This guide covers important guiding principles and overarching tips as well as specific conversation starters teachers can use.

The guide addresses a critical gap in traditional school models: the tendency to misidentify language acquisition as a learning disability and over-refer MLs for special education services. It advocates for a culturally and linguistically-aligned lens to ensure that multilingual learners receive support that respects their primary language and cultural background.

This helpful tool illustrates how educators can crosswalk UDL 3.0 guidelines to research-backed practices for supporting multilingual learners. it’s not an exhaustive look but is a great jumping off point which teachers can customize for their students and content area.

This guide focuses on ways high schools can provide additional instructional time and targeted attention for students who need more intensive support. It focuses on two of four primary models — flex blocks and “double dose” courses — with concrete examples of scheduling, staffing, and resource allocation strategies for the two featured approaches. The guide also provides links to resources on two other promising practices — acceleration academies and high dosage tutoring.

A quick reference guide focused on ensuring instruction aligns across classrooms and tiers in ways that maximize student learning.

This DESE video series provides close-up examples of strong daily instructional practices that create the conditions for deeper learning experiences. The collection includes PK-12 examples in math, literacy/ELA, ESL, history, and science.

Use this video collection to learn about ways educators in schools across Massachusetts are transforming professional learning using a variety of collaborative and lesson internalization methods.

This guide helps educators put high school students at the center of conferencing. Tools include a student engagement matrix and strategies for engaging students who are in different places, conference planning and student preparation steps, a conference meeting protocol, coaching tips, and examples.

Learn how to use 5-10 week cycles and a family workshop model to engage family members more deeply in literacy development. The FELA toolkit includes a introductory video, step by step guide; planner for teachers; family, student, and educator commitment sheets, phone scripts, and other resources. Reading tips are available in English and Spanish.

Practical strategies to address logistical and instructional challenges secondary schools often encounter implementing MTSS including intervention blocks, scheduling, teaming, and other practices. The 2022 report focused on early implementation. The 2025 report updates and extends the toolkit of strategies and includes additional resources and examples. It also expands the focus of MTSS to include student well-being.

See deeper learning practices in action in this series of videos featuring a range of ELA/literacy, math, history, and science classrooms PK-12.

Use this collection of guidance and online tools to help students grades 6-12 explore options and plan for life after high school.

Use these modules to orient and train new paraeducators and provide a deeper dive into specific areas of practice.

Find workshop materials from DESE’s 2025 Instructional Leadership Institute. Session topics included instructional vision and planning, designing for school belonging, scheduling, student support structures, multilingual learners, budgeting, and more.

Ground your learning community in DESE’s vision for Massachusetts students. Available in 8 languages.

The updated 2025 Massachusetts MTSS Blueprint unpacks MTSS from three perspectives: why it is important, what it entails, and how to approach implementation. It reflects a holistic view of student development and MTSS implementation lessons from the field and research.

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

Use this tool to do help evaluate systems and structures supporting curriculum at the school or district level.

DESE convenes panels of Massachusetts teachers to review and rate evidence of alignment and quality of comprehensive core curricular materials. Findings for each resource product are published in a user-friendly report for educators across the Commonwealth to consult and make informed, local decisions about curricula.

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