You are here: Home / Home

Life and Learning in MA Turnaround Schools

June 20, 2017 by

On Tuesday, June 13, Senator Pat Jehlen hosted a powerful State House briefing featuring eyewitness accounts from a student, a parent and teachers about what it actually looks and feels like to be in a Level 4 “turnaround” school. 

It was clear that the current system is not helping but is causing harm and dislocation to black and brown communities, especially those with large populations of recent immigrants and English language learners. It is also clear that, under the current federal education law, it doesn’t have to be this way. 
 
I urge those who couldn’t be there to watch at least some of the recording, including the powerful testimonies of Brighton High teacher (and finalist for MA Teacher of the Year) Martha Boisselle and Excel High School student Trinity Kelly, which come in the first 15 minutes of the video. Click here to watch. 
   → Read More
Filed Under: Education-Other

Less Testing Group to Ed Commissioner: “Does Anti-Bullying Policy Still Stand?”

March 8, 2017 by

The Less Testing, More Learning coalition has called on Massachusetts Education Commissioner Mitchell Chester to denounce the bullying or punishing of students who opt out of the MCAS.

The coalition’s call followed a letter from Commissioner Chester to school leaders that struck a significantly different tone than was communicated by him on the same subject in January 2016.

Most notably absent from Chester’s recent letter was anti-bullying language that had been included in 2016 instructions to school leaders on the MCAS, saying that students should not be pressured or punished if they declined to take the test.

In 2016, Chester told superintendents to try to persuade students to take the MCAS, but if they refused, “We ask principals and test proctors to handle refusals with sensitivity. Students should not be pressured to take the test, nor should they be punished for not taking the test.” [The memo is here.]

This week, he sent new instructions for handling opt-outs.   → Read More

Filed Under: Education-Other

CPS Supports 2017-18 MA Bills to Fund Our Schools and Stop Overtesting Our Students

February 14, 2017 by

Citizens for Public Schools supports a number of bills filed for the 2017-18 Massachusetts legislative session that address school funding, high-stakes testing, accountability, privatization and other issues. Click here to read summaries of the bills we support and oppose.    → Read More

Filed Under: Education-Other

Postponed by Snow! New Date, Wed. March 15: The Schools Our Communities Deserve

February 6, 2017 by

I hope to see all of our Brookline friends and neighbors this Thursday at “The Schools Our Communities Deserve,” All Saints Church, 1773 Beacon St. (at Dean Road), 6:30 to 8:30 pm. It’s going to be an engaging and important conversation about public education in our community, with music, food and excellent speakers, including MTA President Barbara Madeloni and Ricardo Rosa, professor of education at University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth!   → Read More

Filed Under: Education-Other

Sharon Less Testing, More Learning Group Wins School Committee Support

January 12, 2017 by

10407784_666159553483801_8166055092140174334_nSharon Parents & Teachers for Less Testing, More Learning won the support of their School Committee for a resolution against tying teacher evaluation to student test scores. It’s posted on the CPS here. Ask your School Committee to pass a similar resolution! The state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education has scheduled a vote on this issue Feb. 28.

    → Read More

Filed Under: Education-Other
« Previous Page
Next Page »