English Learner Education Updates Board of Elementary and Secondary Education October 30, 2018
SEI Endorsement for Career Vocational Technical Educators 01 Introduction 02 LOOK Act CONTENTS 03 SEI Endorsement for Career Vocational Technical Educators Heather – frame and say approx. how much time (5 minutes)
01 Introduction Heather frame Heather [Say this at the start] Reminder: March 27, 2018: Board released proposed regulations related to the Language Opportunities for Our Kids Act and SEI Endorsement for vocational technical educators for public comment. Both sets of regulations are designed to improve instruction and learning for English Learners. We sent these regulations out for public comment (April – May) and then made some amendments to the draft regulations as a result of public comment. Today, we will highlight those changes for you and then we will ask you to vote on the regulations.
Introduction Last June, the Board adopted amendments to several areas of regulation: Language Opportunity for Our Kids (LOOK) Act Regulations English Learner Programs (603 CMR 14.04) Bilingual Education Endorsement (603 CMR 7.14 and 7.15) State Seal of Biliteracy (603 CMR 31.07) English Learner Parent Advisory Councils (603 CMR 14.09) SEI Endorsement for Career Vocational Technical Educators (603 CMR 4.00, 7.14, 7.15, 14.08)
Updates on LOOK Act Regulations 02
Updates on New English Learner Programs LOOK, there’s a new process for starting ELE programs *Since 2018 is the first year of this process, preliminary proposals will be accepted after November 15 to allow districts more time for program planning. Stakeholder Consultation District team consults with a variety of stakeholders on strengths and weaknesses of current ELE program. New ELE Program Planning District team identifies the appropriate ELE program model based upon stakeholder feedback, student data, and research. Preliminary Proposal to DESE District submits a preliminary proposal by 11/15* for programs starting the next academic year. DESE's review determines if a district can move forward with a complete program proposal. Complete Proposal to DESE Complete proposals are due by 1/1 for programs starting the next academic year. Program Commences Program proposals that pass DESE's review are cleared to open the next academic year.
DESE Supports: Training and Technical Assistance As the Department looks to serve as a support to districts in designing and implementing new programs, we will: Offer trainings for school leaders who are planning to implement new bilingual programs for English learners: Bilingual Education 101: a three-hour webinar Bilingual Education 102: a two-day training program How to Apply for a New Program 101: a one-hour webinar Provide technical assistance to district leadership throughout the planning and initial implementation phase. Create quick reference guides and forms for the new review process. Update guidance on Two-way Immersion/Dual Language and Transitional Bilingual Education programs.
Bilingual Education Endorsement Core content teachers (specifically math, history/social studies, science) who teach English learners in a language other than English must obtain the new Bilingual Education Endorsement. The new regulations allow: The Commissioner to issue a one-year waiver of the Bilingual Education Endorsement requirements under certain circumstances. “Grandfather clause” for individuals with three years previous experience in a bilingual setting. Transitional Bilingual Education license and Transitional Bilingual Learner Endorsement are equivalent to the bilingual endorsement. Bilingual Endorsement Guidelines for the approval of higher education bilingual programs was sent to IHEs with rolling approval of new programs. Development of Bilingual Endorsement MTEL is in process.
State Seal of Biliteracy Updates The State Seal of Biliteracy is awarded to students who have attained a high level of proficiency in English and a foreign language beginning with the graduating class of 2019. Two tiers of the Seal: The State Seal of Biliteracy The State Seal of Biliteracy with Distinction Department finalizing Guidance on the State Seal of Biliteracy. To be published in November 2018.
Seal of Biliteracy English Criteria Meets all graduation requirements; and Meets the English Language Arts requirement of the Competency Determination; or Students who are required to complete an Educational Proficiency Plan to satisfy the requirements of the Competency Determination must attain a minimum score of 240 on the MCAS retake or a composite score of 4.2 on ACCESS* English Language Development test. *English Learners only.
Seal of Biliteracy Foreign Language Criteria Meets all graduation requirements; and Students must attain a minimum of “Intermediate High” on the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) proficiency guidelines (e.g., a score of 4 on an Advanced Placement exam) on one of the aligned nationally recognized and readily available assessments approved by the Department; or An alternative evidence method established by the Department in guidance.
Seal of Biliteracy with Distinction State Seal of Biliteracy with Distinction English Language Arts Criteria: Students must meet or exceed a scaled score of 260 (Advanced) on the current grade 10 version of ELA MCAS. State Seal of Biliteracy with Distinction Foreign Language Criteria: Students must attain “Advanced Low” or above on the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) proficiency guidelines (e.g., a score of 5 on an Advanced Placement exam)on one of the aligned assessments approved by the Department.
Department to offer technical assistance to parent groups statewide. English Learner Parent Advisory Councils: Proposed Regulations (603 CMR 14.09) Specifies which districts and schools are required to establish EL parent advisory councils and notification requirements and references duties of such councils under the LOOK Act. Districts with 100 or more ELs or 5% of student body Schools that are underperforming and chronically underperforming with ELE programs ELPAC Guidance and one-pager completed and posted for district use. One-pager translated into 30 languages for district use. Department to offer technical assistance to parent groups statewide. Second area of regulations are the Parent Advisory Councils regulations. Reminder: Regulations require EL PACs in districts and schools that have: 100 ELs or 5% of student body; also underperforming and chronically underperforming schools with ELE programs. The Dept. received minimal comments, After reviewing them, the Dept. decided not to make changes to draft regulations.
SEI Endorsement for Career Vocational Technical Educators Regulations 03 Marnie to go over slides 8-9
SEI Endorsement for Career Vocational Technical Educators: Regulations (603 CMR 4.00, 7.14, 7.15, 14.08) Expands SEI Endorsement requirement to include career vocational technical teachers providing sheltered English instruction to ELs. Regulations require that career vocational technical teachers with ELs during SY17-18, and administrators who supervise/evaluate such teachers, earn the SEI Endorsement by July 1, 2021. DESE running 44 no-cost SEI courses for vocational technical educators in spring 2019 and fall 2019. Registration for all courses begins November 19, 2018. Spring 2019 courses begin February 2019. Course with updated readings, assignments and videos completed in December 2018. Read the 3 bullets above. DESE ran a pilot SEI Endorsement courses for career vocational technical educators at Greater Lawrence Tech and Worcester Tech. [For reference only just in case: Do not say.] As a result of pilot course evaluations the Department is now working on: Creating strategy videos that are specific to a career vocational technical setting, and Adding some supplemental readings/sample lessons to the Model, Practice, Feedback portion of the course. [Points below are for reference only. Do not say these points aloud.] The U.S. Department of Justice and the Board expressed an interest in expansion of the SEI Endorsement requirement for vocational technical teachers. In response, Commissioner assembled a study committee. Pilots: Along with the work of the committee, the information gathered from these pilot courses will help inform future recommendations to the Board. If approved by Board could run no-cost SEI courses for vocational technical educators in SY 18-19. Will submit changes to SEI Endorsement regulations in March 2018. [For reference only and can say in response to questions] Reasons: Current regulations do not require vocational technical teachers with ELs to obtain SEI Endorsement. ELs at vocational schools spend the majority of their time with vocational technical teachers and ELs need access to the curriculum in order to strengthen instruction and better support the academic achievement of ELs. Study committee was composed of vocational technical leaders. Study committee recognized the SEI course is research-based and rigorous. SEI course would benefit teachers and ELs they teach.
THANK YOU www.doe.mass.edu 75 Pleasant Street, Malden, MA 02148 Heather Peske Sr. Associate Commissioner, Center for Instructional Support Paul J. Aguiar Director, OLA, Center for Instructional Support 781.338.3560 Heather.Peske@doe.mass.edu 781-338-3538 paguiar@doe.mass.edu www.doe.mass.edu 75 Pleasant Street, Malden, MA 02148