Announcements
State Anti-bullying Model Plan
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has released new guidance and a model plan to assist schools and districts in crafting their own strategies to respond to and prevent bullying in schools. The plan was created in consultation with the Department of Public Health, the Department of Mental Health, the Massachusetts Office of Attorney General, the Massachusetts District Attorneys' Association, the Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center, the Massachusetts Advocates for Children, the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents, principals and other school personnel and parent and advocacy organizations.
School districts, charter schools, approved private special education day and residential schools and collaborative schools must submit a copy of their bullying prevention and intervention plans to the Department by December 31, 2010.
Additional resources, including directions on how to file a plan, are available on the Department's website at http://www.doe.mass.edu/ssce/bullying/.
$204 Million to Save School Jobs
The Education Jobs Fund is expected to provide funding to save 1,700 positions in Massachusetts, enabling districts to rehire laid-off teachers and other employees. Check your district’s allocation at boston.com/globe. The jobs funding is in addition to the $250 million Massachusetts has won in the President’s Race to the Top competition. Massachusetts garnered the highest score of all applicants.
