How Your School District Scored On The MCAS Over The Last 10 Years
Massachusetts public schools are considered the best in the nation, but that distinction obscures some significant test-score gaps.
Stark, Stubborn 'Achievement Gaps' Persist 25 Years After Education Reform
Massachusetts schools are heralded as the "best in the nation," but tests also show wide achievement gaps between white students and low-income and minority students.
As Charter Schools Narrow Achievement Gaps, Some Rethink Strict Discipline
Some charters have narrowed the gap between white or affluent students and students of color. But those high-achieving schools have been criticized for their strict "no excuses" disciplinary practices.
Amid Pursuit Of High MCAS Scores, Worries Persist That Creativity Is Pushed Out
While standards imposed under the 1993 reform law are partly responsible for the state's rise to the top of the nation, some teachers worry the emphasis on testing has taken...
How 6 Mass. Communities Are Imagining Life Beyond MCAS
The communities are trying out new ways to evaluate student learning beyond the test. They hope tests will remain just as rigorous — and tell teachers and administrators more about...
