Education Advocacy Organizations Across the Nation are Involved in State RTTT Plans
As a member of the Policy Innovators in Education Network (PIE Network), MBAE collaborates with the best strategic thinkers in education reform in states across the nation. The PIE Network recently distributed a newsletter detailing member states' Race to the Top (RTTT) advocacy and agendas in going into the second round of RTTT.
An detailed analysis from the PIE Network on organization's Round 1 efforts, "The Race to Reform: How Education Reform Advocates are Leveraging Race to the Top," is available here. |
MBAE Supporters include:
Abt Associates
AT&T
Associated Industries of Massachusetts
Citizens Bank
Comcast
The Irene E. and George A. Davis Foundation
EMC Corporation
IBM
Intel
MassMutual Financial Foundation
Slowey/McManus
SolidWorks
The Barr Foundation
The Boston Foundation
Verizon
and generous individuals! |
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While the Race to the Top results may be stealing the headlines, the education research released over the last month should not be missed. A sample of the reports that have crossed MBAE's desk appear below, but we continue to welcome your suggestions and submissions! |
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Education Stimulus Update
Tennessee and Delaware only winners in first round of Race to the Top
Though named a finalist, Massachusetts did not win federal funds in the first round of the grant competition. For the official announcement, read the U.S. Department of Education's press release. To see how Massachusetts' application stacked up against the winners', check out MBAE's analysis here.
Additionally, The New Teacher Project has prepared a report that discusses lessons learned from Round 1 and ways to strengthen applications going into Round 2.
US Department of Education announces Race to the Top: Assessment Program
$350 Million of the $4.35 Billion allocated for Race to the Top has been set aside to fund state consortia working on the development of high quality assessments. You can read the official request for proposals and further details here.
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America's Private Public Schools
This is an eye opening report from the Fordham Institute on the characteristics of "private public schools": public schools where less than 5% of the
school population receives free or reduced lunch. While charter schools are required to accept students from disadvantaged populations, and private schools frequently offer
scholarships, the "private public schools" that opt-out of school choice
programs are, this report argues, more
selective than their private and charter counterparts.
 MA Perspective: Massachusetts generally, and Boston specifically, have
amongst the highest percentages of "private public schools;" with 17% of all Boston public schools receiving this designation. To ensure that all students have equitable access to high quality
education, Massachusetts should consider ways to increase participation in school choice programs.
Read the Full Report
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Can I Get a Little Advice Here?
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Public Agenda continue their series on college completion by surveying young adults about the support they received from high school guidance counselors. The results reveal a system that frequently fails to deliver much needed advice on college choice and financial aid information, and which could negatively impact students' college aspirations.  MA Perspective: Guidance counselor's play a critical role in advancing student progress towards college and career. For this reason MBAE supports the Massachusetts School Counselors Association's (MASCA) College and Career Readiness bill, currently moving through the Massachusetts legislature. This bill promotes early career planning with the informed aid of middle and high school guidance counselors.Read the Full Report
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Why So Few?
A recent report by the AAUW highlights the gender disparity in Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) careers. Despite relatively similar numbers of boys and girls graduating high school prepared for STEM majors, fewer women pursue these majors and fewer still pursue science and engineering graduate studies or STEM careers.
 MA Perspective: Science, technology, and engineering businesses are a key area of growth for Massachusetts. However, as highlighted by last year's Tapping Massachusetts' Potential report, the state needs to make a significant investment in all STEM students to stay competitive in a global marketplace.
Read the Full Report
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