Information

October 21, 2010

Business Coalition Gets Results on STEM

In June of 2009, fifteen business and technology associations in Massachusetts joined to form the STEM Business Leaders’ Coalition and released a groundbreaking report, “Tapping Massachusetts’ Potential:  The Massachusetts’ Employers’ STEM Agenda.”  At the urging of EMC Corporation, the group, […]
December 9, 2010

Why Are Massachusetts Schools so Cash Strapped?

This morning, MBAE issued School Funding Reality: A Bargain Not Kept, our report on school funding and spending trends in Massachusetts.  We did the study to look at how the foundation budget was working and found that the explosive growth […]
December 17, 2010

12th Grade NAEP Information Targets Business Community

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), also known as The Nation’s Report Card, was created by Congress to provide the public with information about the achievement of students at grades 4, 8, and 12 in core academic subjects, including […]
April 12, 2011

What’s Next for the Common Core? A Look at Assessments

This morning, the Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education and The Rennie Center for Education Research and Policy, held the second in a series of three forums to examine the implementation of the Common Core State Standards in Massachusetts.  At our […]
May 25, 2011

Top MA High Schools Preparing Students for College and Career

In a Washington Post ranking of public high schools that most effectively prepare students for college, the schools ranked #1 and #2 in Massachusetts were both charter schools.  Sturgis Charter Public School in Hyannis came in first in Massachusetts and […]
August 22, 2011

Mass STEM Plan a Model for Others

Last week, the National Governor’s Association convened the “Massachusetts Learning Lab for Developing a State STEM Plan” in Boston. STEM “Teams” from nine states attended to share experiences and learn from Massachusetts to develop strategies for developing and implementing STEM […]
October 12, 2011

Analysis of Teacher Policies in Springfield Public Schools

An analysis of Springfield Public Schools teacher policies and practices was conducted by the National Council on Teacher Quality for MBAE and Springfield Business Leaders for Education. The report found that improving the teacher evaluation system so that all teachers get feedback is critical, seniority rules are hurting new teacher recruitment, and the $127 million the district spends on compensation must be used more strategically.
October 16, 2011

Are Our Nation’s 12th Graders Prepared for College and Job Training?

Regional Symposium in Boston on October 24 to Look at NAEP and 12th Grade Academic Preparedness  Our nation is at a crossroads. A well-educated, highly trained citizenry is essential to maintain our democratic way of life and compete in the world marketplace. Postsecondary […]
November 15, 2011

Reading Success by 4th Grade

Springfield, Massachusetts is a trend setter in early childhood education!  Cherish Every Child, an initiative of the Irene E. and George A. Davis Foundation, is a model for community collaboration to improve the lives of children.  Project Director Sally Fuller […]
November 16, 2011

Is Massachusetts on Track to Meet Race to the Top Goals?

One year ago, Massachusetts was awarded a $250 million Race to the Top grant that required implementation of far-reaching and some controversial policies with the goal of completing the unfinished work of education reform – closing achievement gaps and raising […]
December 12, 2011

Progress on Data Systems Assessed

On December 1, the National Data Quality Campaign (DQC) hosted a webinar describing states’ progress toward implementing and using strong data systems to assess students’ educational performance (see the slides or watch the video).  Each year for the past seven years,  […]
January 23, 2012

The Critical Role of Community Colleges in Workforce Development

The connection between education and economic development is one that employers have emphasized for many years.  In fact, it is the reason MBAE exists – to provide every child the excellent education they need to prepare for the demanding jobs of an […]
June 7, 2012

Legislature Should Act to Avoid Ballot Fight

It is good news that Stand for Children and the Massachusetts Teachers Association have come up with a legislative proposal that both organizations can support to address the issues raised in Stand’s Great Teachers Great Schools ballot initiative. MBAE joined […]
September 11, 2012

Readiness for Workforce a Shared Responsibility

In his opinion column in The New York Times, Tom Friedman wrote again about how the game has changed and how Americans have to be prepared for new jobs and new technologies. The broader theme he often touts is that the […]
September 19, 2012

News on MCAS Scores

Although many of us tuned in this week to learn the results of the 2012 MCAS exams and were pleased to find continued growth in the number of 10th grade students reaching proficiency in ELA (88%) and math (78%), there […]
October 8, 2012

Perspective Matters

MBAE welcomes this guest blog post from Julia de la Torre, Executive Director of Primary Source, one of the organizations that has organized the Massachusetts Education Delegation’s tour to Finland.   Every  time I step foot outside of my home […]
October 9, 2012

Finnish Culture’s Influence on Education System

This guest post by Massachusetts State Representative Jennifer Benson is another in a series by members of the Massachusetts Education Delegation as they tour Finland. After 2 days, 2 school visits and a meeting at the National Board of Education I have […]
November 7, 2012

Visit to a Swedish Charter School

This guest blog shares “random commentary on what we learned” by Maureen LaCroix, Retired Superintendent of Schools, The MA Delegation to Finland and Sweden Visits Gymnasium School: Viktor Rydberg High School Private School Run by a Foundation Background This is […]
November 20, 2012

Report Measures Progress on State’s Education Data Systems

Data is an essential tool for teachers and school leaders as they work to bring about positive student learning outcomes.  Last year MBAE Board Member Beth Gamse blogged about a report from the national Data Quality Campaign (DQC) on states’ progress […]