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CURATE Spring 2027

Eligibility & Panel Information

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

  1. Panelists evaluate materials across two primary rubric domains:
    1. 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.
    2. Classroom Application: Evaluating how effectively materials support educators to meet the Massachusetts Standards of Effective Teaching Practice
    3. Cross-Cutting Focus: Across both domains, collecting evidence that the materials support culturally and linguistically sustaining instruction 
  2. 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.

 

Additional CURATE Roles

In addition to panelists, CURATE has two other roles. Recruitment for these roles takes place separately from the panelist application, but there is an option to indicate interest here. These roles are: 

  • Facilitator: Responsible for leading the teacher calibration panels, supporting groups of Massachusetts educators to collaboratively evaluate and rate curriculum materials. 
  • Report Writer: Responsible for documenting the panelists’ decisions and evidence, and compiling this into a user-friendly report for Massachusetts educators.


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 Spring 2027 is Sunday, November 22, 2026 at 11:59 pm. Spring 2027 panels include the following:

  • Math, K-5
  • English Language Arts/Literacy, K-5
  • English Language Arts/Literacy, 6-8
  • STE, 3-5
Please note: To support implementation of the Student Literacy Act, the ELA/Literacy K–5 review panels will operate on an accelerated timeline. The dates listed below do not apply to ELA/Literacy K–5 panelists. Additional information, including the revised schedule, will be shared once finalized.

Dates for the Spring 2027 CURATE semester are as follows, with all virtual review panels (February – May) scheduled to occur on the following Wednesdays:
 
Jan. 13 Virtual New Panelist Webinar           4 - 5 pm     
Jan. 20 Virtual Institute Day 1 5 - 8 pm
Jan. 23 In-Person Institute Day 2   9 am - 3 pm
Feb. 10 Virtual Panel 1 5:15 - 8:15 pm
Mar. 3 Virtual Panel 2 5:15 - 8:15 pm
Mar. 24 Virtual Panel 3 5:15 - 8:15 pm
Apr. 14   Virtual Panel 4  5:15 - 8:15 pm
May 5 Virtual Panel 5 5:15 - 8:15 pm
May 26 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.
 
This question requires a valid email address.
3. Please verify the following eligibility requirements before proceeding: *This question is required.
4. Upon reviewing the list of dates for the Spring 2027 CURATE semester above, do you foresee or have any known conflicts with attending any of the scheduled sessions? *This question is required.
5. Which CURATE opportunities are you interested in?
6. Which license(s) do you hold? Check all that apply.  *This question is required.
8. Which CURATE panels are you interested in serving on? Check all that apply. 

Note: ELA/Literacy K–5 panels will follow an accelerated review timeline to support implementation of the Student Literacy Act. The schedule for these panels is being finalized and will be shared with interested applicants once available. *This question is required.
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