District/School Administration Administration
Education Reform

Education Reform Progress Report

A Financial Snapshot

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A Sample of Districts' Educational Improvements during the
Education Reform Years 1993-1997

Following are excerpts from much longer reports, prepared by several Massachusetts school superintendents, on the positive impact of state funding for public education as a result of Education Reform.

Selected Urban Districts

Boston
Boston has introduced four new curricula in English, math, science and social studies, has begun to connect every school to the Internet, has adopted a tough new standardized student test, opened state-of-the-art library media centers in several high schools and is upgrading library services in all the schools, is strengthening its school site councils, and is opening more full-day kindergarten classrooms for five-year olds.

Fall River
The district added 118 new positions including three new attendance officers, increased its budget for textbooks from $221,000 to $755,000 and for materials and supplies from $340,000 to $445,000, shifted to block scheduling at the high school (beginning in September of 1997) to add time for core subjects, initiated a new elementary reading and writing program based on successful national models, started a science center with kits for classrooms, designed middle school science units with the state curriculum framework, opened a center for professional development with night and weekend hours for teachers, reported that its 1996 MEAP test results show significant improvement, reported that its percentage of educators with advanced degrees has increased from 33.6 % in 1995 to 49.7% in 1996, and provides a 17-minute longer elementary school day and a 34-minute longer day at the secondary level.

Holyoke
Holyoke has purchased new curriculum materials at all grade levels, updated supplies and materials for all secondary science labs, updated computers system-wide, provided after-school literacy, tutoring and homework programs for middle and high school students, provide a cost-free option for teacher recertification, designed a parent training program, and initiated a Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) preparation program. Average student performance on the California Achievement Test (CAT) has shown an increase between 1994 and 1996.

Lowell
Lowell has provided a new curriculum for students in grades Pre-K through 2, provided all kindergartners with full-day programs, is implementing the CAT-5 in grades 3 and 9 as a benchmark for the new Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS), provided a summer reading program in the schools, provided in-class tutors for students with limited English proficiency, strengthened school security measures, started peer counseling and mediation programs for students in middle and high school, expanded parent programs to provide workshops for parents on reading and writing, offered extended learning time programs including after-school homework and enrichment activities, integrated educational technology throughout the grades connecting every classroom in each school, provided Internet access for students on 3,000 system-wide computers, and provided 30 hours of computer training to every high school educator in the system.

New Bedford
Education Reform funding has resulted in providing PALMS (Partnerships for the Advancement of Learning in Mathematics and Science) specialists in all 22 elementary schools where there were only 2 system-wide teachers prior to 1993, professional development in the curriculum frameworks with PALMS-TO-GO for substitute teachers, and more professional development days have been added to the school year.

Pittsfield
A world languages program has been instituted at the Williams Elementary School where 420 students are now learning another language, new math and science textbooks have been purchased for grades K-5, spending has increased for student supplies and equipment, two additional professional days have been added to the school year, new performance standards for teachers were negotiated, all teachers are receiving a minimum of 12 hours of computer training, a school attendance coordinator was hired this year to address excessive absenteeism, and a new elementary librarian was hired.

Springfield
Springfield has implemented K-12 learning outcomes for every grade and academic area to support the curriculum frameworks. A comprehensive Education Reform program designed to prepare students for the 21st Century has led to implementation of several initiatives: full-day kindergartens in all schools, world language programs in K-12, computer technology in all schools, development of assessments for system-wide evaluation, new construction of modern school facilities at every level, new alternative high school programs, expanded after school and summer-school programs, and increased professional development for all staff.

Taunton
Since 1993, Taunton has eliminated annual lay-offs, and has added eighty new positions to serve the needs of its students, including 800 new children. Class sizes have been reduced at each level, and more teaching assistants have been added to early childhood classrooms. Taunton added two days for professional development. Additionally, the district has solidified its model elementary library program, expanded pre-school and early childhood programs, maintained its Gifted/Talented and Community Outreach programs, and enhanced Project B.E.S.T. (Building Educational Success Together) a business/school/civic leader partnership aimed at supporting and promoting opportunities in every school. Taunton has increased the availability of educational technology system wide, and provided staff with technology training.

Worcester
More than 700 educators and community members designed curricula aligned with the curriculum frameworks, the teacher work year increased, MEAP test results indicate significant growth in student achievement, the school day was lengthened, average class size decreased from 23 to 21 students, 98 additional kindergarten teacher aides have been hired, 355 teachers in total were hired, educational spending for every pupil in every school increased from $23 to $100, new textbooks for all students have been purchased, all secondary science labs were refurbished, the district education technology plan has been approved and 1,200 new computers have been installed, and 500 staff have been trained in using technology to support students in achieving the new curriculum standards.

Sample Suburban/Rural districts

Amesbury
Elementary music, art and physical education classes (which were eliminated as a result of Proposition 2 1/2) were restored, average class sizes were reduced from 27 to 22 or 23, $150,000 is now allocated annually for educational technology, contracts now include a teacher evaluation program aligned with the state's Principles of Effective Teaching and Supervision, assistant principals responsible for directly supervising classroom instruction are now in place in the elementary schools and collective bargaining has resulted in more time in school for teaching all students.

Douglas
Douglas' MEAP scores have moved from a low of 1180 in grade eight reading in 1988 to 1390 in 1996, the district has added 31 new professional staff, all outdated text books have been replaced, world languages are now being taught in pre-K and kindergarten and in the middle school, and first-graders will begin world language instruction in the 1998 school year. High schoolers now take a mandatory six courses per quarter, and Douglas was the sixth district in Massachusetts to have its educational technology plan approved.

Dracut
Dracut has been able to replace many of the 88 staff positions elimnated in the 5 years prior to 1993, replaced outdated textbooks in all the schools, expanded its foreign languages program at the junior and senior high, instituted a professional development program focusing on reading/language arts, has received approval for its district educational technology plan, eliminated the general track at the high school, and lengthened its school day.

Orange
As a result of Education Reform, Orange now offers full-time kindergarten, has been able to increase the number of educational staff and decrease class sizes, now fully includes all students with special needs, has a district-wide certified school librarian, a school library with a full-time aide in every school, an approved technology plan, a full-time technology teacher, a computer lab in each school, an expanded school day and year (by the addition of before- and after- school and summertime tutoring programs and mini courses), and strengthened professional development including summer curriculum development projects.

State Educational Statistics