As we begin to see the first signs of spring, our collective mood seems to shift as fast as the weather. The COVID-19 vaccine is finally rolling out at a strong pace... but case numbers seem to be rising. Schools are welcoming back more kids for in-person learning... but we're a long way from life getting back to normal.

Whatever you are doing and feeling right now, remember that the home stretch can often feel like the hardest. Despite what may feel like an endless transition, everyone is working hard and doing their best.

We hope this issue of our newsletter will provide some inspiration for keeping your important work. Read on to find exciting new resources for improving family engagement practices and supporting the success of all students.

As we enter the home stretch of the school year, and hopefully of the pandemic, remember to stay vigilant about safety. Continue to do your best even when "your best" might need to look different on some days. And most importantly, take care of yourself. Massachusetts students and families need you!

We are excited to unveil a new resource on family engagement, developed in partnership with Katie Novak, internationally recognized educational consultant and author of Let Them Thrive.

Universal Design for Family Engagement applies the principles of Universal Design for Learning to the work of building partnerships between schools, families, and community.

Empathy, defined as feeling and acting out of compassion for others, is not an inherent human trait, but a skill that built over time. Like any skill, the earlier we learn it, and the more we practice it, the better at it we become.

The latest post by Mathangi Subramanian, Ed.D., known to friends as Mathu, offers book ideas and conversation-starters for supporting the development of empathy in young children. 

MASFEC has a number of helpful tip sheets designed to offer practical take-aways on topics that are important to supporting young people's success at school. Check out the most recent examples on our website!

So far, the response to our annual family engagement survey have been strong but we want to be sure to hear from as many people as possible. Please encourage colleagues, coworkers and families to participate using the links below.

The survey only takes about 10 minutes to complete and offers an opportunity to share direct, anonymous feedback about your experiences. For questions or help completing the survey, please contact Ryan Miskell with MASFEC at 202-471-2463.

Thank you for your participation and for all you do to support young people's success through effective family engagement!

More Information for Educators

A new pilot program of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, the Kaleidoscope Collective for Learning, is working to bring Deeper Learning to the Commonwealth. Educators, service providers and families are invited to apply to join their Community Council.