Science Performance Assessment (SPA) Ambassador Program

Pending funding, DESE will be looking for districts to identify Science Performance Assessment (SPA) Ambassadors for school year 24-25 to support educators and students within their district to become familiar with Science and Technology/Engineering (STE) assessment practices in support of deeper learning. SPA Ambassadors have the exciting opportunity to join our existing 23-24 SPA Ambassador community and gain the skills and tools needed to lead science assessment literacy trainings for grades 3–8 educators in their school/districts. Ambassadors will:

• experience training modules and adapt the training materials with supporting resources to fit the needs of teachers and students in their districts,
• connect with other science educators across MA and develop a shared vision of equitable science instruction,
• become equipped to serve as a resource for the use of the classroom STE performance assessment tasks to inform instruction, and
• help prepare students for the new STE MCAS performance tasks.

Proposed participant professional learning opportunities:

• Module 1: In-depth learning around DESE's educational vision for equity in science for all Massachusetts students
• Module 2: Explore released versions of the new 5th and 8th grade STE MCAS tasks and supporting materials, including simulation-based scenarios and test questions
• Module 3: Experience DESE-developed local-level classroom science performance assessment tasks for students in grades 3–8
• Module 4: Analyze student work using an asset-based approach

Professional Development Points (PDPs) will be awarded at the completion of the course. All program materials will be available after completion of the course. Additional optional professional learning opportunities will be provided for the 23-24 and 24-25 SPA Ambassadors.

SPA Ambassador Expectations:

• Attend training days on all four modules (Winter or Spring 2025). By the end of the training, SPA Ambassadors will adapt their own training materials to bring back to their districts.
• Prepare and lead a training for grades 3–5 and/or 6–8 educators within their district using DESE-provided materials. SPA Ambassadors will be asked to submit a plan for how they will implement the training in their districts within the application.
• Submit in-district training reflection & artifacts to earn PDPs. Ambassadors will need to submit either samples of student work from a classroom STE performance assessment and/or a sample of the district's schedule and information about the district's training.
• Attend at least 1 virtual check-in with DESE during the academic year. During these check-ins, SPA Ambassadors will get a chance to reconnect, collaborate, and discuss a problem of practice with other district ambassadors from the 23-24 and 24-25 cohorts, as well as get an opportunity to provide feedback on DESE's local-level classroom STE performance assessment tasks.
• Optional: attend additional check-ins and professional learning opportunities for SPA Ambassadors.

To learn more about the SPA Ambassador program, contact Corrine Steever .

Last Updated: July 11, 2024