For Immediate Release
Thursday, December 1, 2016
Contact:Jacqueline Reis 781-338-3115

Dissemination Fair about Best Practices Drew Educators from Across the State

Traditional Districts, Charter Schools, Innovation Schools and Expanded Learning Time Schools Shared Ideas

MALDEN - More than 200 educators from across the state attended the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's (ESE) first Dissemination Fair at the Devens Conference Center on November 18, 2016. The event, created by ESE with help from nearly 50 schools and districts, was designed to help educators working in areas of school redesign share promising practices with their peers at other schools. Forty-six panelists from Massachusetts charter schools, expanded learning time schools and innovation schools addressed topics such as problem-based learning, recruiting and retaining teachers, evaluating curriculum, reducing chronic absenteeism, designing teacher and student schedules, fostering social and emotional learning in elementary schools, serving English language learners, and serving students with disabilities. "Massachusetts is a national leader in education and has a uniquely rich and diverse set of high-performing schools," said Education Secretary James Peyser. "I am grateful to everyone who participated in the Dissemination Fair and am encouraged that all the participants will be able to explore implementing best practices in their schools and districts." "Massachusetts educators, legislators and communities have worked hard to create a wide variety of successful schools, and I am happy that representatives from so many took time to explore new and different methods that have worked well for their colleagues," said Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Mitchell Chester. "I hope that all of us can continue to learn from each other for the benefit of students." The fair was an outgrowth of dissemination efforts that were previously more focused on specific sectors. Charter schools, for instance, are required by state law to share best practices with other schools, and ESE is responsible for disseminating strong ideas from innovation schools. The Dissemination Fair saw charter school leaders sit alongside peers from traditional public schools and speak together about areas of common concern. A panel on chronic absenteeism, for instance, included representatives from Bridge Boston Charter, Salemwood School in Malden and Letourneau Elementary in Fall River discussing how they found new ways to motivate students and engage parents around the importance of consistent attendance. Many Dissemination Fair participants completed a survey after the event, and the overwhelming majority of those said that they had learned something that they could implement at their school. Panelists at the event were from the following schools:
School or DistrictCity or Town
Berkshire Arts & Technology Charter Public SchoolAdams
Boston Public SchoolsBoston
Bridge Boston Charter SchoolBoston
Eliot K-8 Innovation SchoolBoston
Dr. William W. Henderson Inclusion SchoolBoston
Match Charter Public SchoolBoston
Young Achievers Science & Math Pilot SchoolBoston
City on a Hill Charter Public SchoolsBoston & New Bedford
Huntington Elementary SchoolBrockton
Community Charter School of CambridgeCambridge
Phoenix Charter AcademyChelsea
Ezra H. Baker Innovation SchoolDennis
Carlton M. Viveiros Elementary SchoolFall River
Frank M. Silvia Elementary SchoolFall River
Alfred S. Letourneau Elementary SchoolFall River
James Madison Morton Middle SchoolFall River
Arthur M. Longsjo Jr. Middle SchoolFitchburg
McKay Arts AcademyFitchburg
Cape Cod Lighthouse Charter SchoolHarwich
Holyoke Community Charter SchoolHolyoke
Sturgis Charter Public SchoolHyannis
Guilmette Middle SchoolLawrence
Lawrence Family Development Charter School Lawrence
Leominster Center for ExcellenceLeominster
KIPP Academy Lynn CollegiateLynn
Ferryway SchoolMalden
Linden STEAM AcademyMalden
Salemwood SchoolMalden
Marblehead Community Charter Public SchoolMarblehead
Alma del Mar Charter School New Bedford
Global Learning Charter Public SchoolNew Bedford
River Valley Charter SchoolNewburyport
Staff Sgt. James J. Hill Elementary SchoolRevere
Collins Middle SchoolSalem
Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter SchoolSouth Hadley
Baystate Academy Charter Public SchoolSpringfield
Veritas Prep Charter SchoolSpringfield
Wareham Public SchoolsWareham
City View Discovery SchoolWorcester
Seven Hills Charter Public SchoolWorcester
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Last Updated: December 1, 2016