Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

08/24/2026

Students shouldn’t just learn about civic life—they should experience it.

Nearly $890,000 from the Healey-Driscoll Administration will help 28 districts expand hands-on civics education and give students more opportunities to use their voices and make a difference.

🔗: https://www.mass.gov/news/healey-driscoll-administration-awards-890000-in-civics-teaching-and-learning-grants

08/19/2026

Building strong reading skills starts early. 📚

That’s why the Healey-Driscoll Administration is continuing its investment in high-impact literacy tutoring, providing nearly 8,500 seats to help K–3 students across Massachusetts become confident readers.

🔗: https://www.mass.gov/news/healey-driscoll-administration-announces-continued-investment-in-early-literacy-tutoring-for-338-schools

08/12/2026

🎉 Congratulations to Mansur Buffins, Massachusetts’ 2026 History Teacher of the Year! Mr. Buffins, most recently a teacher at Boston Public Schools' Community Academy, is being recognized for his exceptional dedication and creativity in teaching American history. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History is giving him a $1,000 honorarium and a collection of educational materials, and he is Massachusetts’ nominee for National History Teacher of the Year. Mr. Buffins is also director of PK-12 education for the Black American Descendants of the Great Migration and U.S. Freedmen. Congratulations, Mr. Buffins!

Congratulations also to our Mass. History Teacher of the Year runners-up:

👏 First Runner Up for Mass. History Teacher of the Year: Brianna Murphy, who has spent 14 years teaching at the Advanced Math & Science Academy Charter School in Marlborough and is a former teacher fellow at the Massachusetts Historical Society. Congratulations, Ms. Murphy!

👏 Second Runner Up for Mass. History Teacher of the Year: Kristin McManus, who teaches social studies at Littleton High School in Littleton Public Schools, MA and is her district’s grades 6-12 history and social science coordinator. Congratulations, Ms. McManus!

08/04/2026

Tomorrow, will hold a free, online FAFSA Festival. Filling out the FAFSA can help you enroll in free community college this fall! Learn more at https://bit.ly/4vA87oG

Are you attending college this fall and still need help completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)?

07/29/2026

Thinking about free community college this fall? Get help filling out the FAFSA at MEFA's free, online FAFSA Festival on 8/5 at 4 p.m. Learn more at https://bit.ly/4vA87oG

Are you attending college this fall and still need help completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)?

07/26/2026

📢 A commission co-chaired by DESE and the state Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS) is seeking input through July 31 to help develop an updated Model School Resource Officer Memorandum of Understanding. The updated MOU should help strengthen partnerships between school districts and police departments and contribute to safe and supportive learning environments.

Massachusetts students, families, community members, and organizations can share their thoughts through an online survey or by submitting written comments through Friday, July 31.

🔗 Find details on the Commission’s webpage: https://bit.ly/4yCUesA

The goal of the Massachusetts public K-12 education system is to prepare all students for success after high school. Massachusetts public school students are leading the nation in reading and math and are at the top internationally in reading, science, and math according to the national NAEP and int...

07/22/2026

Thinking about college this fall? There's still time to fill out the FAFSA and enroll in free community college! On Aug. 5, MEFA will have a free online FAFSA Festival. Learn more at https://bit.ly/4vA87oG

Are you attending college this fall and still need help completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)?

07/17/2026

The Implement & Monitor HQIM Network supports leaders in building systems for lasting instructional change rooted in strong Tier I instruction & MTSS. Interested? Join our next info session on Zoom:
📅 Aug 12 • 10–11 a.m. https://bit.ly/4weRHDC

07/17/2026

Teachers: New Investigating History resources for SY26‑27 are live! Explore new units, pacing guides, and supports for grades 3-7: https://bit.ly/44Snkqx

07/16/2026