Finishing the school year strong with another increase in COVID cases. 18,968 cases were reported last week. That looks like 8133 educators who tested positive in the last two weeks and were absent from school during an isolation period. Schools
Category: The Policy Minute
Your household may be eligible for discounted internet service. Outreach is happening to get families signed up – but educators should not overlook their own eligibility. The Affordable Connectivity Program – which replaced the Emergency Broadband Benefit program – will
17,423 cases. The weather may feel like August but COVID cases numbers look more like December in Massachusetts public schools. Is your school or community impacted by the staffing absences for COVID-related reasons? We are getting reports of schools needing
DESE has proposed changes to testing requirements for some Ch 74 teacher licenses. Public comments are due June 3, 2022. At the April 2022 Board of Elementary and Secondary Education meeting, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education proposed a
8079 students and 2636 staff members are included in the reported COVID-19 cases. Over 10,000 individuals in the reported data among Massachusetts public schools. Just last week. Nothing to see here folks. Schools have important things to do – like
Time to share your comments with DESE on raising the MCAS score requirements to earn a high school diploma! Public comment is open until June 3, 2022 on the proposed amendments to the regulations for Competency Determination for a high
A report from AACTE flags licensure tests as a barrier in cost and content for aspiring teachers. Is this a “water is wet” or a “we told you so” moment? A new infographic from the American Association of Colleges for
Three FIVE opportunities for public comment on regulations are open this week. Any member of the public can weigh in on proposed amendments to regulations during the public comment period. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) publishes the
We thought we would be done with COVID reporting but here we are. Cases still linger in schools in April. The statewide numbers are just above the pre-Thanksgiving rates. Most districts switched to at-home self-testing for COVID-19 weekly reporting. The
COVID cases in public schools have finally dropped to pre-November levels. In addition to the switch to at-home tests, Governor Charlie Baker announced a repeal of the state-wide mask mandate in all public schools. Districts are free to make their