Statewide System of Support (SSoS)

Welcome to the Office of the Statewide System of Support.

Since 2009, Massachusetts has defined its approach to district engagement based on the premise that district accountability and DESE assistance must be closely linked to produce continuous and sustainable improvement. The Statewide System of Support (SSoS) provides assistance to districts with one or more schools categorized as requiring focused or targeted assistance, as defined by the Massachusetts Accountability System.

Two Regional Assistance Teams serve the West/Central and Coastal areas of the state to support identified schools and districts. These teams provide targeted assistance through a distinct SSoS Model that:

1. Supports districts to identify clear priorities anchored in culturally responsive grade appropriate instruction and sense of belonging;
2. Targets support in service of those priorities with a particular focus on supporting school and district instructional leadership teams, and the adoption and implementation of high-quality instructional materials;
3. Coaches for Equity in order to operationalize equity and racial equity in schools and districts in the Commonwealth identified by the accountability system as requiring assistance.

The work of SSoS is grounded in DESE's Educational Vision of supporting Culturally and Linguistically Sustaining Practices. The Center for School and District Support's Coherence Guidebook provides a framework, processes, resources, and tools to support a systems-level path toward deeper learning that includes development of high-leverage instructional priorities and refined tiered supports.

Last Updated: March 30, 2023