Conditions for Learning Surveys→

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Sample question from Conditions for Learning Survey.

The Conditions for Learning surveys (CFL) were developed collaboratively and field-tested by districts and Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education staff involved in the Urban Leaders Network for School Climate & Student Support. The CFL metric and survey tools focus on the holistic “conditions” (including social emotional learning) students need in order to learn in a school setting. The CFL contains surveys around the following domains: school climate, academic engagement, social emotional learning, parent & family engagement, and systems of student support, with surveys for students, staff, and families. Schools and districts are welcome to utilize these survey tools.

Resource Links

Conditions for Learning Surveys

Source

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education with School & Main Institute

 

MTSS Introduction Videos and Facilitation Guide

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Table of contents from MTSS Video Facilitation Guide.

This resource contains seven videos that introduce the viewer to the key drivers, foundational frameworks, and focus of the MTSS Blueprint. The videos are embedded in the MTSS Mobilization Guide (see pages 10-17 for Video Facilitation Guide) to support learning and team collaboration.

Resource Links

MTSS Videos

Source

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education with Novak Educational Consulting and Rodriguez Educational Consulting Agency

 

MTSS Tiered Resource Map

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Picture of resource map template.

This resource mapping template will help you inventory the Curriculum & Instruction/ Interventions, Assessments, and Data-Based Decision practices you are currently using (or have the goal of using) at each tier. Please note that this template should not be used in place of the MTSS Self-Assessment, which helps teams unpack where they have strengths and needs relative to the systems needed to effectively implement MTSS. Map away!

Resource Link

MTSS Tiered Resource Map (word document)

Source

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education with Novak Educational Consulting and Rodriguez Educational Consulting Agency

 

MTSS Diagnostic

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First page of MTSS DIAGNOSTIC Assessment.

The MTSS Diagnostic assessment is intended to be used to determine current understanding of the research and theory behind the design and delivery of effective multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS). This assessment can be used by individuals or teams to determine prior knowledge, uncover variability, and introduce learners to the MTSS Blueprint.

Resource Link

MTSS Diagnostic

Source

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education with Novak Educational Consulting and Rodriguez Educational Consulting Agency

 

MTSS Self-Assessment

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Cover page of MTSS Self-Assessment.

The MTSS Self-Assessment is designed to help district teams assess the systems and structures that they have (or do not have) in place to foster an effective multi-tiered system of support (MTSS). The results of the self-assessment will help illuminate current gaps and strengths and can be used for prioritization and planning purposes. This tool was designed to give a district-level perspective and should be used by a team consisting of a range of stakeholders (i.e., representation from different departments, roles, etc.). The self-assessment is aligned to the 2018 MTSS Blueprint redesign.

Resource Link

MTSS Self-Assessment

Source

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education with Novak Educational Consulting and Rodriguez Educational Consulting Agency.

 

MTSS Mobilization Guide

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Cover page for MTSS Mobilization Guide.

All students are capable of success. A Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) is a framework for how school districts can build the necessary systems to ensure that each and every student receives a high quality educational experience. In order to support implementation of the MTSS Blueprint, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education welcomes educators and leaders to use MTSS Mobilization Guide to help understand the most current research on MTSS and how to get started building a system that will address the needs of all students.

Resource Links

MTSS Mobilization Guide

Source

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education with Novak Educational Consulting and Rodriguez Educational Consulting Agency

 

MTSS Blueprint

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MTSS Blueprint Imagine.

All students are capable of success. A Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) is a framework for how school districts can build the necessary systems to ensure that each and every student receives a high quality educational experience. It is designed to support schools with proactively identifying and addressing the strengths and needs of all students by optimizing data-driven decision-making, progress monitoring, and the use of evidence-based supports and strategies with increasing intensity to sustain student growth. In 2018, Massachusetts updated its MTSS Blueprint to reflect the most current research and enhance the user experience. The current blueprint more explicitly focuses on equitable access and universal design for learning (UDL) and fully integrates social emotional, behavioral, and academic learning.

Resource Links

MTSS Blueprint

Source

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education with Novak Educational Consulting and Rodriguez Educational Consulting Agency

 

The School Climate Survey Suite→

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Cover page of the School climate survey suite document.

The School Climate Survey Suite is a set of four multidimensional surveys to measure student, teacher, administrator, faculty, and family perceptions of school climate. The surveys are brief, reliable, and valid for assessing perceived school climate among students in Grades 3-12. Teams can use each survey separately or in combination to assess perceptions. Each survey includes a set of demographic questions about the participant and a number of questions related to school climate with Likert-scale response option.

Resource Links

School Climate Survey Suite

Source

OSEP Technical Assistance Center on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports, University of Oregon

 

Aligning Curriculum to Massachusetts Standards→

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A “quick reference guide” to tailoring nationally available curriculum products for use with Massachusetts standards.

Resource Links

Aligning Curriculum to Massachusetts Standards

Source

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Curriculum & Instruction

 

The Case for Curricular Coherence →

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A “quick reference guide” to ensuring that instruction aligns across classrooms and tiers in ways that maximize student learning.

Resource Links

The Case for Curricular Coherence

Source

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Curriculum & Instruction

 

Assessing Your Curriculum Landscape→

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A “quick reference guide” to evaluating systems and structures supporting curriculum at the school or district level.

Resource Links

Assessing Your Curriculum Landscape

Source

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Curriculum & Instruction

 

CURATE Reports & Rubrics→

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"We're looking for high-quality curricular materials aligned to Massachusetts standards. Do you have any advice?"

It's an important question, and one we hear frequently. The CURATE project is our response. We convene panels of Massachusetts teachers to review and rate evidence on the quality and alignment of specific curricular materials, then publish their findings here for educators across the Commonwealth to consult. The reports outline findings from panels of Massachusetts teachers convened to review and rate comprehensive (tier 1) curriculum products.

Resource Links

Source

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Curriculum & Instruction

 

Supplement to the 2018 Massachusetts History and Social Science Curriculum Framework→

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A compendium of curriculum, content, and cultural resources aligned to topics in the 2018 Massachusetts History and Social Science Curriculum Framework

Resource Links

Supplement to the 2018 Massachusetts History and Social Science Curriculum Framework

Source

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Curriculum & Instruction

 

Text Complexity and the Growth of Reading Comprehension→

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A “quick reference guide” explaining how to evaluate text complexity and how it impacts reading comprehension.

Resource Links

Quick Reference Guide: Text Complexity and the Growth of Reading Comprehension

Source

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Curriculum & Instruction

 

Reading Closely to Analyze Complex Text→

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A “quick reference guide” explaining how to use close reading lessons to promote understanding and analysis of complex text.

Resource Links

Reading Closely to Analyze Complex Texts - Elementary

Reading Closely to Analyze Complex Texts - Secondary

Source

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Curriculum & Instruction

 

Navigating Social and Emotional Learning from the Inside Out - Guide to 25 Evidence-Based SEL Programs for Elementary

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There are many social emotional learning programs out there. This report provides a comprehensive report on 25 evidence-based social emotional learning programs for elementary school. Developed for the Wallace Foundation and released in March 2017, the report profiles both lesson-based/curriculum and non-curricular approaches.

Resource Link

Navigating SEL from the Inside Out:  Looking Inside & Across 25 Leading SEL Programs

SEL Programs Evaluated

In-School, Lesson-Based Curricula: The 4Rs Program, Caring School Community, Character First, Competent Kids, Caring Communities, I Can Problem Solve, Lions Quest, The Mutt-i-grees Curriculum, Open Circle, The PATHS Program, Positive Action , RULER, Second Step, SECURe, Social Decision Making/Problem Solving Program, Too Good for Violence, We Have Skills, Wise Skills

In-School, Non-curricular Approaches:  Conscious Discipline, Good Behavior Game, Playworks, Responsive Classroom, Program Profiles

Out-of-School Time Programs:  Before the Bullying, A.F.T.E.R School Program, Girls on the Run, WINGS for Kids

Source

The Wallace Foundation, Harvard Graduate School of Education

PEAR Holistic Student Assessment (HSA)

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The PEAR Holistic Student Assessment (HSA) is a universal social-emotional assessment tool (student survey) that can help you better understand each student's unique strengths and needs.  The assessment is based on PEAR's Clover Model of youth development, covering the following 4 domains:

  • Active Engagement (engaging with the world physically)

  • Assertiveness (expressing voice and choice)

  • Belonging (social connection and relationships)

  • Reflection (thought and meaning-making)

Resource Link

PEAR Holistic Student Assessment

Source

Partnerships in Education and Resilience (PEAR) Institute, Harvard Medical School, McLean Hospital