District/School Administration Administration
Education Reform

Education Reform Progress Report

Inside: Summaries on: State Guides for Curriculum Statewide Student Testing Graduation Standards Early Student Literacy Early Childhood Education Board of Education Foundation Budget Educational Technology Charter Schools Time and Learning Teacher Test/Teacher Training District Performance Reform of Regulations Schedule for State Testing A Chronological List of Major State Accomplishments as a Result of the Education Reform Act of 1993 A Financial Snapshot A Sample of Districts' Educational Improvements During the Education Reform Years 1993-1997 State Educational Statistics

Dear Friends, The Massachusetts Education Reform Act of 1993 calls for dramatic changes in public education over a 7-year period. Among the major improvements are greater and more equitable funding to schools, accountability for student learning, and statewide standards for students, educators, schools and districts. While there is still much to be done to achieve our goals, substantial progress has been made in schools throughout the Commonwealth. Many people have asked for an update on Education Reform at its midpoint, including the Governor and legislative leaders, members of the State Board of Education and local school committees, the Massachusetts Education Reform Review Commission, advisory councils, and parents. I hope this progress report is helpful in answering your questions. Since 1993, the Commonwealth has supported school improvement by providing more than $1 billion in state aid for education. By the end of this decade, more than $2 billion new state Education Reform dollars will have been provided to Massachusetts public schools. The dramatic increase in spending is largely due to the fact that the state share of the costs is rapidly growing so that, by the year 2000, the state and local shares will be about equal statewide. Some of the major changes in accountability brought about by the Education Reform Act include these requirements: a school council in every school, continuing education for educators, more authority for every principal, better defined roles for school committees, and clear, concise and measurable statewide standards for students and schools. The capstone will be a "high-stakes" test based on the new curriculum standards which every student will need to pass in order to receive a diploma. This is a very exciting and promising time for Massachusetts schools. We are on an aggressive schedule. I am pleased to provide you with this update and look forward to working with you to achieve our goals. Sincerely, Robert V. Antonucci, Commissioner of Education

summaries on:

State Frameworks:
Guides For Local Curriculum

Prior to 1993, the only statewide educational requirements written in law were history and physical education. The Education Reform Act called for statewide curriculum frameworks and learning standards for all students in all core academic subjects. During the first year of Education Reform, the Common Core of Learning [ HTML | PDF ] was developed to identify the broad educational goals for all students.

Building on the Common Core, the frameworks in science/technology, mathematics, world languages, the arts, and health were approved in December of 1995. The state curriculum framework in English/language arts was approved by the Board of Education in January, 1997. The latest draft of the history/social science framework is undergoing revision and should be approved soon. These guides are designed for teachers to use in preparing their daily lesson plans and for districts to use in planning school district curriculum.

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Statewide Student Testing

The new statewide test, the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS), will reflect the academic standards in the curriculum frameworks. The purpose of the test is to identify individuals and schools which need attention, not to be punitive. The tests will be given to students in grades 4, 8 and 10. In addition, the Board of Education voted to administer in the spring of 1997 a one-time standardized test in the core subjects to all tenth-graders. Local assessment of student progress, which teachers do in schools every day, and district testing of students in grades other than four, eight and ten will continue to be administered.

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Graduation Standards

In just a few years, all students will need to pass the state's tenth-grade test, in addition to meeting local requirements, to receive a diploma. Students passing the new 10th-grade test could receive additional certificates in the future - - the Certificate of Occupational Proficiency or a Certificate of Mastery. At this time, the Board and Commissioner are reviewing criteria to set the academic standards for the Certificate of Mastery.

Early Student Literacy

The English/language arts curriculum framework sets the goal that every student will read and write by grade three. The Board voted to administer an annual reading achievement test to all 3rd-graders beginning in the spring of 1997, to identify schools and districts most in need of assistance in meeting that critical goal.

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Early Childhood Education

Under Education Reform, the level of state funding for local early childhood programs has increased dramatically from $6.9 million in FY 92 to $34.3 million for FY 97. The Board of Education views early childhood education as a top priority and has requested $100 million more for early childhood education in the FY 98 education budget.

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Board Of Education

As of July 1, 1996, the state law creating the Board of Education was amended, reducing the Board from 15 members to 9. The members appointed by the Governor are: Dr. John Silber, Chairman; Patricia Crutchfield, Vice-Chairperson; Dr. Edwin Delattre; William Irwin, Jr.; James Peyser; Dr. Roberta Schaefer; and Dr. Abigail Thernstrom. Also on the Board is Alexis Vagianos, elected as Chair of the State Student Advisory Council; and Dr. Stanley Koplin, Chancellor of the Board of Higher Education.

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Foundation Budget

Under Education Reform, the "foundation budget" was established to bring all schools to a foundation level of spending. The level differs among communities depending on local demographic and economic factors, but statewide, the average foundation budget in 1993 was $5500. In FY 94 local districts received $1.4 billion in state aid for education. This represented an increase of 11.1% over FY 93. In FY 95 the state aid was $1.6 billion. In FY 96 the figure was $1.8 billion, and in FY 97 local districts received $2.0 billion. The Governor and state legislature have fully funded the law for five consecutive years with the goal that by the Year 2000, all districts will be at their foundation level.

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Educational Technology

The Education Technology Bond Bill was passed in the fall of 1996, and school districts with educational technology plans approved by the Department are now receiving, or are eligible to receive, matching grants to support technology in their schools. 159 districts across the state now have approved plans.

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Charter Schools

Charter schools are independent public schools operated under a 5-year charter granted by the Board of Education. These new public schools must be open to all students and meet the same standards and testing requirements set by the Board of Education. Twenty-two are now open. The Board of Education has recommended to the Legislature that fifty more charters be made available.

Time And Learning

Under the Education Reform Act, emphasis is being placed on increasing the amount of serious learning time in schools. Districts have submitted their plans to schedule students for at least 900 hours in elementary schools and 990 hours in secondary schools to study the core academic subjects.

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Teacher Test/Teacher Training

The Education Reform Law emphasizes raising expectations for all educators, both new to teaching as well as veterans. Beginning in January, 1998, all new teachers will be required to pass two tests to become certified to teach in Massachusetts public schools: knowledge of subject content, and communication/literacy skills. Current teachers who are provisionally certified, or who seek to be certified in a new field, will need to pass the subject matter test. Also, all educators need to continue their education by participating in serious professional development which will strengthen their knowledge of academic content and skills in teaching.

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District Performance

The Board and the Commissioner are reviewing criteria to determine school and district performance. Indicators of school and district performance could include results on the new statewide student test, dropout and attendance rates, adequacy of facilities and other comparable factors. Under the Education Reform Act, if a district is found to be "under-performing," the state can take it into receivership.

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Reform Of Regulations On Education

To streamline all regulations governing education, the Commissioner and the Board have repealed or consolidated 25 sets of regulations, and have simplified regulations governing Student Records and School Building Assistance. Currently, the regulations on transitional bilingual education are being reviewed, and the regulations for vocational education and special education also may be reviewed with public comment solicited this year.

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A Chronological List of Major Accomplishments as a Result of
The Education Reform Act Of 1993

1993
June		The Massachusetts Education Reform Act signed into law by Governor William F. Weld
		Educators have six years from June 18, 1993 to become recertified
July		Department of Elementary and Secondary Education began administering new foundation budget formula for funding schools statewide
September		The Commission on the Common Core of Learning convenes to begin defining the broad educational goals for all students
		More than two thousand teachers began to participate in early retirement incentive
October		School councils established in every public school
December		The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education adopted a state plan for professional development, the first in Massachusetts history
1994
January		The first draft of the Common Core of Learning released for public comment
March		Curriculum frameworks development committees convened
May		Ten early childhood Massachusetts Family Network demonstration sites open
		51 Community Partnerships for Children grants are funded, serving 3,700 3- and 4-year old children
July		The Common Core of Learning adopted by the Board of Education
September		Report on the condition of alternative education for disruptive students released by the Commission on Alternative Education and the MassJobs Council
December		Recertification regulations adopted by the Board of Education require all educators to be recertified every five years by continuing their professional development in line with school, district and state goals
		The Board of Education approved regulations on Time and Learning
		Massachusetts gets $3.8 million federal grant for school-to work programs
1995
January		Board of Education accepted the report by the Adult Education Committee on the condition of adult education in Massachusetts
		School districts submitted plans to eliminate their "general track" educational programs
March		Board of Education approved the Five-Year Master Plan for Education Reform
May		Study groups of 10,000 teachers review curriculum frameworks drafts
June		Board of Education adopted the State Plan for Professional Development
July		Board of Education adopted new regulations and evaluation standards, "Principles of Effective Teaching and Administration"
		Summer Institutes in math and science education held in July and August for more than 990 teachers
September		The first charter schools opened
		Attracting Excellence to Teaching program began distributing payments to qualified teachers to help defray their college student loan debts
		Massachusetts competed for and won status from the U.S. Department of Education as one of six "Ed-Flex" states, advancing Education Reform by giving the MA Commissioner of Education the authority to grant school districts waivers from specified federal rules and regulations
December		Board of Education accepted and endorsed the curriculum frameworks in mathematics, science/technology, the arts, health, and world languages
1996
January		The Commission on Early Childhood Education released its report, "Children First," plan for an early education and care system for Massachusetts
		121 Community Partnerships for Children grants are funded serving 2,900 3- and 4-year old children
		State budget provides $50 per pupil to all school districts to use for professional development of their teaching staff
Summer		1000 teachers attend Department-sponsored institutes to learn math, science and technology
September		Board of Education approved the administration of an annual third-grade reading test
October		Board of Education reviewed English/language arts and history/social sciences revised curriculum frameworks
		Education Technology Bond Bill passed
November		Statewide certification test for new teachers approved, effective 1/1/98
1997
January		The Board of Education approved the English/language arts curriculum framework
		56 Community Partnerships for Children grants are funded, serving 1,500 3- and 4-year old children
March		Eight new Mass Family Network demonstration sites were added
		History/social science draft curriculum framework released for public comment
		Board reviewed criteria which could identify under-performing schools

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