FY26 SOA Plan Progress Report Overview Webinar (February 5, 2026)

Описание: The Student Opportunity Act (SOA) requires districts to develop plans every three years that 1) identify student groups experiencing disparities in learning opportunities and outcomes and 2) highlight the evidence-based programs they will implement to reduce those disparities. The SOA legislation also requires districts to submit annual progress updates that report on their progress in reducing disparities. Districts are in implementation year two of their current 3- year SOA Plans, which cover FY2025-FY2027. FY26 SOA Plan Progress Reports are due April 1, 2026. The FY26 SOA Plan Progress Report Overview webinar:
• offers a brief refresher on the Student Opportunity Act;
• summarizes what's the same and what is different in this year's progress report;
• walks through the FY26 SOA Plan Progress Report template;
• shares information about resources and supports for districts;
• describes DESE's review and revision process; and
• provides participants with an opportunity to ask questions.

What remains the same this year? Most of the FY26 SOA Plan Progress report template will look very familiar and asks districts for:
1. a summary of progress to date (i.e., in implementation; early evidence of change; outcomes and gap-closing) as of academic year 2025-2026;
2. information about any key changes to your SOA plan and next steps for implementation in the upcoming academic year (2026-2027);
3. a description of new activities launched in academic year 2025-2026 to engage families/caregivers and other stakeholders and evidence of progress in increasing/improving family/caregiver engagement.

What's new this year? The Mass Leads Act, enacted November 20, 2024, requires districts to develop and submit to DESE plans for strengthening workforce diversity. DESE's Office of Strategic Initiatives, which is leading this initiative, is working collaboratively with the SOA Team and other stakeholders as it develops guidance for these plans. Data collection for the FY26 SOA Plan Progress Reports is being leveraged to gather baseline data from districts on strategies fostering workplace diversity that are already underway or that are in the planning stages. These data will be used to inform their planning process. DESE staff leading this work provides additional context during the overview webinar.