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…

Insurer Using Market Clout to Lower Healthcare Costs for Consumers

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There are rumblings among some in the hospital community voicing…

Celebrating School Choice Week: Vocational-Technical Education

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On Day 4 of National School Choice Week, we're shining the spotlight…

Auditing the New Transparency Law: Where are the Records Access Officers?

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With the advent of the Baker administration, Massachusetts transparency…

Celebrating School Choice Week: Digital Learning

On Day 3 of National School Choice Week, we explore opportunities…

Celebrating School Choice Week: The METCO Program

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On Day 2 of National School Choice Week, we take a closer look…

Celebrating School Choice Week: Charter Public Schools

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Today marks the beginning of National School Choice Week, an…

Our Government Transparency Resolutions for 2017

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Although transparency was the expression of choice on Beacon…

Attrition, Dropout and Student Mobility in District and Charter Schools: A Demographic Report

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This paper uses publicly available DESE data to explore student attrition and other forms of student movement, such as dropouts, within district and charter schools. It is not a direct response to the now dated MTA report, but it does explore the validity of the claim that Massachusetts charter public schools have higher attrition than their district counterparts because these schools “select out” or “push out” weaker students in an effort to produce higher test scores.

Study: MA Charter Public Schools Have Lower Attrition Rates Than Sending School Districts

Charters also seeing higher special needs enrollment, helping…

Recommendation to the FMCB: Retain an Independent Auditor and Actuary to Review the MBTARF

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The present policy paper argues that FMCB must conduct an independent audit and actuarial valuation of the fund, because of specific failures and omissions even in the limited work that FTI did. In doing so, we find that in opposition to the claims of FTI, the claims of potential malfeasance and poor management by the MBTARF Board, which came from noted whistleblower Harry Markopolos and Boston University Professor Mark Williams, were likely accurate.

Report Calls for Independent Audit & Actuarial Valuation of T Pension Fund

Response commissioned by fund to whistleblower report dismissed…

Pioneer Celebrates the Legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Today, America celebrates the legacy of the Reverend Dr. Martin…

Aging In America: Help us ensure a better future for older citizens

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Pioneer Institute's 2017 Better Government Competition  topic,…

Laboratories of Democracy: How States Get Excellent K–12 U.S. History Standards

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The purpose of this paper is to take a closer look at the states that have designed strong history standards and note what has made them exceptional so other states might do the same. They include Alabama, California, Indiana, Massachusetts, New York, and South Carolina.

Public Statement on Nonrenewal of Keolis Commuter Rail Contract

Pioneer Institute welcomes the news that the MBTA will not renew…

Op-ed: Will DeVos avoid the Beltway education trap?

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By Jim Stergios and Charles Chieppo Read this op-ed online…