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Pioneer empowers Americans to live freely and thrive
Education Healthcare Opportunity Citizenship
Education Healthcare Opportunity Citizenship

Agenda for Leadership 2026 is available!

A policy blueprint for a more competitive Massachusetts. Available now on Amazon!

Latest Publications

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Data Labs
June 24, 2026

A Better Way to Regulate? Lessons from State Regulatory Sandboxes

Entrepreneur Alex Carter invested about a quarter-million dollars to build an innovative cost-sharing service for auto repairs. Unfortunately, state regulators in Utah shut it down, not because it caused any harm, but because it resembled insurance closely enough that regulators deemed it illegal. Unable to afford lawyers to fight the ruling, Carter was ultimately forced to close his company. His experience is not uncommon. Regulations written decades ago can hamper business creation in a way lawmakers never anticipated. When a business model does not fit nicely into a regulator-recognized category, it is often treated as a violation rather than an innovation. The cost falls on businesses that quietly fail to launch. A growing number of states are now testing a policy to address this issue – regulatory sandboxes.
Opportunity
June 18, 2026

MA Voters Denied Voice On State Income Tax Reduction

Today’s ruling by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court is a serious disappointment for Commonwealth families struggling under one of the highest tax and cost burdens in the nation. The Court’s decision rests on a drafting error in the Attorney General’s summary of…
Education
June 17, 2026

Massachusetts Has a New Graduation Framework. It Still Needs a Stronger Accountability System

Today’s ruling is a serious disappointment for Massachusetts families struggling under one of the highest tax and cost burdens in the nation. The Court’s decision rests on a drafting error in the Attorney General’s summary of the petition—a matter entirely outside the control of voters and petition signers. As a result, the people of Massachusetts will be denied the opportunity to decide whether the Commonwealth should reduce the income tax rate from 5 percent to 4 percent.
Opportunity
June 17, 2026

Massachusetts Has a Small-Home Shortage; Zoning Reform Can Help Fix It

Boston – A new Pioneer Institute report finds that a mismatch between who lives in Massachusetts and the housing being built is squeezing two generations at once: young families who cannot get into a house, and seniors who cannot downsize. Local land use rules often make it difficult to build small, reasonably priced, and low-maintenance homes, despite a growing need for them as the population ages and average household sizes continue to shrink.
Data Labs
June 11, 2026

Massachusetts Ranks First in K-12 Education–But Not for Long

Since 2005, Massachusetts has achieved the top ranking in the biannual National Assessment of Educational Progress’s (NAEP) fourth-grade reading assessment. However, the Commonwealth’s lower quality Common Core-based English Language Arts (ELA) standards and lack of quality of reading pedagogy and curriculum at the local level are coming back to haunt it.

Latest Podcasts

Florida’s Doug Tuthill on School Choice

June 24, 2026

Dr. Suzanne Marrs on Eudora Welty, Southern Fiction & Imagination

June 17, 2026

UK’s Dr. Snezana Lawrence on the History of Mathematics

June 10, 2026
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Impact

When We Succeed

Pioneer succeeds when its research, communications, litigation, and coalition-building lead to tangible improvements in Americans’ lives—access to world-class learning options for students; affordable and innovative care for patients; and plentiful jobs, a rich civic life, and individual liberty for all.

We focus on state policy as a proving ground—testing, refining, and demonstrating reforms that work, in order to raise the bar for opportunity across the United States.

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Data Labs
June 10, 2026

AI Job Displacement and Employer Hesitancy: What Massachusetts Data Reveals

Opportunity
June 9, 2026

Pioneer Institute Urges Caution as Legislature Considers New Restrictions on Ballot Initiatives

Opportunity
June 8, 2026

In 2025, Massachusetts Permitted the Fewest New Homes Since 2012

Data Labs
June 4, 2026

The Rise of Internet Crimes in America and the States Most Vulnerable

Education
June 3, 2026

Pioneer Institute Urges Governor Healey to Bring Federal Scholarship Dollars to Massachusetts Families

Opportunity
May 27, 2026

Pioneer Institute Applauds Healey Administration's Proposal to Reduce LLC Filing Fees; More Reforms Needed to Address Economic Malaise

Opportunity
May 20, 2026

Pioneer Institute Study Calls for Attrition Strategy to Rein in Record-High Massachusetts State Workforce

Opportunity
May 14, 2026

Blog: Massachusetts Needs Growth—Not More of the Same

Fact of the day

Dependency Index – Federal Money to the States

Think you know which states depend most on Washington? Pioneer’s new Dependency Index may change your mind. Alaska ranks most dependent on federal funds, and Idaho ranks least. Check out where your state ranks here! https://loom.ly/6LMwO0c

View More Data

Policy Priorities

Education Healthcare Opportunity American Citizenship

PioneerEducation supports excellent school options for all children, world-class liberal arts-based academic standards, and accountability for results in public education.

PioneerHealthcare champions market-based reforms to rein in the cost and improve the quality of care for patients.

PioneerOpportunity seeks a business climate in which entrepreneurs and employees benefit from a thriving economy.

American Citizenship:  To increase public engagement in the nation’s civic life, Pioneer champions K-12 history and civics education, and provides transparent government data for citizens to hold their state governments accountable.