with principals and other school personnel, have the option to request that their child participates in testing at grade 10 instead. An STE component is part of the Adams Scholarship eligibility criteria, and eligibility is based on students’ first-time scores. This should be considered when making the decision to participate in high school STE testing in grade 9.
- Adults who have exited high school and are attempting to earn a scaled score of at least 220 on an STE test.
Class of 2021 John and Abigail Adams Scholarship Letters Distribution
- Schools that have students eligible for the scholarship will receive a shipment of the official notification materials to keep on records in the students’ files. A memo regarding this will be school leaders soon.
- The Office of Data and Accountability will send the paper version of the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship letters to parents/guardians through the U.S. mail and the electronic copy via email to parents/guardians who have email addresses on file.
- Schools may download additional copies of the letters from www.mcasservicecenter.com
- A list of award recipients is available for access in the MCAS 2020 Data folder in DropBox Central.
Student, Teacher, and Family Surveys - Extended Until 12/23
Please ensure high participation rates for your school community. Teachers and Families have been emailed links to the survey. All grade 3-12 students who have not completed the survey are also being emailed a link directly. Response rates, completion lists, and more are included in the Leader/Coordinator Guide in the Panorama Resources Folder.
If you have any other questions, please reach out to: rc069@bostonpublicschools.org or support+bps@panoramaed.com
MAP Administration Refresher Sessions January 2021
1/7, 2:30-3:30 pm; 1/12, 8-9 am; 1/19, 4-5 pm; 1/25, 9-10 am
ODA is hosting MAP Administration PDs for anyone who would like a brief refresher before administering MAP in January. These virtual sessions will briefly review how to plan for and administer MAP Growth and MAP Fluency. Register here. As a reminder, the winter testing window is January 11-29, 2021. Reach out to Dana Pulda-Acone with any questions!
Interim Assessment Announcements
*Grading Constructed Responses
It is essential that teachers score any constructed responses on the Interims. Constructed Responses default to a score of '0', resulting in artificially lower scores, when left unscored.
School Leaders can check for unscored constructed response items in Illuminate:
Find the CONSTRUCTED RESPONSE tile on the homepage. If you see the little red notification bubble, that means there are assessments that have constructed response items that need to be graded.
Click on the CONSTRUCTED RESPONSE tile to pull the list of assessments with constructed response items that need to be graded. Follow up with teachers and share this guide with those who need help with Grading Constructed Responses
Anyone who needs support or has questions should reach out to Dana Pulda-Acone at formatives@bostonpublicschools.org.
Panorama Update
Panorama now shows K-5 report card data, and applies an overall threshold to summarize these grades. The table below outlines how Panorama displays K-5 course grades. You can find details in the newly updated Data Guide.Division of Equity, Strategy, and Opportunity
Office of Recruitment, Cultivation and Diversity Programs Recruitment & Cultivation Team Updates & Events
The Early Hiring Pool is now open and we would love your help in encouraging highly qualified and diverse candidates to apply! For prospective teachers only.
School Leader Panels are happening on January 5 and March 18. We have volunteers to serve on the panels, but other School Leaders are welcome to join to have an opportunity to meet in small groups with candidates. Contact Kim Connolly at kngo@bostonpublicschools.org if you would like to be added to the invites.
SAVE THE DATE!!! Demo Day for Early and Elementary will be on Saturday, February 6 and for Middle and High School on February 27. Please come and support aspiring educators by giving feedback to demo lessons they will present. Also, get a preview of candidates for next year. We encourage you to invite members of your hiring committees to join as well. School Leaders and designees may RSVP here.
Cultivation - Licensure and Certification Team - Pathways Program
UPCOMING DEADLINE - Fall/Winter Pathway Programs
The upcoming Pathway Programs offer professional development and licensure preparation in three areas: English as a Second Language, Severe Disabilities, and Moderate Disabilities. The programs should be of particular interest to teachers with emergency licenses or waivers in these areas, as well current and prospective inclusion and ESL teachers, as well as grade and content teachers in SEI program schools. The deadline for submission of applications is Monday, December 14. Click here for program information and application. For questions, please email pathwayprograms@bostonpublicschools.org.
Diversity Programs & Retention Services
Executive Coaching Leadership Programs for Male and Women Educators
RCD offers both a Male Educators of Color (MEOC) Executive Coaching Leadership Program and a Women Educators of Color (WEOC) Executive Coaching Leadership Program. Each is a 9-month program designed to increase engagement, retention and leadership rates for the male staff of color or female staff of color within Boston Public Schools. Each program session is led and facilitated respectively by current and former male or female leaders of color from the Boston Public Schools. Participants will receive a valuable combination of executive coaching, research-based content as well as a natural balance between self-reflection and peer interactions. The programs will guide participants to focus on key levers of effective educational leadership and also support the development of innovative, research-based solutions to key problems of practice. This is an excellent professional development opportunity to support future leaders in your schools. Deadline has been extended until January 15, 2021
Apply here: Male Educators of Color (MEOC) Executive Coaching Leadership Program - SY20-21 For more details, click here.
Apply here: Women Educators of Color (WEOC) Executive Coaching Leadership Program - SY20-21 For more details, click here.
Central Office and School Leader Affinity Groups
Weekly or monthly gatherings to share questions and concerns, celebrate cultural diversity and to support each other’s work in a safe and inclusive environment working towards an anti-racist workplace. For more information: rmartin2@bostonpublicschools.org. If you’d like support in establishing school-based or department based affinity groups or to participate, please email eoccultivation@bostonpublicschools.org. Click the link below to sign up.
Central Office convened:
RCD Convened:
ABA (Applied Behavior Specialists) of Color School-Based staff
School Leaders of Color Network (SLOC) - designated
School leader convened:
APIDA School Leaders
Black School Leaders
Latinx School Leaders
Do you need a degree?
RCD has several degree completion programs through our higher education partners for Associates, Bachelors, Masters, CAGS and Doctoral degrees from the Boston University Wheelock College of Education, DUET-Southern New Hampshire University, Northeastern University and Regis College. To receive information, click here.
Office of Strategy and Innovation:
$5000 Stipend for Transformative Mentoring in the Middle Grades
The Transformative Mentoring program will provide intensive relational mentoring and college, career, and life planning support for our BPS students in the middle grades (6-9). It will not only help BPS students succeed through the current crisis during these critical years of development but will be a foundational component of our forward-moving redesigned model of college, career, and life readiness for all grades. Mentors will receive training and support to become skilled in My Career and Academic Planning (MyCAP) tools, culturally and linguistically sustaining practices (CLSP), and transformative social-emotional learning (TSEL). They will have an opportunity to support students and assist them in building networks that support their growth in their individual identities and connections with the world around them. - Apply Here
Are you a passionate educator who would like to join a cohort of other teachers focused on promoting racial equity in education. You have the opportunity to join a team of talented Lead Teachers across the city to improve teaching and learning in Boston during COVID and beyond. Through our initial pilot, we plan to serve up to 2,000 students in grades 8-12. Through Campus Without Walls, students will have access to talented Lead Teachers across the city, skilled at providing student-centered digital learning experiences as well as a culturally responsive, anti-racist decolonized curriculum. In addition, students will be able to access a wide menu of classes offered through Outschool.org that tap into their interests and passions. High student engagement is at the center of this initiative. To nominate a great teacher in Boston, or to nominate yourself, please follow the link to the nomination form
Division of Human Capital
January 15th Formative Assessments -
School leaders - In advance of January 15th Formative Assessments please review and share the SY21 Formative Assessment Reminder Memo linked here with evaluators at your school.
Employee Absence Requests: Reviewing Unapproved Absences by 12/22/2020
The Unapproved Absence Report for your school/department MUST be run on a weekly basis. Take appropriate action(s) for all unapproved absences listed. Past and current pay period absences must reflect asn "Approved" status. The deadline to verify/process all unapproved absences is 12/22/20.
Navigate to Query in HCM:
Main Menu - Workforce Administration - BPS Timekeepers Queries - Scroll down to BPS Unapproved Absences - Use Date Range from 1/1/20 to 1/1/2021 to capture all calendar year 2020 absences.
Review past sign in sheets to confirm if the employee was absent.
If yes, then Approve the absence.
If the employee did not take the absence, Cancel any outstanding request. The timekeeper/School Secretary can Edit/Cancel directly on Time Management/Time Sheet
If the employee currently does not have time to cover the absence, change it to an absence the employees does have a balance in. Inform the employee and request to use other time or that you will need to Edit/change to absence event: Leave No Pay/with appropriate reason.
If the employee does not have available balance to cover the absence, the employee will go into a no pay status.
Probable Org. 101 Guidance
OHC is excited to begin seeing some of you at Pre-Probable Orgs as early as this Friday! We are working on updating guidance to be helpful and we have added a *NEW* section to the Probable Org 101 Guidance, which can support you on basic questions about seniority bumping for permanent educators or Paraprofessionals. For more detailed guidance and support, please reach out to your HC Manager.
Remote Instruction Look-Fors Version 1 has gone live!
OHC’s Performance Management Team is developing a new interactive tool of rubric -aligned Remote Instruction Look-Fors. It is designed to foster conversation among educators, their peers, and supervisors to identify priorities and standards in regard to remote teaching and learning. The tool builds off of the OHC website’s interactive rubric, and uses a pyramid arrangement to prioritize rubric elements building upon “foundational” elements that relate to equity, safety, and access, as well as the concept of “Maslow Before Bloom,” which intends to recall the importance of an Ethic of Care in our professional practice as educators.
These look fors are also intended to begin conveying what effective instruction COULD LOOK LIKE, based on available research, and are not to be interpreted as requirements or a checklist for compliance from the Central Office. To be clear the look-fors are not to be used as a substitute for rubric language itself, but rather a guide for conversations and reflection on practice.
We recognize and support the importance of a using trial-and-error approach with new practices and technologies. Accordingly, we also support the creation of professional learning environments that allow for informed use of such an approach. Further, we would like to continue expanding and refining this tool as a resource to support highly effective remote instruction by continuing an interactive discussion with practitioners - educators and supervisors - throughout the district.
We invite you to view and reflect upon this version, and share your ideas and insights through the discussion forum linked within the web page, to grow this tool into something that ultimately provides realistic and meaningful examples of best practices in remote learning.
Division of Student, Family, and Community Engagement
Partner Connector Events
To better help you prepare to choose partners for SY21-22, the Partnership Office will be holding a series of Partner Connector Events. On Wednesdays, starting January 13th to February 3rd for one hour. The events will be broken down by subject matter weekly, and then in breakout rooms by grade, so you only need to attend focus areas you are interested in.
Registration will launch December 20th. We look forward to seeing you there!
