Author Archives: MATSOL

About MATSOL

Equity & Excellence for English Learners

LOOK Act Updates from DESE

Posted on by

LOOK Act Implementation Documents
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has posted documents related to LOOK Act implementation in the English Language Learners section of the website:

In Resources: http://www.doe.mass.edu/ell/resources.html

  • ELE Program Proposal Reference Guide & Proposal Forms
  • Parent information in multiple languages:
    • District Response to ELE Program Transfer Request 
    • ELPAC Information for Parents 
    • Parent Notification Regarding English Language Education
    • English Language Education (ELE) Program Placement

In Guidance: http://www.doe.mass.edu/ell/guidance/default.html

  • Guidance for English Learner Parent Advisory Councils

English Learner Education Updates 
Update from the Commissioner to the Board of Education, Oct 30, 2018: http://www.doe.mass.edu/bese/docs/fy2019/2018-10/item5.html (Scroll to the PPT flie at teh bottom of the page.

  • New process for starting ELE programs
  • Training and Technical Assistance
  • State Seal of Biliteracy
  • Bilingual Education Endorsement
  • Seal of Biliteracy

Seal of Biliteracy Criteria
The Commissioner has announced his decision regarding the levels and criteria for the State Seal of Biliteracy, establishing a two tiered award, the Seal of Biliteracy and the Seal of Biliteracy with Distinction, starting at a minimum of Intermediate-High level on the ACTFL proficiency guidelines for world languages. Read the statement form the Language Opportunity Coalition’s statement and plans to support additional “pathway” awards at the local level.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Seal of Biliteracy Pilot Project: 2019 Data Report
The Language Opportunity Coalition published a report on the third and final year of the Seal of Biliteracy Pilot Project in Massachusetts. View report…

Report on Seal of Biliteracy Pilot Project

Posted on by

sobl-hs-2018The Language Opportunity Coalition published a report on the third and final year of the Massachusetts Seal of Biliteracy Pilot Project. The pilot ended in June 2018 with approval of the official State Seal of Biliteracy, with implementation beginning in the 2018-19 school year.*

  • 26 school districts made 1,339 awards in 2018.
  • Languages included Spanish, French, Portuguese, Hebrew, Mandarin, French, Arabic, Marathi, Urdu, Haitian Creole, Polish, Latin, German, Italian, Tagalog, Urdu, Cantonese, Korean, Bengali, Arabic, Hausa, Thai, Russian, ASL, Hungarian, Dutch, and Luganda.

View the report…

* We are awaiting the Commissioner’s decision on key aspects of the state award, as well as release of the guidance document by DESE.

 

Translanguaging: Using Home Language as a Classroom Resource

Posted on by

Rhode Island Teachers of English Learner Learners (RITELL) has invited MATSOL members to attend RITELL Conference at their discounted member price!

Translanguaging: Using Home Language as a Classroom Resource
Featuring keynote Ofelia Garcia
Saturday, October 20, 2018
8:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Providence RI

ritell20flyer20fall20201820final-1

 

MATSOL Fall Institute: Enhancing Parent Engagement & Family Partnerships

Posted on by

Strong family-school partnerships are built on mutual respect and trust and are based in a foundational belief that student success and district improvements are a joint responsibility. MATSOL’s two-day fall institute will explore these collaborative relationships at the classroom, school, district and community level.

Enhancing Parent Engagement & Family Partnerships

Thursday & Friday, November 8 & 9, 2018
Leominster MA

Day 1: Principles and Practices for Building Family-School Partnerships

Thursday, November 8
Presented by:  Dr. Bertha-Elena Rojas

Day 2: Harnessing the Power of Partnerships in the Classroom and Beyond

Friday, November 9
Presented by:  Dr. Debbie Zacarian

Audience

PK – 12 ESL, bilingual, classroom teachers; content teachers; specialists; coaches; supervisors and administrators.  Teacher educators from higher education institutions and professional developers involved with pre-service and in-service work.

Register for one or two days. A 15 PDP opportunity is available for participants attending both days.

Information and Registration

Public Comment on English Proficiency Benchmarks

Posted on by

kdefgrvd_400x400The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is soliciting public comments on draft guidelines for the use of benchmarks toward attaining English proficiency through Friday, Sept. 21.

The draft guidelines include information on the English learner benchmarks (annual targets toward attaining English proficiency), guidance designed to help districts implement and understand the benchmarks, and an English Learning Success Template for districts to use as a resource to assist students who have not met their benchmarks.