Mass EdForum - Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education

June 16, 2021

MCAS Data Key to Equity and Pandemic Recovery

Objective and comparable data are needed to measure Massachusetts’ progress on education equity and excellence. That’s why students in grades 3-8 and 10 take MCAS assessments in English language arts and math. Students in fifth, eighth, and ninth grade also […]

February 25, 2021

MBAE Statement on Getting Students Back in the Classroom

The Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education supports Commissioner Riley’s move to get students back in the classroom in April. There is no replacement for in-person learning and it should be pursued vigorously when and where safe. This strong state action […]

January 26, 2021

MA must define size & scope of learning loss, act urgently and innovatively to address it

MBAE Testimony to the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education January 26th, 2021 Good Morning. My name is Ed Lambert and I represent the Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education. MBAE wants to thank this Board, the Commissioner, the Secretary […]

January 5, 2021

Decision to move forward with MCAS this year is the right one

Today, Massachusetts Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Jeff Riley announced the state will administer MCAS this year. MBAE strongly supports the Commissioner’s decision to move forward with MCAS and to streamline administration of it in response to pandemic-related challenges. […]

October 31, 2020

Early College is a tangible equity and recovery strategy

Out of the 11.6 million jobs created in the post-Great recession economy, 11.5 million went to workers with at least some college education, and 8.4 million of these went to workers with a bachelor’s degree or higher, according to the […]

September 14, 2020

New Analysis: State education aid widening equity gaps

A new Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education and the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce report on state education aid distribution shows Massachusetts sends more aid to wealthier school districts than the state formula determines they need at the expense of […]

June 23, 2020

MBAE Receives the 2020 Excellence in Advocacy Award from the Mass Nonprofit Network

The Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education was honored to accept the 2020 Nonprofit Excellence Award in Advocacy from the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network (MNN) at a virtual event sponsored by Citizens Bank. The award recognizes a nonprofit organization whose work resulted […]

June 19, 2020

Condemning racism, supporting demands for racial justice

The Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education condemns systemic racism and supports demands for racial equality and justice. The spotlight put on racial injustice in recent weeks is long overdue and should extend to a full examination of disparities in all […]

May 20, 2020

Vocational Technical Educators Get Creative with Remote Learning

As the state moves into its 10th week of school closures, educators at the state’s vocational technical schools are getting creative with remote learning. Replicating hands-on learning with tools and machines like those used in vocational technical classrooms is nearly […]

May 19, 2020

MBAE supports amendments to H.4708 that would expand and enhance remote learning

Today, MBAE sent a letter to legislators in support of amendments #68, #73, and #95 to House Bill 4708. H.4708 is a more than $1 billion information technology bond bill that the House will consider during its session tomorrow, May […]

April 24, 2020

MBAE releases database that shows concerning disparities among districts’ remote learning plans

Database contains information from the 20 largest school districts in the state April 24, 2020 — Schools are closed for the foreseeable future, making remote learning an important topic. Students cannot afford to have learning stand still. To inform an […]

April 22, 2020

Schools are closed: time to maximize remote learning opportunities

Yesterday, Governor Baker made the expected announcement that schools will be closed through the end of the school year. This was the right decision for the safety of students, teachers and families. The Governor also rightly made clear that this […]

April 9, 2020

Learning must move forward during school closures

The coronavirus has caused an unexpected and unprecedented upheaval in our schools. Without exception, the health and safety of our students, teachers, and their families is the number one priority. We applaud and appreciate districts’ extraordinary efforts to deliver meals […]

April 6, 2020

Taunton Area Chamber of Commerce Joins MBAE Affiliate Network

MBAE is pleased to announce that the Taunton Area Chamber of Commerce has joined our fast-growing business affiliate network that now includes 35 chambers of commerce and industry associations collectively representing more than 31,000 employers across the state. MBAE Affiliates […]

February 18, 2020

Massachusetts Considers Changes to the High School Graduation Standard

MBAE’s Ed Lambert is serving on the advisory committee that will assist Commissioner Riley in developing his recommendations to the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education regarding what level of achievement students will need to demonstrate on the next-generation high […]

February 11, 2020

Early College: Supporting a proven strategy for boosting college completion

Commissioner Jeff Riley announced last week that Early College is one of three priority strategies he’d like to see districts adopt as part of the three-year plans they are required to develop to close equity and opportunity gaps. While relatively […]

January 7, 2020

MJ Ryan from Partners HealthCare Joins MBAE Board of Directors

The Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education elected MJ Ryan, Sr. Director for Workforce Development and Economic Opportunity for Partners HealthCare, to our Board of Directors. MJ is the current Chair of the Boston Health Care Careers Consortium and a member […]

November 19, 2019

Conference Committee Restores Accountability, Increases Focus on College and Career Readiness in Education Funding Bill

MBAE Statement on the Conference Committee’s Education Funding Legislation November 19, 2019 – The Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education is pleased that the conference committee reconciling differences in the versions of the education funding and reform bill released a final […]

November 7, 2019

MBAE Priorities for a Final School Funding Reform Bill

MBAE sent the following letter to state lawmakers this week as a conference committee debates a final school funding reform bill. Dear Legislator, The Student Opportunity Act, a bill intended to address funding inequities identified by the Foundation Budget Review […]

November 4, 2019

Prioritizing Equal Access to Computer Science Education

A recent opinion piece in The Hill by Allison Scott and Julie Flapan makes an excellent case for expanding access to computer science education, a top priority of MBAE. In “Diversifying tech starts with ensuring equitable computer science education,” the […]