In the 1970s and the 1980s, the public schools in Massachusetts were mediocre according to the standards. Today, the schools in the area are considered to rank amongst the best in not only the country, but the world.
The nonpartisan group, Education Week Research Center, has looked at indicators such as kindergarten enrollment, preschool enrollment, rates for high school graduation, and higher education to come to these conclusions. The study, which is done yearly, also looks are employment of parents, as well as family income. In almost all the categories, the Bay State beats the average of the nation. They study says that more than 60% of the children in Massachusetts have parents with some sort of post-secondary degree. This is 14 points higher than the national average and around 60% of children aged 3-4 years, are enrolled in preschool which is more than 10 points above the average for the country.
On the National Assessment of Educational Progress reading tests, about half of Massachusetts fourth-graders are proficient. On NAEP math tests, 54% of eight graders get high proficiency scores. These are the highest rates in these categories for the nation. The main reason for this is education reform. In 1993, a major school reform package was passed in Massachusetts for more spending to take place. This spending targeted th poorer school districts and raised assessment standards. In the Massachusetts area, there’s been a heavy investment in education which the study indicates. While improving scores for low-income and minority students are still difficult, Massachusetts has done the best job of this.
In 1993, Republican Governor William Weld, signed a landmark effort which is called the Education Reform Act which reforms:
• The framework for the curriculum of each subject
• state testing called The Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System
• A state test for graduation that students take in the 10th grade and then are given opportunities to retake until they pass the exam
• More instruction time
• Entry tests given to new teachers
• The raising of funding for the higher need districts
• 22 charter schools for the state
Weld indicates that a good school system and education is what brings people opportunity. Massachusetts put money into the districts which were struggling so those districts could hire good teachers and give them the training required to improve the school curriculum and student results.
Karen English, a teacher in Revere for 36 years, indicated that the funding I just what was needed in her town where 80% of students are low-income and now have the education that they need to be successful. They have new courses that weren’t in the schools before as well as current textbooks. They have hired reading coaches as well as a technology team. In some schools, the school day has been lengthened. The graduation rates as well as test score of students has also improved. The district indicated that over 90% of the high school graduates go on to post-secondary education which is up from 70% before the changes.
Massachusetts is now at the top of the pack and not in the middle. They have taken the money given tit hem and spent this money widely where it was required so this is why they have seen such positive changes in the education system while others have taken this type of money and wasted it.