MBTAAnalysis: A look inside the MBTA

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The MBTA shuttles over a million passengers a day around Greater…

The Clock is Ticking…….

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The clock is ticking towards December 30, 2017.  As part of…

Op-Ed: Making ‘The Ride’ more cost-effective could help MBTA’s finances

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Unseasonably warm November days have given way to increasing…

New Report on Advanced Civics for U.S. History Teachers, Preface by Churchill Biographer

Study Recommends That States Require Passage of U.S. History…

Happy Thanksgiving

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Pioneer Institute extends its deepest gratitude to our donors…

Why Mental Health, Why Now?

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When the topic of “Improving Mental Health” was chosen, the importance resonated immediately. It may be more relevant than at any other point in our nation’s history. Every area of core government function is affected by the status of mental health. Our failure to find answers and reduce inefficiencies costs the Commonwealth innocent lives and millions of dollars each year.

Pioneer Statement on Next-Generation MCAS Announcement

We applaud the Baker administration for proposing that Massachusetts…

Driving Force Behind California Tenure Lawsuit to Deliver 2015 Lovett C. Peters Lecture in Public Policy

BOSTON - David F. Welch, Ph.D., the driving force behind Vergara…

Fordham report predictable, conflicted

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Guest Post by Richard P. Phelps On November 17, the Massachusetts…

Setting Academic Performance Standards MCAS vs PARCC

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Author and career testing expert Dr. Richard Phelps writes that adopting PARCC would result in a one-half year drop in performance expectations for 4th grade math and reading, and 8th grade math, in Massachusetts. He also argues that critics of MCAS misunderstand its intended purpose, and explains why this is problematic.

Study: Poor Performance of Other States in PARCC Consortium Would Translate to Lower Standards for Mass.

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Attacks on MCAS for not producing “college-ready” graduates…

Gass: On Veterans Day, Learning from ‘Black Jack’ Pershing

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This op-ed has appeared in The MetroWest Daily News, The Taunton…

A Step Forward on Meaningful Public Records Reform?

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Yesterday’s Boston Globe editorial has it right - the time…

Study: Overhauling Two-Tiered Case Intake System Is Key to DCF Reform

Troubled agency also needs technology infrastructure changes…

What True Education Reform Leaders Think About MCAS & Charters

An op-ed in Tuesday's Boston Globe urges Massachusetts policymakers…

Driving Critical Reforms at DCF: Ideas for a Direction Forward in Massachusetts’ Child and Family Services

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This report dissects other studies and their recommendations, with additional suggestions for a direction forward for DCF in the context of a broader discussion of the agency’s recent history and issues with mission ambiguity. The first and most important recommendation is to overhaul the current two-tiered child intake system, which should be the central focus of any changes at the agency.

Advanced Civics for U.S. History Teachers: Professional Development Models Focusing On The Founding Documents

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A resurgence of interest in civic virtue and a new emphasis on teaching civics in our schools is needed in our country. Teachers need opportunities beyond college to learn the intricacies of government and how to teach it. Pioneer Institute reached out to four professional development programs with nationally known reputations to learn more about their offerings.