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Just for the Kids - Massachusetts |
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The most current MCAS data is now live and accessible via MBAE's Just for the Kids Massachusetts website. Just for the Kids (JFTK) charts school and district MCAS performance, compares schools to those of similar demographics, and offers best practices from top-performing schools for replication in others. This year, MBAE was able to work with the National Center for Educational Accountability and the Department of Education to include school-level grduation rate data on the site to shine a light on the drop out crisis in many of Massachusetts's educationally-disadvantaged communities.
JFTK uses objective ratings and presents clear, compelling data that can help educators improve their teaching and parents ask the right questions about their child's education. By using "apples to apples" comparisons, JFTK holds high-performing schools accountable for continued progress, while highlighting opportunities for improvement and strategies for success in lower-performing schools.
MBAE welcomes the opportunity to meet with your business or organization to provide a demonstration of JFTK. To arrange a demonstration, or for more information, please contact MBAE's Assistant Director, Adam Schott.
MBAE is grateful to  for its support of Just for the Kids Massachusetts.
Visit Just for the Kids Massachusetts
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Building a Student-Level Longitudinal Data System |
Data Quality Campaign releases Massachusetts case study |
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 The Data Quality Campaign (DQC) is a national, collaborative effort to encourage and support state policymakers to improve the collection, availability, and use of high-quality education data and to implement state longitudinal data systems to measure and improve student achievement. As part of the campaign's aim to provide tools and resources that will assist state development of quality longitudinal data systems, a case study was done of six states in various stages of developing such systems, including Massachusetts.
What are the elements of a coherent student-level longitudinal data system, and how close is Massachusetts to developing one? The Data Quality Campaign case study outlines the state's progress toward this goal, as well as the remaining challenges. The case study concludes with specific recommendations for the state DOE to pursue, such as appointing a "data advocate" and designing a communications strategy to reach policymakers, involve schools and districts, and raise the level of urgency for building and maintaining high-quality P-20 data systems.
Read the Massachusetts Study |
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Data-Driven Student Achievement |
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Pioneer Institute forum on January 15th |
 Join some of Massachusetts's leading education policymakers for a discussion of the state's pioneering role in utilizing student achievement data to ensure accountability and support teaching and learning. The Pioneer Foundation's forum on data-driven student achievement will assess the impact of MCAS, one of the core elements of the 1993 Massachusetts Education Reform Act, and include the perspectives of both proponents and opponents of the system. Acting Commissioner of Education Jeff Nellhaus will provide a keynote speech, and MBAE's Managing Director, Linda Noonan, will moderate the panel discussion to follow. |
