LEGAL QUESTION
OF THE WEEK
 Dear Legal Mailbag:
I have been around the block, and vulgar language does not shock me. But I was truly shocked by the abusive language a parent used with one of my fourth-grade teachers. The parent’s son had acted out by throwing things and swearing in the middle of class. His teacher appropriately intervened in accordance with an established behavior plan, and she restrained him to prevent further disruption and danger to the other students. When she called the parent to report the incident, however, she was shocked. The parent was not grateful for the report. Oh no. The parent called her a f---ing little b-----, several times, and she threatened to call the police if my teacher ever put her hands on her son.
 Continued
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Celebrate Your Secretary during Administrative Professionals Week
 In conjunction with National Administrative Professionals Week, CAS will host its annual conference for school secretaries and administrative assistants on April 25th. The conference will feature three unique presentations designed to highlight the important work that secretaries do in our schools. A new award - The CAS Administrative Assistant of the Year - will be presented at the conference. Please consider making a nomination!
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CT Delegates Bring Their Voices to Capitol Hill
 A delegation of Connecticut educators attended the NAESP National Leaders Conference on February 22-26. The group visited Capitol Hill and met with six of the state’s seven Congressional representatives. Discussion points included principal evaluation, early childhood education, reauthorization of ESEA and after-school programming. MORE
Seeking School Districts for Risk Management Pilot Program
 The CIAC along with the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) and the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) have been working with the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS4) to develop a National Risk Management Training and Assessment Program for interscholastic athletics and after-school activities. Connecticut is one of three states selected to pilot this program and we are looking for thirty school districts to participate. Pilot districts will be asked to assemble a leadership team to attend a one-day, no cost risk management training event. View the invitation letter and course description for more information.
CSDE Memo Outlines Reporting Procedures for CMT/CAPT
 If your district has elected to continue administering the Connecticut Mastery Test (CMT)/Connecticut Academic Performance Test (CAPT) during 2013-14, please review the important memorandum issued by the state department's performance office earlier this week. It summarizes the implications for accountability, reporting, and educator evaluation and support for districts that chose to administer the CMT/CAPT.
Multiple Layers of Support Available for BloomBoard Users
 In an effort to help our members who are using the BloomBoard data platform for educator evaluation, we are publishing the support/contact information below. Also, please be reminded that BloomBoard continues to add videos and webinars to its website to assist in evaluation implementation.
• Email: support@bloomboard.com
• Phone: 1-888-711-5273
• Web-based: support.bloomboard.com
Lead Connecticut Offers UCAPP Residency and Turnaround Talent Identification Programs
 LEAD Connecticut has partnered with the University of Connecticut to establish a one-year paid UCAPP Residency Program to prepare the next generation of Turnaround Leaders. Participants will earn 092 certification and will be trained for a leadership position in a turnaround setting. LEAD Connecticut is also offering a Turnaround Talent Identification Program which is a year-long community of practice for candidates who hold 092 certification but are not yet in a leadership position. This program is for potential leaders who want to strengthen the fundamental turnaround skills described in the Turnaround Leadership Competencies. MORE
CT "Dream Team" Teachers Wanted!
 Science teachers and elementary generalists are among those invited to apply to be part of the 100-member Connecticut Dream Team. This opportunity is part of the state’s overall training and coaching program designed to provide support to school districts in the implementation of the Common Core State Standards. Applications are due March 17th. MORE
2014 Learning Forward New England Conference Coming in April
 Connecticut educators are encouraged to dialogue with and learn from colleagues around the region at the 2014 Learning Forward New England Spring Conference. This year's event, which will be held on April 11th in Marlborough, MA, will focus on creating coherence between Common Core, educator evaluation and professional learning. MORE
Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium Seeking Field Test Panelists
 Smarter Balanced is recruiting educators to participate in range finding activities to review student responses, recommend anchor papers, and validate rubrics from the Field Test. The Range Finding Committee work will take place virtually between May 12 and May 22, 2014. Educators will be expected to complete training via webinars, participate in group conference calls to discuss scoring expectations, and review responses to define the anchors and rationale for scoring. Please read the Range Finding opportunity letter for more details.
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