Mass EdForum

  The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) were issued this week.  MBAE , with its long record of    advocating for rigorous statewide academic standards, had encouraged employers to join us and submit comments on the final draft calling for increased emphasis on […]

As MBAE has said previously, Governor Patrick is to be commended for making education a priority and emphasizing its link to economic prosperity.  We think that a discussion about the Governor’s education funding proposals in the State House and beyond is important […]

It has become a truism to say that schools are the only sector that citizens of 2013 could visit that would look like they did 150 years ago, when fewer students graduated from high school or college.  Yet today society […]

MBAE has the good fortune to be located in the same office space as Strategies for Children, an organization that works to ensure that all children have access to high quality early childhood education and become proficient readers by the […]

Whether or not you agree with the revenue proposals in Governor Patrick’s FY14 state budget, business leaders can support the priority given to improving education from pre-K through higher ed.  A high quality education system is an engine of economic […]

ACT NOW!  Comments on the Second Draft of the Next Generation Science Standards are due January 29!   Contact me for a draft letter you can personalize and instructions for submissions!  In Massachusetts, “computer systems design and related services” is the […]

Education and access to employment opportunities during teen and young adult  years help young adults obtain the job readiness skills that they will need for long-term success. A report released today by the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center and The Annie E. Casey […]

Texas Governor Rick Perry thinks so!  And, as surprising as it may seem for someone on the opposite side of the political spectrum, I agree with him.  What he has proposed in his Skilled Workforce Initiative is a fast track system for earning […]

Posted by Ishara Casellas-Katz on November 20, 2012 · Leave a Comment Data is an essential tool for teachers and school leaders as they work to bring about positive student learning outcomes.  Last year MBAE Board Member Beth Gamse blogged […]

MBAE has been pleased to public blog posts from members of the Massachusetts education delegation to Finland and Sweden.  Last week, almost a month after our trip, some of us presented our “take aways” to members of the Massachusetts Association […]

Posted by Maureen LaCroix on November 7, 2012 · Leave a Comment This guest blog shares “random commentary on what we learned” by Maureen LaCroix, Retired Superintendent of Schools, The MA Delegation to Finland and Sweden Visits Gymnasium School: Viktor […]

After two school visits in Finland, we visited government officials and Helsinki University to learn about teacher preparation education. Then it was off to Sweden via overnight ferry! What a trip! Some reflections from a busy couple of days: Our […]

This guest post by Emily Parks, Assistant Superintendent in Westwood Public Schools, is another in a series by members of the Massachusetts Education Delegation touring Finland. During our time in Finland, again and again, we have heard from Finnish educators and […]

Posted by Representative Jennifer Benson on October 9, 2012 · Leave a Comment This guest post by Massachusetts State Representative Jennifer Benson is another in a series by members of the Massachusetts Education Delegation as they tour Finland. After 2 days, 2 […]

Our tired but cheerful group arrived at Helsinki yesterday at 5:30 p.m. after about 13 hours of traveling. We enjoyed a salmon dinner and good night’s sleep and were ready to go this morning! My day started with a visit […]

MBAE welcomes this guest blog post from Julia de la Torre, Executive Director of Primary Source, one of the organizations that has organized the Massachusetts Education Delegation’s tour to Finland.   Every  time I step foot outside of my home […]

Finland is known as an international success story as a result of reforms instituted decades ago that led to top scores on the PISA exams. A good summary of their “whatever it takes” attitude is in this Smithsonian Magazine article. […]

Although many of us tuned in this week to learn the results of the 2012 MCAS exams and were pleased to find continued growth in the number of 10th grade students reaching proficiency in ELA (88%) and math (78%), there […]

Posted by Joe Esposito on September 11, 2012 · Leave a Comment In his opinion column in The New York Times, Tom Friedman wrote again about how the game has changed and how Americans have to be prepared for new jobs […]

This post is part of a series by Teach for America corps members teaching in Massachusetts schools. Throughout elementary and middle school, my dad often dropped me off in the carpool line.  And each morning, before he let me say […]