The CES Newsroom

State/National News

Commissioner Announces 2021 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year Malden middle school math teacher Jennifer Hedrington receives state’s top educator award

Posted on Thursday, October 22nd, 2020 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Press Release – A message from the Massachusetts Department ofElementary and Secondary Education – Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Commissioner Jeffrey C. Riley today announced that Jennifer Hedrington, a seventh-grade math teacher at Ferryway School in Malden, is the 2021 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year. The Massachusetts Teacher of the Year Program is… [Read More]

Massachusetts Migrant Education Program Transitions to Collaborative for Educational Services

Posted on Wednesday, October 21st, 2020 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Effective on September 1st, 2020, the Massachusetts Migrant Education Program (MMEP) will be managed by the Collaborative for Educational Services (CES). CES is a non-profit educational services agency, committed to reaching and educating learners of all ages. CES works in the Pioneer Valley and across Massachusetts to create and improve educational opportunities both in and… [Read More]

‘I feel terrible about how all this has played out for you’: Gov. Charlie Baker tells Massachusetts high school graduates in state-wide virtual commencement

Posted on Tuesday, June 16th, 2020 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Heather Adams, Masslive
Date: 6/10/2020
Link: Complete Article

Gov. Charlie Baker gave the commencement address in a state-wide virtual ceremony for all 668 public and private high schools in Massachusetts on Tuesday night. The virtual ceremony was designed to celebrate and encourage high school graduates as most traditional commencement ceremonies at individual schools have been postponed, canceled or turned into virtual events due… [Read More]

When coronavirus closed schools, some Detroit students went missing from class. These educators had to find them.

Posted on Tuesday, June 16th, 2020 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Erin Einhorn, NBC News
Date: 6/14/2020
Link: Complete Article

DETROIT — Principal Jacqueline Dungey was searching for one of her kindergartners. She’d called every number she had for his family. She’d sent urgent notes to his parents. She’d reached out to a social worker who’d worked with his family in the past. But more than a month after the coronavirus threat forced the New… [Read More]

Some Massachusetts high schools are turning graduation into a drive-thru parade

Posted on Wednesday, May 27th, 2020 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Madelaine Millar, Boston.com
Date: 5/26/2020
Link: Complete Article

Despite the coronavirus pandemic, some high school seniors across Massachusetts will be able to line up to receive their diplomas, ceremoniously turn their tassels, and toss their caps — at a drive-thru parade. Over the past few weeks, several Massachusetts high schools have announced they will be holding graduation parades as a socially-distanced alternative to traditional… [Read More]

Due to coronavirus pandemic, Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education looks to waive MCAS testing requirements for certain students

Posted on Wednesday, May 27th, 2020 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Jackson Cote, Masslive
Date: 5/26/2020
Link: Complete Article

State education officials are looking to waive certain high school testing requirements for many students in Massachusetts due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Jeffrey C. Riley posted a memo ahead of the board’s Tuesday afternoon meeting in which he recommended modifying the “competency determination” for high school graduation for… [Read More]

Baker-Polito Administration, WGBH and Special Guests to Celebrate the Massachusetts High School Class of 2020 with a Virtual Commencement Ceremony

Posted on Tuesday, May 26th, 2020 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: 5/23/2020, WGBH
Date: 5/22/2020
Link: Complete Article

In partnership with WGBH, Governor Charlie Baker will deliver a commencement address to the Class of 2020 as part of a celebration for graduating seniors from 668 public and private schools across the Commonwealth, to be aired in a special broadcast at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 9. Massachusetts Commencement 2020 will feature congratulatory remarks… [Read More]

High School Seniors Are ‘Making Lemonade out of Lemons’ With Graduations Online, at Drive-Ins and on Racetracks

Posted on Friday, May 15th, 2020 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Katie Reilly, Time
Date: 5/14/2020
Link: Complete Article

Briauna Leonard graduated from high school at home wearing pajamas and sitting at her kitchen table beside her cat, Mr. Pickles, watching the salutatory address that she recorded a week earlier in an almost empty auditorium. “It was a little heartbreaking, honestly, to work your way up for 12 years, and you look forward to… [Read More]

How to reach students without internet access during coronavirus? Schools get creative

Posted on Monday, April 27th, 2020 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Amadou Diallo, NBC News/The Hechinger Report
Date: 4/19/2020
Link: Complete Article

This article about students without internet access at home was produced by The Hechinger Report, a nonprofit, independent news organization focused on inequality and innovation in education. On the Friday before spring break at Meigs Middle School in Decatur, Tennessee, special education teacher Matt Coe was busy preparing new lessons for his students now that schools were set… [Read More]

Baker orders schools to stay closed through end of school year

Posted on Tuesday, April 21st, 2020 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Toness, Stout, Vaznis , Boston Globe
Date: 4/21/2020
Link: Complete Article

Governor Charlie Baker on Tuesday ordered the state’s schools to remain closed through the remainder of the school year. “It’s the right thing to do, considering the facts on the ground associated with the COVID 19 pandemic,” Baker said. He said there was no “authoritative guidance” on how to operate schools safely and how to… [Read More]