District/School Administration Administration
Education Reform

First Annual Implementation Report

Executive Summary

On June 18, 1993, the Massachusetts Education Reform Act was signed into law. This historic legislation creates the framework for unprecedented improvements in students learning, teachers professionalism, school management, and equity of funding . While the majority of the Act's impact will take a decade or longer to be fully felt, a tremendous amount was accomplished during the first year.

The Major Statewide Accomplishments of Year 1:

• The 105 sections of the Education Reform Act were analyzed, 54 distinct activities were initiated by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and Executive Office of Education to implement the Act (see Appendix A); 59 advisory groups, task forces, and commissions were convened; and resources materials were developed for schools (see Appendix D).
• Over 15,000 citizens directly participated in the development of the Massachusetts Common Core of Learning [ HTML | PDF ] outlining what all students should know and be able to do upon graduation from high school. The Common Core provides the foundation for new heightened standards for student performance which will become a graduation requirement beginning with the Class of 1999.
• Over $360 million in new aid to schools was distributed under the FY'94 and FY'95 Foundation Budget program.
• 282 school districts received over $27 million in grants from the Health Protection Fund to funds new comprehensive health programs.
• A new unified grant process was developed to provide a single coordinated process in which school districts can access state and federal grants.
• 809 teachers from 60 districts participated in the Early Retirement Incentive program.
• A new certification statute was enacted creating the framework for enhanced professionalism for educators.
• School councils were created in every district to assist principals in managing increased authority at the school-based level.
• The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education relocated its entire operations from Quincy to Malden, reorganized its internal management structure to focus on direct service to schools, and began the decade-long process of implementing the Education Reform Act of 1993.

The Major Statewide Challenges for Year 2:

• Publicize the Common Core of Learning [ HTML | PDF ] across the Commonwealth and translate the Common Core into curriculum frameworks with specific, measurable content standards each subject area for grades 4, 8, and10.
• Develop a new system of student assessment and accountability based on the Common Core that will be ready to be administered statewide during the 1995-96 school year.
• Resolve remaining questions of interpretation of the Foundation funding formula, generate five year projections for each district, and work with the Legislature and Governor to bring about early resolution of state aid to schools by February.
• Develop statewide professional standards and guidelines for teaching and school administration that will form the base for a new, enhanced certification process and assist school districts in developing professional performance standards.
• Create a comprehensive statewide system of professional development that coordinates existing school and district-based activities with those being provided by higher education and professional associations.
• Develop interim indicators of school performance so that parents, local communities, and the state can begin to evaluate schools based on objective standards.
• Prepare for the September, 1995 openning of up to 25 charter schools.
• Provide a statewide demonstration of Mass EdOnline by linking every school in the Commonwealth to the Internet and assist schools in developing local technology plans to distribute the network and harness emerging technologies to enhance instruction.

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