BArT Awarded Civics Teaching and Learning Grant

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ADAMS, Mass. — The Healey-Driscoll Administration awarded almost $972,000 in Civics Teaching and Learning Grants to 37 school districts and education collaboratives. 
 
BArT Charter Public School received an award of $16,000 through this program. These grants support curriculum and professional development to further civic knowledge and skills among students. In addition, they support the implementation of grade 8 and high school student-led civics projects, the hosting of local civics project showcases, participation in the Massachusetts Civics Project Showcases, and other enrichment activities focused on meaningful civic learning.
 
"These projects empower students as agents of change, equipping them with the skills and knowledge to address injustices and improve their communities. This grant will help provide all students with this important learning experience," said Education Secretary Dr. Patrick Tutwiler.
 
The Civics Teaching and Learning Grants are funded through the state's Civics Project Trust Fund and are intended to support civics instruction aligned with the 2018 Massachusetts History and Social Science Framework and the implementation of student-led, nonpartisan civic action projects as required by Chapter 296 of the Acts of 2018.
 
"High-quality civics education bridges the gap between the classroom and the world outside the school walls," said Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Pedro Martinez.?"This grant will provide students across the Commonwealth with deeper learning opportunities, leveraging students' identity and creativity to engage in meaningful civic action projects in their community."  

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Hoosac Valley Seeks to Prevent 'Volatile' Assessments

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
ADAMS, Mass.— The "volatile" shifts in Hoosac Valley Regional School District's town assessments year to year is hard for smaller towns to absorb; however, a proposed change to the regional agreement would fix that. 
 
During the Select Board meeting last week, Superintendent Aaron Dean presented the proposed change to the regional agreement that would set assessments based on a five-year rolling average rather than the annual student enrollment.
 
"The long-term goal is to make the assessment process a little bit more viable for people from year-to-year," he said. 
 
An ad hoc committee was convened to review the district's agreement, during which concerns arose about the rapid fluctuations in assessments.
 
"I think you have to look short term, and you have to look long term. The goal is to kind of level it off and make planning easier and flatten that curve in terms of how it's going to impact both communities," Dean said. 
 
Every year, it is a little more difficult for one community because they are feeling disproportionately impacted compared to the other, he said. 
 
"The transient nature of this population right now is like nothing I've ever seen," Dean said. 
 
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