Since 2008, NCTL has provided technical assistance to the schools participating in the Massachusetts ELT Initiative. This support includes:
• Leadership Team Sessions, where the entire network comes together to deepen implementation, learn from one another, and plan in school teams;
• Cluster Meetings, where the ELT middle and elementary schools split up for focused, school-based workshops on-site at ELT schools;
• Monthly coaching for a subset of schools, who receive an additional layer of support to strengthen ELT implementation; and
• Support for district leaders around monitoring progress in ELT schools, continuous improvement efforts, and ELT communications and advocacy.
ELT schools value these opportunities to come together and refine their approach to expanded learning time, in the company of their peers. As one participant put it, “Leadership Team Sessions and cluster meetings give us the chance to step back and reflect on what works and what needs to be changed. It’s great to have a network of ELT schools to collaborate with, and then have time to work as a team to figure out how we’re going to implement new ideas. This support keeps us focused and moving forward.”