"Eduspeak" Glossary of Educational Terms & Acronyms
Education Terminology “Eduspeak”
Franklin Public Schools is dedicated to providing exceptional educational experiences for our students through strong partnerships with families. By working together, we can ensure that our students receive the support and guidance they need to succeed in their academic journey. To help you navigate the educational landscape, we have created this document to define commonly used jargon and terminology that you may encounter during your child’s education. Our goal is to make communication and understanding as seamless as possible, so that together we can help our students reach their full potential.
Please contact the Franklin Public School District with information or questions about any acronym not listed below, for inclusion in an updated Eduspeak resource.
Acronym | Description |
DESE | |
MTSS | Multi-Tiered System of Support - A research-based framework for how school districts can build the necessary systems to ensure that each and every student receives a high quality educational experience. |
Tier 1 | As part of an MTSS, Tier 1 is the guaranteed and core curriculum offered to all students. This high-quality instruction is offered to all students and focused on grade-level expectations. |
Tier 2 | As part of MTSS Tier 2 is a specific and preventive intervention offered to students who require more specific supports, who may have fallen behind or who demonstrate difficulty. Tier 2 instruction is a supplement to their core curriculum, and is systematic, explicit, and highly interactive. |
Tier 3 | As part of MTSS Tier 3 interventions are offered to students for whom support in tiers 1 and 2 was insufficient. These interventions are more intensive. |
UDL | Universal Design for Learning- An approach to designing learning experiences so that they meet the needs of the widest range of learners. |
DEI | Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion -Diversity, equity, and inclusion are principles that promote respect for all individuals, regardless of their differences, and strive to create a fair and just educational environment for all students. Refer to Franklin’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion website for definitions. |
MCAS | Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System- The standardized test used in the state of Massachusetts to assess academic skills and knowledge. MCAS is designed to measure student performance in English language arts, mathematics, and science, and provide a statewide picture of student achievement.
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IEP | Individualized Education Plan- A legal document created for a student with a disability that outlines their specific learning needs and goals, and details the accommodations and support they will receive in order to access their education. |
ELD/ESL | English Language Development- ELD refers to the process by which non-native English speakers acquire the ability to understand, speak, read, and write in English. ELD programs support students who are learning English as a Second Language (ESL) as they acquire English language skills they need to succeed academically and socially. |
SEL | Social and Emotional Learning- SEL is the process through which all young people and adults acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to develop healthy identities, manage emotions and achieve personal and collective goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain supportive relationships, and make responsible and caring decisions…It can help all young people and adults thrive personally and academically, develop and maintain positive relationships, become lifelong learners, and contribute to a more caring, just world (MA DESE, 2023). |
UbD | Understanding by Design- UbD is the instructional design strategy outlined in the book by Jay McTighe and Grant Wiggens. Also known as Backwards Design, this approach has instructors consider the learning goals of the course first and design learning experiences aligned to the desired outcomes. |