Mass EdForum

July 31, 2014

Tech Bond Bill to Help Modernize Schools

A bond bill for government technology worth $1 billion, including $38 million for a public school district broadband access improvement grant program, has been approved by the Massachusetts House and Senate and now goes to Governor Patrick for his signature. […]
August 1, 2014

Education and Workforce Preparedness

Our friends at Achieve, Inc. have given us permission to reprint their excellent materials when we see information that will be of interest to the Massachusetts business community.  This commentary focuses on the workforce issues that are of concern to […]
August 20, 2014

A Closer Look: What Common Core Polls Really Show

On the surface, poll results released this week seem to indicate that public support for the Common Core State Standards is slipping. Yet, a closer look at four recent polls tells another story, and alarmingly, that misinformation about the standards […]
October 7, 2014

84% of Teachers Enthusiastic About Common Core Implementation

The results of a national survey released by Scholastic late last week show that 84% of teachers who have been using the Common Core State Standards for more than a year are enthusiastic about their implementation. More teachers feel better […]
October 27, 2014

Accountability Mistake Impacts Charter Schools

MBAE has been a strong supporter of developing assessments that give students and their families an honest measure of whether a child is performing at grade level.  This is essential to ensure a student is on track to graduate ready […]
November 17, 2014

Business Stake in Education for US Competitiveness

At Harvard Business School the faculty leads the U.S. Competitiveness Project which is “…a research-led effort to understand and improve the competitiveness of the United States – that is, the ability of firms operating in the U.S. to compete successfully […]
November 23, 2014

Public Opinion About Education

MBAE congratulates and looks forward to working with Governor-Elect Charlie Baker and the newly elected and returning legislators who are taking on the responsibility to ensure our public schools educate every child for success.  Reaching that goal, we believe, will require major […]
December 17, 2014

Advice to Governor-elect: Stay the Course

Stay the course on standards and assessments. That’s MBAE’s position on the Common Core standards and the transition away from MCAS. And now it’s advice to Governor-elect Baker coming from the Boston Globe. In Friday’s editorial, Noah Guiney of the […]
January 22, 2015

Educating Your Future Workforce: A Call to Action for Employers

Of all the policy imperatives facing the Baker administration, there is none more relevant to our economic future than public education.  Preparing future generations with the knowledge demands of our 21st century economy is perhaps the most critical component of our […]
February 1, 2015

The Patriots and the Common Core

As a Boston sports fan, I may not be a totally objective observer of “Deflategate”, but I find myself very ticked off at the innuendo, sniping and sore sportsmanship demonstrated in attacks on the Patriots. One of the motivations I see behind the attempts […]
February 2, 2015

Presidential Politics and the Common Core

Karen Nussle, Executive Director of the Collaborative for Student Success recently shared some information we think is worth repeating.  This blog post draws heavily on that information. With the 2016 presidential campaign already gaining steam, some presidential candidates who originally supportedCommon […]
February 5, 2015

Building on What Works

Massachusetts’ economic vitality and  leadership in innovation depend on the state staying ahead of the national curve in education.  The business community must do all we can to keep our foot on the pedal of progress.  Over the past two decades, […]
February 11, 2015

MCAS v PARCC as Indicators of College and Career Readiness

This year, Massachusetts will make a decision as monumental as the one made in 1993 when the Commonwealth adopted standards-based education reforms that propelled us to the top of the nation on many measures of student achievement.  Our choice will […]
March 24, 2015

PARCC Test Fairness and Security

The business community relies heavily on data for measuring and understanding its performance and opportunities.  So, it is no surprise that MBAE has strongly supported the effective use of data to improve instruction and assess the performance of many aspects of our […]
August 20, 2015

Independence: A Recommendation for School Reform

As we celebrate Independence Day, many school districts are bringing on new leaders who have plans and ambitions for improving the education opportunities for students in their communities.  The Superintendent’s job is a tough one – demanding the skill of a diplomat, […]
September 20, 2015

Editorial Calls for MA to Adopt PARCC

On September 20, The Standard-Times published a strong endorsement of PARCC in an editorial “Mass. should adopt PARCC.” Citing conversations with local educators and administrators, the editorial says “As we hear more and more educators and parents give Common Core a chance, […]
November 4, 2015

Foundation Budget Review Commission Issues Final Report

The Foundation Budget Review Commission completed its work of the past year and released its recommendations to the legislature on Monday, November 2, 2015. The most significant recommendation was to increase the foundation budget allocation for health insurance by linking […]
November 12, 2015

Time to Move to PARCC

The Mass Board of Elementary and Secondary Education will make a major decision regarding standardized testing for the Commonwealth next Tuesday, November 17th. Massachusetts led standards-based education reform twenty years ago by establishing the highest set of education standards in the […]
January 28, 2016

Common Core Ballot Question Threatens Student Progress

Flying mostly under the radar in recent months, the ballot measure that would repeal the Common Core has escaped the close examination it deserves.  If passed, it would have a devastating impact on Massachusetts schools, upending every district in the […]