Standards - Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education

May 1, 2024

Opposition to ballot question growing

The state’s special legislative committee analyzing ballot questions decided today not to recommend approval of the ballot question that would eliminate a statewide graduation standard. The decision is the right one. In addition to this committee, the Governor, the Secretary […]

September 6, 2023

Joint Statement Responding to MCAS Ballot Measure Certification

The following is a joint statement in response to the Attorney General’s decision to certify the ballot question that will eliminate MCAS as a high school graduation requirement from the following: Edward M. Lambert Jr., Executive Director, Massachusetts Business Alliance […]

July 11, 2023

MBAE Remains Committed to the MCAS High School Graduation Standard

The Massachusetts Business Alliance continues to support the requirement that students meet an MCAS standard in order to graduate from high school. The MCAS holds us all accountable for recognizing that all students can achieve if provided the right supports. […]

May 5, 2022

Raising the high school graduation standard

In Massachusetts, students must earn a passing score on the grade 10 MCAS in English Language Arts and math, and on one of the high school science tests, in order to meet the state’s high school graduation requirement. This policy […]

November 9, 2020

MBAE releases database of district learning plans for 2020-21 school year

MBAE released today a database comparing teaching and learning plans during the COVID-19 pandemic from the 40 largest districts in the state. We teamed up with the Boston University Wheelock College of Education and Human Development to document school districts’ goals […]

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 […]

November 20, 2017

MBAE’s Take on Transition in Lawrence; New MCAS Results

In this issue: MBAE’s Take on the Transition in Lawrence | MCAS Scores May Signify We’re on the Right Track | Members in Action: IBM’s Free Math Tool for Teachers | In the News A new analysis from the D.C.-based […]

October 11, 2017

Prep Students for Success; MBAE Adds Board Members

In this issue: Preparing Students for Success | Business Groups Oppose Testing Moratorium, Rollback of Education Reforms | MBAE Elects Four New Board Members | In the News In meetings and at forums over the past several months, the consistent […]

October 27, 2016

“Why Massachusetts schools beat Rhode Island”

This article from the Providence Journal, comparing the differences between Massachusetts’s and Rhode Island’s education reforms, makes reference to the early work of the Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education under Jack Rennie’s vision and leadership. It also states that “test […]

October 24, 2016

Digital Literacy: An Essential Skill for the 21st Century

MBAE, through Future Ready Massachusetts, is committed to digital equity in our schools to make sure every student acquires the knowledge and skills to access and use technology, computers and the Internet. Earlier this year, the Massachusetts Board of Elementary […]

October 20, 2016

“The missing piece of education reform”

In this guest article featured in the most recent issue of Commonwealth Magazine, Ed Moscovitch, chairman and co-founder of the Bay State Reading Institute, presents a detailed discussion of a “key finding about superintendents and principals” and its “enormous implications […]

July 1, 2016

SJC Overturns AG’s Certification of Common Core Ballot Question

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court issued a ruling today in favor of the ten plaintiffs who appealed the Attorney General’s certification of the ballot measure that would repeal the common core education standards in Massachusetts. The Massachusetts Business Alliance for […]

February 24, 2016

Workforce Challenges

In this issue: Public Comment on Draft Digital Literacy and Computer Science Standards | MCAS 2.0 – Stakeholder Input | Financial Literacy Summit A recent Boston Globe story underscores the critical need for reinvention of our K-12 education system. Baby […]

January 28, 2016

Common Core Ballot Question Threatens Student Progress

Flying mostly under the radar in recent months, the ballot measure that would repeal the Common Core has escaped the close examination it deserves. If passed, it would have a devastating impact on Massachusetts schools, upending every district in the […]

November 12, 2015

Time to Move to PARCC

The Mass Board of Elementary and Secondary Education will make a major decision regarding standardized testing for the Commonwealth next Tuesday, November 17th. Massachusetts led standards-based education reform twenty years ago by establishing the highest set of education standards in the […]

March 24, 2014

The New Opportunity to Lead

In the Constitution adopted in 1780 and in force today, the people of Massachusetts recognized that the “opportunities and advantages of education” were “necessary for the preservation of their rights had liberties,” and directed the representatives of the people to […]

August 29, 2013

Debate Over Science Standards Continues

According to the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, Massachusetts’ current state science standards are “clearly superior” to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) which were issued earlier this year. The Fordham report spurred a counter-statement by the National Science Teachers Association […]

April 23, 2013

AIM Honors MBAE

Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM) announced on April 12 that it will honor the Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education (MBAE) with its Legacy of Leadership Award at the association’s 98th annual meeting on May 10th, in recognition of MBAE’s 25 […]

November 16, 2011

Is Massachusetts on Track to Meet Race to the Top Goals?

One year ago, Massachusetts was awarded a $250 million Race to the Top grant that required implementation of far-reaching and some controversial policies with the goal of completing the unfinished work of education reform – closing achievement gaps and raising […]

April 12, 2011

What’s Next for the Common Core? A Look at Assessments

This morning, the Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education and The Rennie Center for Education Research and Policy, held the second in a series of three forums to examine the implementation of the Common Core State Standards in Massachusetts. At our […]