The Conference Committee maintained critical funding for Safe and Supportive Schools in their FY 21 budget, allocating $510,684.00 to the Safe and Supportive Schools line item (7061-9612). We are grateful to the lead sponsors Representative Ruth Balser and Senator Sal DiDomenico.
We are thrilled to share with you this short video highlighting one middle/high school’s journey to create a trauma-sensitive, safe and supportive school. Highlighted in the video are the ways in which this school embraces parent engagement and student voice to help guide their efforts to create a vibrant learning community where all staff work together to create a school that embodies the values of safety, trusting relationships, connection, equity, belonging, and adaptability.
Trauma-sensitive school leaders spoke to the critical role that parents and care givers are playing in this time of remote learning. Educators are now working closely with parents and caregivers in new ways, often supporting them as collaborating co-teachers. They shared the wonderful examples of how elementary school educators are inviting families to join the learning.
TLPI convened a legislative briefing where students from Massachusetts High Schools shared with legislators what they need from their schools in order to learn and do well. The students’ comments make a powerful argument for why we need to include their voice in education reform efforts.
Do you have a passion for education reform? TLPI is seeking to hire a Communications Specialist with energy, experience, passion, intelligence, and an eye to detail to join our team.
MA DESE announces that the 2019-2020 (FY20) Safe and Supportive Schools Competitive Grant (FC335) is now posted. Please visit http://www.doe.mass.edu/grants/2020/335/ for more information.
We are pleased to share with you a summary of the Trauma and Learning Policy Initiative (TLPI) Trauma-Sensitive Schools Descriptive Study. This two-year study by the American Institutes for Research (AIR) provides new evidence that an understanding of trauma sensitivity can lead to changes in practice and new ways of interacting with both students and with fellow staff members. In turn these new ways of thinking and changes in practice can serve as a foundation for school-wide culture change that enables students and their educators to feel safe and supported to learn and be successful.
The House Ways and Means budget was released this week and the line item for Safe and Supportive Schools includes $400,000. Representative Ruth Balser has filed a budget amendment for the Safe and Supportive Schools line item (7061-9612) to increase funding to $500,000. This will restore funding to last year’s level. We are writing with an URGENT request to please email your MA Representative and ask him or her to co-sponsor Representative Balser’s amendment!
In this post, we are excited to share the third in our three part series of short videos on the impacts of trauma on learning, classroom behavior, and relationships. One of the most important roles schools can play in the lives of students is helping them to have good relationships with peers and adults. Research indicates that positive student-teacher relationships can help increase academic engagement and performance. But for students impacted by traumatic experiences, forming and maintaining relationships with their peers and with the adults around them can be challenging. To learn more, please view the video below.
