Schedule Change for Specialized Reading Approaches Course

Tuesday, 17 April, 2012 10:12 Written by Emily 0 Comments

The schedule for the Summer 2012 course “Specialized Reading Approaches” has been changed from the schedule that originally appeared in the Summer Course Catalog (note: the course catalog currently posted on Teach in Mass.org has been updated to reflect these changes). “Specialized Reading Approaches” will still be a hybrid-online course in Marlborough, but the course will start one week earlier and the face-to-face sessions will meet in the morning from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., instead of in the afternoon. The face-to-face sessions are now scheduled to meet on June 30, July 21, and August 18, the same meeting dates as the other course required for the Reading Specialist program.

If you have any questions, please contact Bev Streeter at bstreeter@collaborative.org.

Summer 2012 Courses and Tuition News

Friday, 24 February, 2012 13:11 Written by Emily 0 Comments

Since it’s never too soon to think about summer, we’re pleased to announce that the Summer 2012 Licensure courses are now posted! See  individual course descriptions and download a registration form, or download a copy of the full summer catalog. As always, we’re pleased to be able to offer courses taught by professionals with years of classroom and administrative experience, and to meet your summer scheduling needs by providing you with both hybrid online or traditional classroom experiences in a variety of locations.

If you’re still contemplating enrolling in the Collaborative’s Licensure program, time is of the essence. As part of our commitment to providing you with exceptional career training, we conduct regular and systematic reviews of our courses and programs, administrative systems, and staff. Beginning on April 1, 2012, we are implementing a modest increase in our tuition and fees in order to keep pace with increased costs of running our program.

As of April 1, the following tuition and fees will take effect:

Program tuition $6,700
Individual course registration $670
Late registration fee $75
Returned check fee $35
Refund processing fee $35

Even with this slight increase, our tuition remains among the most affordable, accessible, and high-quality options in the Commonwealth for prospective educators. If you’ve considered enrolling before, you still have an opportunity to do so before the tuition increase goes into effect: new students whose applications for enrollment in a CES Licensure program are received and approved by CES before April 1 will receive the current tuition rate.

It’s important to note that program tuition rates for current enrollees will not change. Students who are already enrolled in a licensure program will be grandfathered under the program tuition rate that was in effect when you signed your Commitment Form. The cost of individual courses taken as part of a Master’s Degree or CAGS program will, however, reflect the new April 1 rate. The CES Continuing Education Loan, available through our partnership with the UMassFive College Federal Credit Union, can be a valuable option if you’re looking for help in financing the next steps toward becoming an educator. Click here for loan program details.

We look forward to seeing you this summer!

CES Director Accepts National Award For Innovative Leadership

Wednesday, 11 January, 2012 17:59 Written by Chris 0 Comments

NORTHAMPTON: When Dr. Joan Schuman was hired as Executive Director of what is now the Collaborative for Educational Services the agency was a “tiny provider of special education and professional development programs to a limited number of schools in Hampshire County,” according to CES Board Chair, Lisa Minnick. This week, Schuman will be awarded the prestigious Justus A. Prentice award in honor of her work at the helm of the Northampton based non-profit agency. The award is bestowed by the Association of Educational Service Agencies to an educational leader who exemplifies innovative leadership and advocacy on behalf of educational service agencies (ESAs) at the state and national level.

Minnick describes Schuman’s leadership as transformative, in that the agency has “become one of the most respected, exemplary ESAs in Massachusetts.” Schuman was nominated by Minnick and her colleagues across the state for her pioneering spirit in developing innovative programs that had not previously been implemented by ESAs in Massachusetts.

At a time when ESAs have come under harsh scrutiny by state agencies, CES has continued to engage communities and schools in positive dialogue about how to improve the lives and education of young people. This past year, CES partnered with the Holyoke Public Schools to manage Dean Technical High School, in order to turn around chronic low student achievement scores.

Minnick said Schuman has also expanded the awareness among state leaders about the critical role the state’s 27 ESAs can play in supporting the needs of students, educators and schools. She added that the path-breaking programs designed by Schuman and other staff have “motivated the state to consider ESAs in a new light, and inspired smaller collaboratives to broaden their service portfolios.” Innovative programs designed by Schuman and her staff include:

  • Creation of federal grant-funded services that support the social/emotional needs of young people, birth through young adulthood.
  • Partnerships with educators to develop collaborative school-based teams that analyze student and other school-based data to improve curriculum and instruction.
  • Integration of arts into statewide schools for youth residing in juvenile justice settings of the state’s Department of Youth Services.
  • Collaboration with state agencies to improve the quality of special education services for students residing in institutional settings across the Commonwealth.
  • Development of an alternative licensing program for teachers focused on using an asset-based approach to working with all children and youth, particularly those at risk.

Join us in Marlboro for Welcome Wednesdays!

Friday, 14 October, 2011 13:27 Written by Emily 0 Comments

Starting on November 2, we’re offering our free, drop-in information sessions in a new location! Anyone interested in learning more about becoming a licensed educator in Massachusetts can now find guidance at Welcome Wednesdays in Marlboro, MA, in addition to regular First Friday Information Sessions in Northampton.

Welcome Wednesdays and First Fridays (held on the first Wednesday and first Friday of each month, respectively) are a convenient way to allow prospective educators to explore the Collaborative’s Educator Licensure Programs, ask questions, discuss licensure options, and map out an affordable, practical path to a career in education. The Collaborative offers traditional face-to-face educator licensure courses in Marlboro, as well as providing hybrid online course options.

Welcome Wednesdays take place from 4:40-5:30pm at the Center for Educational Leadership and Technology (CELT), 65 Boston Post Road West, Marlboro, MA.  See the Welcome Wednesdays Information Sessions flyer (1-pg PDF) or our Information Sessions page for more information and dates for fall 2011 and spring 2012.

Hybrid Online Classes: What We’ve Learned

Thursday, 15 September, 2011 12:42 Written by Emily 0 Comments

Hybrid Online CoursesIn 2008, the Collaborative’s Educator Licensure programs began offering students a new way of taking classes. The hybrid online model, a carefully formulated mix of traditional classroom meetings and online instruction, was designed to reach aspiring educators across the Commonwealth without sacrificing the personal support and sense of community so critical to the Collaborative Licensure courses.

Three years later, find out what the Collaborative’s own Len Lubinsky and David Greenberg have discovered about how this unique model affects teachers and students alike in their recent eSchool News article Hybrid online classes: What we’ve learned (2-page PDF).

Continuing Education Loan

Tuesday, 09 August, 2011 17:02 Written by Emily 0 Comments

UMass FiveWhether becoming a licensed educator or administrator in Massachusetts is a recent career choice, or whether you’re already well on the road to advanced studies in education, the cost of necessary programs can be daunting – even prohibitive. Affordability and practicality have long been cornerstones of the licensure program at the Collaborative for Educational Services (CES), and we’re pleased to announce that, in conjunction with the UMass Five College Federal Credit Union, we are offering students enrolled in the Collaborative’s licensure programs a loan opportunity that will ease the financial burden that can come with the decision to become licensed in Massachusetts.

The CES Continuing Education Loan is available to all officially enrolled students CES who qualify, including those pursuing Masters Degrees and Certificates of Advanced Graduate Study through our partnership with Fitchburg State University. The loan program is designed to cover the cost of tuition, books, and other program-related fees. It offers qualifiers flexibility, with a maximum loan amount of $20,000, variable interest rates, terms of up to seven years, and payment deferment options.

The loan opportunity represents collaboration between two non-profit, community-based organizations committed to helping people reach their goals by making the road to achievement financially viable. All Collaborative students are eligible to become members of the UMass Five FCU. Together, we’re strengthening our commitment to fostering highly successful careers in the classroom and the broader field of education.

Learn about the loan program, or contact CES Licensure directly to find out more.

Fall 2011 Course Registration Now Open

Autumn 2011
Wednesday, 29 June, 2011 13:34 Written by Emily 0 Comments

Plan for fall this summer

Fall 2011

While you wait for beach weather to settle in, why not think ahead to the fall semester with the Collaborative’s Licensure program? The Fall 2011 course catalog, now available online, provides detailed information on upcoming course offerings to meet your needs on the road to an Initial teaching or administration license, a Master’s in Education, or a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study. Take classes when it’s convenient, in hybrid online or a traditional classroom format.

The Collaborative’s Educator Licensure program offers participants a practical and affordable path to a career in education, which is why we’re proud to announce a new loan opportunity for students enrolled in our program. Thanks to a partnership with UMASS Five College Credit Union, financing is available for eligible, enrolled licensure students as well as to Master’s Degree and CAGS candidates. Stay turned for more news in the coming weeks.

As always, the Collaborative’s Licensure program is committed to remaining current and responsive to the ever-changing world of education and education policy. As Massachusetts begins the process of implementing the recently-adopted Common Core Standards, we are ensuring that our curriculum-specific licensure courses incorporate all standards requirements. We are also actively addressing new state Department of Education guidelines for the evaluation of teachers and administrators to give our licensure candidates the strongest possible foundation for success in the school and classroom environments.

Take some time this summer to think about fall — register for classes today by downloading and completing the registration form and sending it in with payment.

Watch: Get Licensed to Teach in Massachusetts Through CES

Wednesday, 13 April, 2011 19:38 Written by Emily 0 Comments

Get Licenced to Teach in Massachusetts Through CESWhether you’re looking to earn your Initial License or graduate credit toward an advanced degree, the Collaborative’s Educator Licensure Program opens the door to an exciting new career in teaching through offering intellectually challenging, cost-effective courses taught in a variety of formats in several locations.

Click the image to watch Penny Rhodes, the Collaborative’s Director of  Licensure Programs, speak during a recent appearance on Springfield’s WWLP-22 News about First Friday drop-in information sessions — free gatherings held on the first Friday of every month from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Collaborative for Educational Services in Northampton.

Join us to ask questions about CES’s Licensure Program, discuss options, and map out a plan toward becoming a teacher or administrator in Massachusetts.

Register Now for Summer 2011 Courses

Tuesday, 05 April, 2011 16:38 Written by Emily 0 Comments

Registration for Summer 2011 Teach in Mass licensure courses is now open!

Summer 2011 classesThis summer, for the first time, the CES Licensure Program partners with colleagues in the Collaborative’s Emerging America project to offer a new hybrid online course in our Initial Licensure programs in History, Humanities, and English. Designed to aid teachers in their use of primary source materials in the classroom, Using Primary Sources will help teachers develop energetic and engaging lesson plans that strengthen students’ critical thinking skills by investigating cultural and historical forces behind the creation of selected documents, artwork, current events, and works of literature. Lesson plans developed during the course will be tied to the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks.

As always, the CES Educator Licensure Program offers students flexibility and accessibility. Many summer courses take place in a traditional classroom setting and can be completed conveniently in just two weeks. Additionally, all summer courses are conducted in a hybrid online format that combines three in-person sessions with the freedom of online coursework.

For more information about Using Primary Sources and other summer course offerings, including information on course content, format, dates, and registration deadlines, please view our online course catalog. To register for summer courses, simply download the registration form and follow the instructions.

Remember that the Collaborative’s partnership with Fitchburg State Univer

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Spring Courses: Register Now

Wednesday, 10 November, 2010 19:08 Written by Chris 0 Comments

Register now for Spring 2011 courses

The Spring 2011 TeachinMass licensure courses begin January 29, 2011. The course catalog is now available online, and provides detailed information on the course content, format, and dates. The registration form is also conveniently located on the back page of the catalog. To register for a Spring course, complete the registration form and submit with payment. It’s as simple as that!

For many of our courses, students have a choice of format. All of our courses now are offered in a  hybrid-online format; many continue to also be offered in a  traditional classroom format as well. You may now have the choice to attend your class in-person in the classroom, or to combine three in-person sessions with coursework in an online community.

For more on online learning,  you can find information and tips on our website. You can learn  about our hybrid-online courses, as well as about the computer requirements necessary for a successful online learning experience. We have also provided links to our Moodle resources, which include a guide and a useful course that helps participants to familiarize themselves with our online course management system.

The focus of our courses and programs remains on continuing to offer accessible, practical and affordable licensure programs statewide. Our goal is to provide  high quality, rigorous  courses and programs, so that participants can achieve excellence in their education careers.

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