Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Joins Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education as Affiliate
April 25, 2017MBAE & Affiliates Take Action to Protect Reforms that Made MA #1
May 26, 2017
In this issue: Business Groups Take Action on Senate Budget Amendments | MBAE Celebrates and Thanks Former and Outgoing Board Members | Other Items of Interest
As MBAE’s Affiliate Network and partners mobilized this week to ensure that EVERY student receives an excellent education, we added three new affiliates – Lynn Area Chamber of Commerce, Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce, and Metrowest Chamber of Commerce. These business groups join thirteen other previously announced Chambers and business associations that recognize the connection between education and a strong workforce.
Business Groups Take Action on Senate Budget Amendments
The MBAE Affiliate Network let Senators know this week why employers oppose Senate budget amendments that would dismantle education reforms that have made Massachusetts number one in the nation in student achievement.
The Network urged the Senate to reject budget amendments which are addressed in bills that will be reviewed through the regular legislative process and receive a public hearing with the opportunity for greater deliberation and all perspectives to be considered.
The MBAE Network urged Senators to:
Oppose limitations on use of data essential for district and school leaders to make personnel decisions that are in the best interest of students, particularly in struggling schools. Amendments of particular concern would:
- Remove a school leader’s ability to weigh performance more heavily than seniority in teacher tenure decisions (#94);
- Eliminate state requirements that districts evaluate teachers, at least in part, on their impact on student learning, growth, or achievement (#99); and,
- Gut the state’s education accountability system that has provided actionable data essential for school improvement (#95).
Oppose a moratorium on MCAS testing. Statewide standardized tests are essential because they:
- Ensure that the same bar for learning is set for every student, in every district across the state;
- Provide critical information to parents and educators about whether students are meeting those expectations;
- Shine a light and therefore create urgency to address persistent racial and socio-economic achievement gaps; and,
- Provide essential data about school and district performance that can be used to correct course if necessary, or to highlight best practices that can be replicated.
During Budget deliberations, the most egregious amendments emphasizing seniority rather than performance as a key factor in personnel decisions and imposing a test moratorium were withdrawn. Unfortunately, another amendment restricting the use of measures of a teacher’s impact on student learning in teacher evaluation was adopted on a 22-15 vote. We applaud the Senators who stood on the side of students and professional educators who meet high expectations by voting “nay”. Find out how your Senator voted, here!
The debate over these issues will continue in conference committee and in bills that will be back before the legislature during this session.
MBAE Celebrates and Thanks Former and Outgoing Board Members
As we approach our 30th year of education advocacy, MBAE honored current and former members of the Board of Directors to thank them for their service and to celebrate MBAE’s significant contributions to the state’s education system.
Pictured from left to right are Beth Gamse, Abt Associates; Jim McManus, Slowey/McManus Communications; MBAE co-founder Paul Reville, Harvard Graduate School of Education; MBAE Executive Director Linda Noonan; Harriet Tolpin, Partners Healthcare; Cathleen Finn, IBM; Bob Gittens, Cambridge Family and Children’s Service; Laury Coolidge, Loring, Wolcott & Coolidge; and MBAE Chairman Bill Walczak.
Other Items of Interest
Stig Leischly offers 25 tables of data to help us understand higher education challenges.
Merit pay part of turnaround plan in Southbridge
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Employers play a pivotal role in bringing about needed change in our public education system. Please join MBAE in our effort to ensure every student graduates high school prepared for success in college, career and citizenship.