Common Core Ballot Question Threatens Student Progress
January 28, 2016Harvard on Common Core
March 23, 2016
In this issue: Public Comment on Draft Digital Literacy and Computer Science Standards | MCAS 2.0 – Stakeholder Input | Financial Literacy Summit
A recent Boston Globe story underscores the critical need for reinvention of our K-12 education system. Baby boomer retirements may slow Mass. economic growth reports that “By 2018, employment growth in Massachusetts is expected to plunge by more than half — not because there aren’t jobs, but because there won’t be enough workers to fill them.” Another Boston Globe story, The war for tech talent escalates, states “The shortage of skilled technology workers has become the No. 1 issue for many Massachusetts companies and a growing concern for the state’s innovation economy.”
Unless we modernize our schools, our skills gap will grow larger, we will not have the pipeline of skilled workers our economy demands, and a large portion of students will be left on the economic sidelines. Work readiness starts with preeminent state education policy. That’s what MBAE is working on and we hope you’ll join us.
Public Comment on Draft Digital Literacy and Computer Science Standards
The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education voted on January 26, 2016 to solicit public comment on the draft Digital Literacy and Computer Science standards. Public input is an important part of developing state learning standards and will help to refine the standards before the Board votes on adopting them. The public comment period is open through April 8, 2016.
The draft standards and a survey to submit comment are available online.
While development of computer science understanding and skills is an MBAE policy priority and of great concern to employers, we are also committed to equity in access to this study and experience for all students. MBAE, through our Future Ready initiative, is a partner with the Digital Opportunity Center’s Boston Regional Digital Equity Summit taking place on Friday March 18, 2016 at UMASS Boston. The Digital Equity Summit will equip school/community teams in high poverty communities with the knowledge, ongoing planning assistance and resources to design digital equity initiatives to ensure all students have access to technology in their classrooms and communities. For more information on digital equity or to register for the Summit visit http://digitalopportunity.edc.org/.
MCAS 2.0 – Stakeholder Input
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is in the process of upgrading MCAS to “better measure the critical thinking skills students need for success in the 21st century.” What is being referred to as MCAS 2.0 will build upon MCAS and incorporate items developed by PARCC. The proportions to be combined are unknown, but the new test will be designed to be taken on a computer, although many students will continue to use paper-and-pencil versions initially. Massachusetts will have complete control of test administration, test content, testing windows, and the reporting of results.
As DESE builds the new assessments, they are seeking the input of educators and community stakeholders from across the state to review the English language arts (ELA) and math standards. To share your thoughts about how to improve the standards, please use DESE’s feedback form – http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/2570879/MCAS-2-0-ELA-and-Math-Standards-Refinement.
Financial Literacy Summit
Massachusetts Education and Career Opportunities, Inc. (MassEdCo), another partner of Future Ready Massachusetts, will host a Financial Literacy Summit with Massachusetts State Treasurer Deb Goldberg on Friday March 11, 2016 in Worcester. The Summit will highlight recommendations on financing postsecondary education from Treasurer Goldberg’s report A Roadmap to Economic Empowerment from her Task Force on Financial Literacy. Register and find a complete agenda here!