On January 22, 2025, MBAE released “The State of Educational Opportunity in Massachusetts”, a survey of parents of school-aged children that provides insight into the educational opportunities available to children across Massachusetts. The survey, produced in partnership with 50CAN and Edge Research, finds Massachusetts parents are generally very pleased with the state’s education system, but it can be strengthened to better prepare students for college and careers. Findings of the survey include:

Many parents don’t believe that their students are prepared for college. Massachusetts ranks at the bottom nationally in the percentage of parents who say that their students are ready for college. Further, just 15% of parents said their students participate in dual enrollment compared to 25% nationally. However, among those that do participate, satisfaction with these programs is quite higher here than the national average.

Parents are also concerned about their student’s readiness for the workforce. The Commonwealth ranks in the bottom tier of states in the view of parents on preparing students for workforce opportunities. Just 26% of parents said they are extremely confident their child is equipped for the workforce compared to 34% nationally.

The report is part of the “The State of Educational Opportunity in America: A Survey of 20,000 Parents,” one of the largest education-focused surveys of parents in the past decade. This survey explores the ecosystem of educational opportunities inside and outside of school, and how they interrelate and impact a child’s success.

These findings underscore the importance of expanding access to highly effective programs like Early College, which has been a key priority for MBAE and our Student Pathways to Success Coalition. We are grateful to the Governor for continued support for pathways as evidenced by her FY2026 budget proposal.

Read the full Massachusetts report here.

Read the press release here.