ACLS-funded programs have access to a statewide Newsela account for use in their programs.

What is Newsela?

Newsela takes authentic content from trusted sources and makes it instruction-ready. Each text is published at five reading levels, ranging (roughly) from 3rd to 12th grade. Each leveled text features a quiz and a prompt that asks students to respond in writing to what they've read. With over 14,000 texts across 20+ genres, Newsela enables educators to go deep on any subject they choose.

(See more at https://newsela.com/about/press-releases/newsela-launches-learning-found-campaign/ and https://newsela.com/about/content/content-guidelines/.)

Professional Development

For FY23 PD, please visit https://www.sabes.org/content/sabes-program-support-pd-center-support-newsela.

Newsela Accounts

Set up a Newsela account using either one of these methods at newsela.com:

• If you have a Gmail or Microsoft email address provided by the institution where you work, log in using that agency Gmail or Microsoft address; or,
• Create a username and password using your agency email

Any program that wishes to use Newsela but has difficulty creating accounts should contact Paula Jurigian, ACLS Distance Education and Digital Literacy Specialist, at paula.jurigian@mass.gov.

Please note that anyone may sign up for a free Newsela account, which gives limited access to articles on current events, their corresponding reading comprehension quizzes and customizable writing prompts, and the ability to annotate these articles. It does not give access to their library of content articles. Signing up through your DESE-funded agency e-mail address will give you access to materials customized for Massachusetts adult education.

Customized Collections

Sign in to Newsela with your DESE-funded agency e-mail and lick on Browse to find the collections created for the MA adult education field:

1. Literacy Skills Development
2. High School Equivalency Preparation
3. Digital Literacy
4. Career Exploration Pathways
5. Workforce Preparation Activities
6. Civics Education

Past Professional Development

In FY22, SABES and Newsela partnered to provide five online trainings, supporting practitioners in using the statewide license available to ACLS-funded programs.

Review the original calendar posting; explore the agenda with resource links; and view the session recordings. (If you did not attend in person, you will need to register to view a session recording.)