25 Years Of Ed Reform In Mass.
A 2018 series evaluating 25 years since the 1993 Education Reform Act in Massachusetts.
Some Educators Look For Alternatives To MCAS
But as the state rolls out "MCAS 2.0," some education leaders are calling for a completely different way to evaluating student learning.
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...
Has The MCAS Killed Creativity In The Classroom?
Supporters say the MCAS is a necessary and useful accountability tool, while critics argue it has handcuffed teachers and dictated content in the classroom.
New Head Of Mass. Teachers Association Weighs In On Education Reform
For more perspective on how some teachers view education reform, Merrie Najimy, president-elect of the Massachusetts Teachers Association, joined Morning Edition.
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...
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25 Years Ago, I Helped Pass Ed Reform In Mass. Today, We Still Have Problems To Solve
The 1993 reform law has not resulted in the kind of change we all expected from a $2 billion a year increase in state education funding, writes Ed Moscovitch.
Has Massachusetts' Charter School Experiment Paid Off?
Charter schools were meant to be engines of education innovation, with more freedom to organize around a core mission and curriculum. They are meant also to provide parents with more...
WBUR Poll: Most Mass. Voters Would Pay Higher Taxes To Support Local Schools
Though Massachusetts public schools regularly rank as top in the nation, a clear majority of the state's voters believe they need improvement.
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.
Is The MCAS Helping Or Hurting Education Equity?
Has the MCAS helped educational outcomes, or held some kids back?
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.
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.
How The State's 'Grand' Education Bargain Came To Be — And How It Comes Up Short
Massachusetts began a sweeping overhaul of public education 25 years ago, changing the way schools were funded -- and ushering in a new era of accountability.