BOXFORD – Superintendent Michael Harvey and World Language Department Head Jeanne O’Hearn announced that the Masconomet Regional School District has been awarded grant funding to support the purchase of language proficiency testing materials.
The $8,473 Proficiency-based Outcomes in Languages Other than English Grant from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will assist the district in setting goals for students studying world languages, including Spanish, French, and Chinese in Grades eight and 12, or who are proficient in another language at home.
The testing assessment produces separate scores for each student’s proficiency levels in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. The goals are to use the data to help eighth-grade students work toward their targeted proficiency level, and for 12th-grade students in advanced courses to have an opportunity to earn the Seal of Biliteracy, which is awarded to students who demonstrate a high level of proficiency in English and one other language.
This funding aids in reinforcing and clarifying teachers’ understanding of each student’s strengths and challenges as language learners.
Teachers will be able to look for commonalities among their students regarding the attainment of certain skills while also utilizing data to consider adapting instruction going forward.
“This will be a great resource for our district that will directly benefit world language students,” Superintendent Harvey said. “We’re grateful to DESE for its support of this important program.”
For more information on Masconomet Regional School District, click here.
