New Measure Ties Community College Budget To Academic Performance

Massachusetts lawmakers have approved a sweeping overhaul of the way the state governs and oversees its 15 community colleges. Pushed and signed into law by Gov. Deval Patrick, it will give the state Board of Education new authority in selecting college presidents, approving college budgets and developing a funding formula based on performance.

There are at least two views of the legislation: proponents say it will improve accountability at the colleges, increase coordination across the 15 campuses, and help the state develop a more effective approach to job training to fill a growing "skills gap."

The other view says the law is unnecessary — that it strips authority from individual schools and adds a cumbersome layer of centralized administration in Boston. The state's community colleges need more funding, not more oversight.

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