Massachusetts documents released this week

Two documents released by DESE this week of interest:

• Last night, the superintendents received guidance on "COVID-19 events" which includes this quick reference:
  
  This also includes elsewhere in the document this sentence:

  “Before a final decision is made on a school or district closure, the superintendent must consult with DESE for further guidance.”

  But in consulting with DESE, it is NOT the Commissioner the guidance connects to.
  
  Thus the Commissioner:
  A. does not want districts to make the call to close themselves, but also
  B. does not want to make that call himself.
  
  
• Earlier this week, the Department sent out this guidance on the submission of fall plans.
  Of note:
• By July 31, districts must "must complete and submit a preliminary reopening plan summary to DESE" which includes "district’s contact information, key findings from the district’s feasibility study on in-person learning, and the district’s preliminary thinking about which of the three reopening models it may use to open the school year this fall." Then each of the three models needs to be described further (400 words) which "include support for High Needs students." Emphasis added.
  That means that, indeed, some level of decision-making at the local level IS being made prior to July 31. I have argued and will continue to argue that it should be shared locally.
  
• By August 10, districts have to post their plan for the fall. This needs to be "plans should be written in a parent-friendly format, translated into the primary languages of students’ homes, and posted on the district website." This includes what the choice is, with a summary, out of time plans, health and safety information and more (see page 2 for the full list).