Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Survey

The Department of Education (DOE) has been focused on reviewing English Language Arts (ELA) and math learning standards to help develop the next-generation MCAS, which is scheduled for administration in classrooms across the Commonwealth in the spring of next year.

Last month, 41 K-12 educators and higher education faculty participated in the first of a series of work sessions to review current and previous ELA and math learning standards. Over 150 educators originally applied, and the final make-up represents 24 participants from eastern MA, 12 from central MA, and five educators from the western part of the state. This group will continue to meet until the end of the summer.

To solicit feedback from a wider range of educators, parents, and the broader public, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), has created an online survey to allow individuals to make suggestions about specific aspects of the standards.  I encourage you to visit http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/2570879/MCAS-2-0-ELA-and-Math-Standards-Refinement and respond to the survey by the end of May 2016. All feedback will be shared with the educators on the review panel.

Regardless of whether you are a parent, student, teacher or education professional, it is import to submit your feedback!  As DESE’s review panel strives to improve our testing system and create new standards designed to better prepare our students for college and careers after high school, there is nothing more effective than hearing from community members.  Please take a moment to respond to DESE’s survey.