| Gaining Traction: Achievement in Urban Schools |
| Study Demonstrates Value of Data |
 This month, the Massachusetts Office of Educational Quality and Accountability (MA EQA) and the University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute presented findings and facilitated discussion of a two-year study of factors influencing achievement in the Commonwealth's urban public schools. The study, Gaining Traction: Urban Educators' Perspectives on the Critical Factors Influencing Student Achievement in Comparatively High and Low Performing Urban Public Schools, involved extensive analysis of MCAS student achievement data and interviews with over 600 educators from 30 public schools in 10 urban districts.
The goal of the EQA is to provide educators, citizens, and policymakers with data as well as tools for assessing educational quality and steering all Massachusetts schools in the direction of success. This study provides important qualitative data to understand the challenges of reform beyond the demographics, and with strategies to improve performance in urban schools. Accountability is a critical component of the success of education reform, and MBAE has supported funding in the current state budget deliberations for continuing the comprehensive review process employed by EQA. Click here for our position statement.
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| Raising Graduation Rates and High School Achievement |
| Moving Forward on a Dual Agenda |
 Based on its leadership in standards-based reform and its early release of cohort graduation rates, Massachusetts was selected to participate in High Standards and High Graduation Rates: Moving Forward on a Dual Agenda in Massachusetts, a joint project of Achieve, Inc., and Jobs for the Future. The project analyzes what the state is doing and can do to support a dual agenda of high standards and high graduation rates. Mike Cohen, President of Achieve, and Adria Steinberg, Associate Vice President of Jobs for the Future discussed the report with a gathering of business leaders convened by MBAE after presentation of the findings to the Board of Education last week. Now, MBAE will be bringing employers together to consider action business can take to move this dual agenda forward! Please contact us if you would like to be involved!
Read the Report |
| Come to the Fair ! |
Massachusetts State Science and Engineering Fair
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 Don't miss the chance to visit the Massachusetts State Science & Engineering Fair (MSSEF) at MIT's Johnson Athletics Center on Saturday, May 5 beginning at 12:30 p.m. It is free and open to the public! You can see over 300 of the most outstanding individual and team projects in scientific research, engineering and invention representing the ingenuity of over 400 Massachusetts high school students. MSSEF's Science Fair Expo includes interactive booths set up by Massachusetts companies that generously support science education. New this year - a WBZ-TV meteorologist will host a booth with a life-size view of the TV's weather station work area.
There will also be programs for parents and science educators, including a Friday lunch seminar for parents on ways to finance a college education, plus a panel on Saturday morning about career opportunities in science & technology. At the concluding Award Recognition Ceremony at 3:30 on Saturday, over $425,000 in college scholarships and prizes will be presented. This is a great opportunity to meet a group of talented, highly motivated young people who are beginning their journey to become tomorrow's science and technology leaders. Their amazing accomplishments range from in-depth scientific research on ways to address environmental problems to patentable inventions for improved healthcare. Congratulations to all students participating!
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