Working together to build new civic learning opportunities for all Massachusetts students | |
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Action Item 1
Last week, the Massachusetts House took the first step to override Governor Healey's veto that cuts funding to the Civics Project Trust Fund. By a 151-3 vote, the House voted to reverse the cuts and increase the Commonwealth investment in civics by 25%.
The State Senate is expected to take a vote this Thursday (10/5) to also override the veto. Click here to send a note to your Senator asking them to be a champion for civic education by overriding the Governor’s veto.
As you know from previous alerts, Governor Healey vetoed an increase for the Civics Project Trust Fund and instead reduced it by 25% to $1,500,000. This cut will have a significant impact on the DESE’s ability to continue the rollout of many existing and new projects supporting civic education. See the Commonwealth Magazine Op-Ed to read more about the impact of the Governor's veto on the Civics Project Trust Fund.
Join other MCLC members who are now joining together to urge the Senate to restore funding for civic education. Click here to send a quick note to your State Senator urging them to override the Governor’s veto.
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October 10, 2023 3pm
Meeting ID: 816 3091 1471
Passcode: 807648
One tap mobile
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Next Meeting Agenda- We Want Your Input
MCLC Member Meeting
October 10, 2023 3 pm
See the Agenda Here
- What would you suggest that we focus on with these topics?
- Any other topics?
- Advocacy Update
- Goals for the year, what will success look like? - Continuing the discussion
- Youth initiative
- Other suggestions from members
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October 24, 2023
If you would like to participate, either by simply attending the meeting in person, making a brief statement during public comment or by submitting a supporting statement, please sign up so that we can coordinate plans.
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Board of Elementary & Secondary Education Meeting
Civics on the agenda October 24/Sign up to be there and/or make a statement
BESE plans to include a discussion of civics at the October Board meeting. (Yes, again!) We have been invited to participate a few times now, only to have the topic cancelled at the last minute. That could happen again, but nevertheless, it’s important to be prepared to participate. 2023 marks the fifth anniversary of the 2018 civics law and the history and social science framework. To take note of this anniversary, MCLC is collaborating with the DESE history and social studies team to take note of the occasion with a presentation to the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) on Tuesday, October 24, 2023. Natacha will represent MCLC, joining the DESE team in making the presentation.
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Job Opening - History/Social Science Contract Position - Genocide Education
Are you passionate about meaningful, engaging, culturally responsive history and civics education for ALL students? Do you believe that social studies education should empower students to recognize and address injustice? Apply to join DESE’s History and Social Science team!
DESE is currently hiring for a new, contract position that will lead an exciting portfolio of history and social science projects with a particular focus on genocide education. We are a collaborative, committed, and fun team committed to thinking creatively and deeply about curriculum and instruction. The work will include many exciting projects, including finishing development of our open-source, inquiry-based middle school history curriculum; working on a large-scale evaluation of genocide education across Massachusetts in order to think creatively about how to support middle and high school teachers with professional learning and resources; and expanding our efforts to identify and connect educators with high-quality, culturally responsive instructional materials.
If this sounds like the type of work you’d like to be a part of – apply on MassCareers today! Start date is flexible; this position runs through June 30 with the possibility of renewal. Please reach out to Reuben Henriques with any questions.
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Spring 2024 MCAS Grade 8 Civics Field Test
In school year 2023–24, DESE plans to conduct a required field test of the grade 8 civics assessment across all schools enrolling grade 8 students, tentatively scheduled for the end ofApril through early June 2024. See the DESE website for more information about the design of the test and practice tests.
DESE will conduct informational training sessions this coming school year in preparation for the civics field test. These sessions will be announced in the Student Assessment Updates and will appear on the training opportunities web page. If you have questions, please contact the Office of Student Assessment Services at mcas@doe.mass.edu or 781-338-3625.
A few additional notes:
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Includes both an end of course tasks (computer-scored; covering the entire breadth of standards) and performance task (narrowed to one standard; local-level tasks available but not scored)
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Expectations and Clarification document available to provide more guidance on how certain standards will be assessed
- Current plan is to implement statewide with results reported in 2024-2025
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Grade 8 Civics Assessment Informational Sessions
DESE will conduct virtual and in-person informational sessions this fall for the new MCAS Grade 8 Civics assessment in preparation for the spring 2024 field test. Registration information is as follows, both for for grade 8 civics educators and curriculum coordinators:
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Civics Projects Artifacts Library
DESE has established a curated collection of examples of aspects of civics projects from educators and students across Massachusetts that can support the planning and implementation of high-quality, non-partisan, student-led civics projects across Massachusetts classrooms, schools, and districts.
DESE is actively taking additional submissions for review and plans to use the Pathways as an opportunity to collect, review, and add artifacts too. Civics Project Artifact Submission
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Member Events and Announcements | |
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Massachusetts Council for the Social Studies Conference
October 22-23, 2023
Schedule and Registration
This year the conference will take place at the Cape Codder Resort and Spa in Hyannis, MA and will also feature site-based workshops at various locations on November 7, 2023.
The theme this year is preparing students to become critical consumers of information and learning. In addition to many workshops on this theme by leading providers and educators, it will include a Keynote by Jay Barry of Arlington High School, founder of Applied History and an Edcamp “unconference” sessions. We hope to see you there!
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Nobel Prize winner Lech Walesa Speaks at
Bridgewater State
October 3, 2023 In Person
From his role in Poland as a dissident and the leader of Solidarity in 1980 to the first democratically elected president of Poland since 1926 and the first-ever elected by popular vote, he served as president of Poland from 1990-1995. President Lech Walesa will be present for his “Dialogues in Democracy” lecture on Tuesday, October 3, at 7 PM in the Rondileau Student Union Auditorium.
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Empowering Students with Disability History: A Workshop for Special Education Professionals
Emerging America
October 18 - Repeats January 30
4-5pm October - 5-6 ,January 2024
This FREE workshop will support increased attention to disability across the K-12 academic curriculum, by providing basic historical knowledge, free curriculum materials, and strategies for collaboration with elementary teachers and Social Studies and English Language Arts teachers across grades.
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Accessing Inquiry for English Learners through Primary Sources
IN-PERSON
Emerging America
October 19 and November 16 8:30-3:30 - Northampton
Alison Noyes, Emerging America and Jacqueline LaFrance, ELL specialist. Focus on inquiry strategies that work to support accessible social studies teaching, informed by recent pilot-tested methods developed for social studies teachers working with primary sources with multilingual learners. 15 PDPs or 1 grad credit in History.
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Mass Bar Association’s High School Mock Trial Program
Information and Information and registration
Last year, the MBA had over 100 high schools participate across the Commonwealth. They hope to expand participation even further this year. Benefits of the program include:
- Furthering students’ understanding of the law, court procedures, civil liberties and our legal system
- Increasing students’ proficiency in basic life skills, such as listening, speaking, reading and reasoning
- Developing students’ advocacy skills, regardless of which side of the case is being represented and irrespective of the party with which students most identify
- Heightening students’ awareness of law-related professions and the academic studies that lead to those professions
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