The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is partnering with the Rennie Center to convene panels of Massachusetts educators to review evidence on curricular alignment to Massachusetts learning standards and efficacy in implementation. The work of the CURATE panels results in a series of user-friendly reports that provide schools and districts with information to make informed, local decisions about curricula as part of a curriculum evaluation and selection process rooted in their “local lens.”
Equipped with deep curriculum literacy, CURATE panelists are responsible for evaluating core curricular materials to verify they meet the high teaching and learning standards of Massachusetts to advance the Educational Vision.
Key Responsibilities
- Panelists evaluate materials across two primary rubric domains:
- Standards Alignment: Assessing how closely materials align with the grade-level standards defined by the Massachusetts curriculum frameworks, including WIDA standards for English language development.
- Classroom Application: Evaluating how effectively materials support educators to meet the Massachusetts Standards of Effective Teaching Practice
- Cross-Cutting Focus: Across both domains, collecting evidence that the materials support culturally and linguistically sustaining instruction
- Panelists support reporting by generating ratings (Meets, Partially Meets, or Does Not Meet Expectations) and contributing to user-friendly reports published for educators statewide.
Participant Benefits
- Stipend: A baseline stipend of $650, plus an additional stipend of $450 for each curriculum reviewed
- PDPs: 45 Professional Development Points from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
- Growth: Build curriculum literacy, network with fellow MA educators, and scale your impact across the Commonwealth.
Who Should Apply?
- You are a certified teacher currently teaching in a Massachusetts public or charter school.
- You have served as a teacher of record for at least one class within the past two school years.
- You have at least 3 years of teaching experience as of the end of the most recent school year.
DESE is committed to centering the voices of those who have been historically marginalized in public education. We strongly encourage educators of color and educators with experience teaching English learners and students with disabilities to apply.
The application deadline to serve on a CURATE panel in Fall 2026 panel is Friday, May 29, 2026. Potential Fall 2026 panels include the following and will be confirmed in July*:
- Math, K-5
- Math, 6-8
- Math, 9-12
- English Language Arts/Literacy, K-5
- English Language Arts/Literacy, 6-8
- English Language Arts, 9-12
Dates for the Fall 2026 CURATE semester are as follows, with all virtual review panels (September–December) scheduled to occur on the following Tuesday and Wednesdays:
| Aug. 3 |
New Panelist Webinar |
11 am - 12 pm |
| Aug. 12 |
Institute Day 1 (Virtual) |
10 am - 1 pm |
| Aug. 13 |
Institute Day 2 (In-Person in Marlborough) |
9 am - 3 pm |
| Sept. 9 |
Virtual Panel 1 |
5:15 - 8:15 pm |
| Sept. 30 |
Virtual Panel 2 |
5:15 - 8:15 pm |
| Oct. 21 |
Virtual Panel 3 |
5:15 - 8:15 pm |
| Nov. 10 |
Virtual Panel 4 (Tuesday) |
5:15 - 8:15 pm |
| Dec. 2 |
Virtual Panel 5 |
5:15 - 8:15 pm |
| Dec. 16 |
Virtual Panel 6 |
5:15 - 8:15 pm |
In addition to the synchronous times listed above, panelists should expect to complete approximately 22-26 hours of pre-work to prepare for training and panel sessions.
If you have any questions about CURATE or the application process, please contact Alejandra Zeiger at azeiger@renniecenter.org.
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