Region 1 CC Blog

News and resources from the Region 1 Comprehensive Center

 

A Young girl reads Dr. Seuss's 'Hop on Pop.'

Vermont AOE and R1CC introduce new Vermont Literacy Playbook

Educators and education leaders in Vermont now have a new tool to help them meet their literacy goals. The Region 1 Comprehensive Center (R1CC) worked with the Vermont Agency of Education (AOE) to develop the Vermont Literacy Playbook: An Implementation Guide for System Leaders to Improve Literacy Learning, which was posted to the AOE website in December.

State: Vermont

Ellen Cushing headshot

Letter from the Director: Welcome to Year 5!

Recently, I had the pleasure of gathering with my R1CC colleagues in Waltham, Massachusetts. I enjoyed seeing everyone in-person and making those personal connections. More importantly, I enjoyed having two days of dedicated time to examine and discuss the most pressing topics from state, local, and school leaders in Region 1.

State: Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Regional

A teacher reads a book with a boy.

R1CC supports state education priorities throughout the northeast region with Year 5 projects

States throughout the northeast region are dedicated to improving education and related outcomes for every student. That commitment shows in the priority topics identified for our Year 5 projects, which focus on evidence-based literacy instruction, strengthening the educator workforce, college and career readiness, student mental health, and supporting newcomers.

State: Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Regional

A young boy wearing glasses and surrounded by peers sits at a classroom desk and writes.

Sparking Innovation in Maine’s Classrooms

Maine is primarily rural, featuring uneven population distribution and inequitable access to resources across the state. Educators are hardworking and committed to student success; however, systemic challenges and inequities that were highlighted and exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic continue to exist across schools and districts. Commissioner Makin believes that educators on the ground are best situated to design the interventions, supports, and strategies to address those systemic challenges. The critical role of the Maine Department of Education (MDOE) is to provide the resources and support that empower districts to do so.

State: Maine

Five people sit around round tables and discuss study materials

Struggling But Not Alone: New England States Come Together to Learn From Each Other About Teacher Shortage.

States across the country are struggling to recruit and retain excellent and diverse teachers. The COVID-19 pandemic has made these challenges worse. Approximately one in four teachers indicate a desire to leave the profession and enrollment in educator preparation programs is at an all-time low.

State: Regional

Four children sitting on floor listening to teacher reading to them.

Instructional Strategies to Build K-3 Literacy Skills in Massachusetts

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is committed to supporting educators in using evidence-based early literacy practices. The DESE 2019 Literacy Strategic Planidentifies two focus areas of instructional support for English language arts and literacy: high-quality core instruction and the use of evidence-based practices for early literacy skills.

State: Massachusetts

four elementary kids standing smiling with one arm  up, chalkboard in the background.

How Are Region 1 States Using ARP ESSER Funds to Address Learning Loss?

The nation’s first case of COVID-19 emerged in January 2020, and everyday lives changed significantly shortly thereafter. Americans scrambled for supplies at grocery stores, wrestled with mask mandates and lockdowns, and retreated from offices to work from home. But it was students’ lives that changed the most.

State: Regional

Three girls coloring together and smiling.

Early Literacy in Vermont: Findings From the Vermont Educator Preparation Program Course Syllabi Review

One of the Vermont Agency of Education's (AOE) primary focuses is increasing student literacy. Therefore, the AOE reached out to R1CC for support related to literacy, specifically, how prepared Vermont certified teachers who attended Vermont educator preparation programs (EPPs) were at using evidence-based literacy instructional practices.

State: Vermont

Girl Raising her hand.

Year 2 Project Summaries

During Region 1 Comprehensive Center's (R1CC) second year, they supported a total of 14 intensive technical assistance projects. The COVID-19 pandemic continued to impact project work in states resulting in delayed timelines and managing client constraints.

State: Regional

side profile of African American girl

Reimagining Education Series: Strategies for Student-Directed Learning

Changes to education during the COVID-19 pandemic have presented opportunities for some students to gain autonomy over aspects of their learning. For example, some students who participated in remote learning last year—and some students who continue to do so this year—have had opportunities to be more in charge of when they complete their coursework. These experiences have created fertile ground to incorporate promising practices for student-directed learning and student voice.

State: Regional