After almost a year of work, Governor Deval Patrick has released the report of his Readiness Project. This statewide initiative has involved over 200 educators, business executives, and community leaders on thirteen subcommittees overseen by a Leadership Council co-chaired by EMC Chairman & CEO Joseph Tucci, Wheelock College President Jackie Jenkins-Scott, and Harvard Graduate School of Education Professor Thomas Payzant. The goal of this project was to create a comprehensive, child-centered public education system that starts in early childhood and continues through grade 12, higher education, and work force development.
The proposed Education Action Agenda includes many bold and innovative approaches to bring about systemic change in our schools. The Agenda is designed to raise achievement of all students and to prepare all students to compete successfully in the global economy. As the organization that led the education reform movement 15 years ago, MBAE is proud of the progress we have made since then but well aware of the work remaining ahead of us. Now, with renewed attention and commitment to improving educational quality by our state leaders, Massachusetts has the opportunity to restructure our school system to guarantee every child the education they need to become a productive member of society in the 21st century.
MBAE is pleased to see so many of our priorities - preparation for college and career, educator excellence, drop out prevention, data-driven improvements - as well as other reforms we strongly support - early childhood education, extended learning time, and assessment of 21st century skills - included in the recommendations. A summary of the report is provided below and we will be offering more detailed analysis in the weeks ahead. We look forward to collaborating with our business partners and policy leaders to make these recommendations a reality! |
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Ready for 21st Century Success |
The New Promise of Public Education
Acknowledging that our schools "must ensure that high school graduates know and are capable of much more than ever before", this report calls for transforming public schools over the next decade to meet the needs of current and future realities rather than perpetuate past practices that did not prepare all students for the demands of higher education and a technologically driven economy. With an unequivocal commitment to eliminating disadvantages based on socio-economic status, the proposed reform strategy focuses on four challenges:
International competition and an outdated curriculum - Massachusetts must shift its focus from a 20th century approach to teaching to a modern curriculum that includes 21st century themes such as global and cultural competency, financial literacy, and other applied skills as well as strengthening content ranging from math, science, and world languages to social sciences and the arts.
A stubborn achievement gap - This can only be closed by acknowledging that children have different needs based on the advantages and obstacles they encounter outside of school. Public education must be coordinated with other social and health services so all children can meet high standards.
An education workforce crisis - Student achievement depends on teacher quality. The teaching profession has to be promoted as the critical and valuable vocation that it is in order to attract and retain outstanding candidates. The system for preparing, supporting and evaluating teachers must be comprehensively re-designed.
A century-old system - The system of standards and accountability instituted in 1993 has brought us far, but reaching the goal of bringing all students to proficiency requires a new, individualized approach. In an economy where the same skills are needed for college and for jobs at family-sustaining wages, it will take new, differentiated approaches to give all students what they need to succeed. |
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Read the Full Report |
| Four Goals of Action Agenda |
| Putting Children's Learning Needs First
For each goal, the Patrick Administration has identified what will be achieved in the short (by 2011), mid (by 2015), and long(by 2020) terms to reach the stated vision. Details can be found at: http://www.mass.gov/governor/education |
Goal 1: Raising Student Achievement
Key short term goals include increased support for early childhood education; an inter-agency Child and Youth Readiness cabinet; a pilot drop out prevention and intervention program for urban districts; Student Support Coordinators to link services for students in low-income schools; and a statewide data system that will provide a "Readiness Passport" to document all education and social service experiences received by every child.
Goal 2: Teachers and Education Leaders - Supported and Effective Educators
By 2011, establish differentiated pay for high-need locations and disciplines; pilot intensive induction and mentoring for new teachers; establish Readiness Science and Math Teaching Fellowship to increase supply of teachers in these fields; accelerate development of "real time" assessment data to support instruction; strengthen MCAS requirement with complementary measures of student growth and 21st century skills; build state capacity to attract and retain a highly competent, culturally diverse teaching force. Mid- and long-term actions would strengten teacher preparation in several different ways and provide support for continued improvement at all education levels.
Goal 3: College, Career and Life Success
In addition to integrating 21st century skills into all aspects of public education; needs based financial aid would be increased;offer community college opportunities to early childhood educators and income-eligible parents; provide accelerated graduation and early college opportunities; allow in-state tuition for undocumented immigrants; build a school-to-college web portal; offer college readiness assessments to high school juniors; and guarantee transfer credit among public colleges and universities. In the longer term, additional initiatives to increase work and college readiness will be implemented, in some cases focused on students with specific needs.
Goal 4: Innovation and Systemic Reform to Create a 21st Century Public Education System
The Readiness School concept which has received much press attention is part of this goal, which would also establish a Readiness Finance Commission to recommend cost savings and efficiencies, potential sources of revenue, and options for a complete overhaul of the state's education financesystem. MBAE Advisory Council member Wendell Knox, CEO of Abt Associates and Board member Mike Widmer, President of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation have been appointed members of this Commission. Other key features of this goal are expanding learning time both during out-of-school time and the summer; establishing a public-private Commonwealth Education Innovation Fund to foster innovation; expand student access to online learning; and provide other incentives and programs to use technology to improve teaching and learning.
Links to Subcommittee Reports and Video of Announcements | |
| MBAE Thanks our Supporters |
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MBAE's work is made possible by the financial support of generous individuals and -
Abt Associates
AT&T Foundation
Braver
Citizens Bank
Comcast
The Irene E. and George A. Davis Foundation
Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation
EMC Corporation
IBM
Intel
Pearson
Shields Healthcare Group
Slowey/McManus
TD Banknorth
Verizon | |
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