Resources
MBAE provides the business community with information about current education policy issues and challenges. Here are our most recent or important documents and reports.
Race to the Top
MBAE Summary of Round 2 Application for Race to the Top – MBAE offers a concise summary of Massachusetts’ second application for historic Race to the Top funds.
MBAE Supports Round 2 Application for Race to the Top – MBAE’s letter of support for the Massachusetts Race to the Top application pledges our organization’s assistance and participation in making the most of this opportunity to increase college and career readiness, ensure effective teachers and leaders in every school, and help our lowest performing schools and districts raise student achievement.
How Does Massachusetts Stack Up Against Round 1 RTTT Winners? – This chart compares Massachusetts’ Round 1 Race to the Top application to the winning applications of Tennessee and Delaware.
Where is the Money Going? Race to the Top Budget Breakdown – As part of its commitment to inform the business community about the allocation and impact of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds, MBAE has analyzed sections of the state’s Race to the Top application and budget, and summarized how the state proposes to spend $250 million.
Common Core State Standards
WestEd Comparison of Common Core and Massachusetts Revised Standards – Full Report – Full report of the WestEd standards comparison.
WestEd Comparison of Common Core and Massachusetts Revised Standards – Executive Summary – Executive Summary for the WestEd standards comparison.
WestEd Comparison of Common Core and Massachusetts Revised Standards – English Language Arts Appendix - Analyst ratings for individual English language arts standards.
WestEd Comparison of Common Core and Massachusetts Revised Standards – Mathematics Appendix – Analyst ratings for individual mathematics standards.
WestEd Comparison of Common Core and Massachusetts Revised Standards – Reviewer Comments – Independent external experts reviewed WestEd’s methodology and content area analyses.
Worcester Telegram Op-Ed – “Working on Common Core” – Opinion piece by MBAE Board Chairman, Robert W. Richardson, on the Common Core.
Common Core Forum Webcast – Watch video from our recent forum on the Common Core, cohosted by the Rennie Center for Education Research & Policy.
Common Core State Standards Fact Sheet – The Common Core State Standards are proposed for grades K-12 to ensure college and career readiness in math and English. Designed by subject experts, the standards are being reviewed for adoption by the 48 states involved in their development. MBAE has summarized information about the standards and the process for consideration in Massachusetts.
Economic Stimulus Funding for Massachusetts
Economic Stimulus Funds Offer Opportunities to Massachusetts – MBAE maintains an updated summary of key funding opportunities available to Massachusetts through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). These federal grant programs offer more than financial resources – these also can spur progress in our education reform efforts to ensure every child a high quality education that will prepare them for success!
Massachusetts Plans Data Reforms Using Federal Stimulus Funds – In the Phase II application for State Fiscal Stabilization Funds (SFSF), Massachusetts has outlined plans for further development of its education data systems infrastructure and reforms to make education data more accessible to educators and the public. Massachusetts previously received approximately $725 Million from the SFSF Phase I, and was awarded an additional $268 Million in Phase II.
College and Career Readiness
Tapping Massachusetts Potential: The Massachusetts Employers’ STEM Agenda – A public policy focus and investment in the STEM fields are of primary importance to many Massachusetts employers and to the future of our state’s knowledge-based economy. Fifteen of the state’s leading business and technology organizations have formed a unique, collaborative call-to-action for STEM to become a statewide policy priority.
Educating a 21st Century Workforce: A Call to Action on High School Reform – A commission of employers convened by MBAE proposes a plan of action for the business community. Meeting the challenge of preparing all students for college and career will require changes in the way high schools are structured because, “like it or not, students are acting like consumers,” disengaging from schools when they fail to see connections between what is being taught in the classroom and their own personal goals and postsecondary plans.
Preparing for the Future: Employer Perspectives on Work Readiness Skills – MBAE’s focus groups inform educators and policy-makers about the work readiness skills that employers expect of Massachusetts high school graduates and describe the skills and characteristics that corporations require for entry-level positions with potential for growth and advancement.
Educator Effectiveness
Human Capital in the Boston Public Schools: Rethinking How to Attract, Develop and Retain Effective Teachers – MBAE and the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) report on Boston Public School policies that have an impact on teacher quality, and conclude that while the district has many smart, strategic policies already in place, improving teacher rules could help the district do more to attract and retain effective teachers.
Education Reform
Every Child a Winner – In 1991, MBAE proposed this detailed reform plan as the basis for what would ultimately become the 1993 Massachusetts Education Reform Act. In it, MBAE calls for high standards, accountability for performance, and equitable distribution of resources among school districts.
