Entries by Editorial Staff

2017 Hewitt Healthcare Lecture: “Evolving Healthcare Delivery Models”

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Paul F. Levy, former President & CEO, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, will moderate a panel discussion on the changing face of the healthcare market and innovations to meet consumer demand. Additional speakers: Fay Donohue, Advanced Leadership Initiative Fellow at Harvard University Dr. Rushika Fernandopulle, CEO of Iora Health Rob Graybill, Vice President of Product and Sales Strategy for Vitals Dr. Andrew Sussman, President of MinuteClinic and Executive Vice President and Associate Chief Medical Officer of CVS Health Tickets: $50. To register click the Register Now! button below. For faster check-in please print and bring your ticket to the event. Ticket price for students: $25. Admission is free for Pioneer’s annual contributors of $1,000 or more. Become a member today! Sponsorship […]

Press Release: Pulitzer Prize Winner, Shuttlesworth Widow, & Biographer Among Participants In Forum On Civil Rights, School Choice

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Update: Watch the full video clip of this event: BOSTON – The author of a Pulitzer Prize-winning history of the Civil Rights Movement, the Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth’s widow, and his biographer will be among the speakers at “A Fire You Can’t Put Out: Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth, Civil Rights, and School Choices,” a Pioneer Institute forum to be held Monday, March 20th from 8-10:30 a.m. at the Omni Parker House hotel in Boston. Participants in a roundtable discussion will be Sephira Shuttlesworth, Regional Support Director with SABIS® Educational Systems, and authors Andrew Manis and Diane McWhorter. McWhorter is a Birmingham native and the author of Carry Me Home: Birmingham, Alabama – The Climactic Battle of the Civil Rights Revolution, which was […]

Pioneer Urges Gov. Baker to Take Bolder Action on Public Records Reform

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Governor’s Office in Massachusetts is one of only a handful to claim full blanket exemption from public records laws Pioneer Institute has sent a letter to Governor Charlie Baker’s office asking that he extend his administration’s public records reform initiative to the Governor’s Office through formal means such as an executive order or a gubernatorial memorandum.  Such a bold act would be a win-win for the Baker administration and for the residents of Massachusetts. Pioneer recognizes that the public records reform law Governor Baker signed in June – the first revision to that law since 1973 – was a significant step forward. Nonetheless, both the Center for Public Integrity and The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press in recent […]

With Federal Health Law Facing Repeal, New Book Offers Alternative

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U-Turn: America’s Return to State Healthcare Solutions (114 pp, Pioneer Institute, Boston, $9.95) BOSTON — With Congress and the Trump administration debating the Affordable Care Act (ACA), a new book proposes that states take the lead in healthcare reform and Washington facilitate the transition rather than dictate every move. “The federal ACA was designed in the image of a 2006 state law that was crafted to address challenges that were unique to Massachusetts,” said Jim Stergios, executive director of Pioneer Institute in Boston, which published U-Turn: America’s Return to State Healthcare Solutions.  “After an ill-advised attempt to redesign one-sixth of the U.S. economy, the country should encourage states to design reforms that meet their specific needs, and enable a real […]

Improving Access To Health Systems Available To Older Patients

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Guest post by Alex Carlin As more Americans age in place, policymakers face a number of challenges in ensuring adequate healthcare access for older adults. A central concern is the growing divide between the services available to elders living in urban settings and those in rural communities. In less densely populated areas, which often have a higher concentration of seniors, limited access to medical resources and care professionals is increasing the risks of untreated disease, leading to higher costs and earlier death. For this growing segment of the population, there are significant barriers to care, including lack of transportation, difficulty leaving home, and cost concerns. A study by Pew concluded that roughly 20 percent of elderly Americans, due to a […]

A Safe Bet For Massachusetts

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As talk heats up around town about a possible deal to sell and redevelop the 161 acres at Suffolk Downs, it is worth sharing the view of Pioneer’s founder Lovett C. Peters, expressed way back in 2005, when slots were being proposed for the racetrack. Over a decade ago, Pete wrote in an op-ed for The Boston Globe that: “THE OWNERS of racetracks have a failing business. They report losing money and want the Legislature to enhance their profits by authorizing slot machines. Proponents argue that slots are a win-win for Massachusetts, because they will increase state revenues and boost our already thriving tourism industry. The evidence tells quite a different story.” Instead, underscoring the difficulty that high housing prices create […]

The Power of Competition at the T

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In 2015, right after record-setting snowfall shut down the region’s transit system, Pioneer developed governance and reform proposals to put the MBTA on a stronger fiscal footing. One of our reports concerned The Ride, the regional paratransit system for customers with disabilities, showing that: The Ride’s budget was out of control and procured through contracts that needed to be revisited, as the T was locked into an outdated, expensive, and unsatisfactory system. For the majority of The Ride’s customers, the services could be provided by taxicab and ridesharing companies at a fraction of the cost and at a higher quality of service. Since then, the MBTA has launched an on-demand pilot program that uses these new vendors to provide paratransit […]

Meeting the Housing Needs of an Aging Population

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Guest post by Mariella Rutigliano Many Americans struggle to pay for housing — and the reality today is that a significant number of those who will retire over the next decade will struggle financially to stay in their own homes. According to a 2014 report released by the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University called “Housing America’s Older Adults,” the single largest budget item for most people is housing costs. The limited supply of housing in many communities nationwide exacerbates the problem of meeting the growing demand of our aging population and their families. As America’s population ages, the majority of retirees increasingly prefer to age in place. A study conducted by AARP revealed that 85 percent of […]

Getting the T Back on Track

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The reforms that the Massachusetts Legislature advanced at the MBTA just two short years ago are having a tangible impact on the T’s financial viability and operations. In the near term, more remains to be done to close the T’s annual budget gap, including three big items: competitively bidding the T’s bus maintenance and in-person customer services, further expanding the use of ridesharing and taxicabs in providing The Ride paratransit services, and reforming the T’s troubled pension system. Just as importantly, the T continues to leave millions of capital dollars – including dollars targeted at critical maintenance projects – unspent.  Below are some recent news items and research from Pioneer that is all aimed at transforming the quality of service […]

Study: Inefficient Public Pension Investment Costs Taxpayers About $100 Million A Year

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Local systems forfeited some $2.9 billion over 30 years by not investing with PRIM, probably billions more if fees and compounding are included Read coverage of this report in the Boston Herald, The Bond Buyer, and Associated Press. BOSTON – The commonwealth should set a five-year deadline for 102 public pension systems to transfer their assets to the Pension Reserves Investment Management (PRIM) Board, the management authority for the Massachusetts State Employee Retirement System (MSERS) and the Massachusetts Teachers Retirement System (MTRS), according to a new Policy Brief published by Pioneer Institute. From 1986 to 2015, the difference in gross returns between non-state public pensions (i.e., excluding the MTRS and MSERS) and PRIM implies a taxpayer loss of more than $2.9 […]

Join Us Mar. 20: “A Fire You Can’t Put Out”: Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth, Civil Rights, & School Choices

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In the aftermath of a contentious electoral season, highlighted by debates about the nature of our democracy and equality of educational opportunity, Pioneer Institute is hosting a forum that celebrates the birthday and legacy of the late Birmingham, Alabama civil rights leader Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth. The event will feature his widow, award-winning historians, and civil rights and school leaders discussing how best to make the promise of civil rights a reality through school choice options for underserved families. Please RSVP by Monday, March 13th to Lauren Corvese at 617-723-2277 ext. 202. Featured Speakers: Sephira Shuttlesworth is Regional Support Director, SABIS® Educational Systems. Previously, she was Director of the Mid-Michigan Leadership Academy, a SABIS® Network school located in Lansing, Michigan. Dr. […]

Celebrating Presidents’ Day & K-12 U.S. History Instruction

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As we celebrate Presidents’ Day, Pioneer Institute is pleased to share video highlights, research, and op-eds that we have produced in recent years marking the importance of key presidents in American history – and the vital importance of their inclusion in K-12 instruction. In recent years, Pioneer has actively promoted rigorous, content-based academic standards that include U.S. History and civics instruction. The Institute has published research and polling on the lack of understanding of U.S. History, which has largely been neglected in public schooling; sponsored a U.S. History essay contest for Massachusetts high school students; and hosted numerous events and papers featuring Pulitzer Prize-winning U.S. historians and internationally-recognized figures. Watch video clips of our many public forums, below. Watch our […]

Family Caregiving & the Promise of Technology

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Guest post by Ben Margolin When older Americans require around-the-clock care, yet want to remain in their homes, their families often end up as caregivers. There are significant financial barriers to ensuring that older adults adhere to their medication schedule and have access to the right doctors and specialists, all while feeling safe in their homes. This often presents a considerable burden to households. Consider, for instance, that the average caregiver in the U.S. will dedicate almost 20 hours a week in unpaid care to an elderly parent for a period of five years while holding some form of employment. Fortunately, recent advances in technology are bringing new hope to those facing this issue. Innovations in telemedicine, for example, are […]

Study Debunks False Claims Against Charter Public School Funding and Demographics

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Charter schools in Massachusetts educating more special needs students with equal or lower attrition rates and better outcomes BOSTON – Massachusetts charter public schools do not drain resources from district schools, they outperform the school districts from which their students come, and have attrition rates that are lower than or equal to those districts, according to a new study published by Pioneer Institute. The study refutes false claims that charter public schools educate dramatically fewer special needs students and that those students leave charters at a higher rate. “Charters are now educating nearly the same percentage of English language learners (ELLs) and special education students as the sending districts,” said Dr. Cara Stillings Candal, author of “Best Practices in Massachusetts […]

Op-ed: Voc-tech schools are a Mass. success story

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Read this entire op-ed online at CommonWealth Magazine, the New Bedford Standard Times, The Berkshire Eagle, and The Salem News. Written by Tom Birmingham MASSACHUSETTS VOCATIONAL-TECHNICAL high schools are like the person who toils for years, only to be termed an “overnight sensation” when he or she finally achieves recognition. For over a decade the schools have quietly compiled an impressive record, and the time has come to expand them. Voc-tech schools were once among the staunchest opponents of MCAS and of holding their students to the same standards as those at other public high schools. School leaders sincerely doubted that voc-tech students, many of whom entered the schools with reading skills that were at least two years below grade level, could match the […]

Celebrating School Choice Week: Removing Know-Nothing/Blaine Barriers to School Choice

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On Day 5, the final day of National School Choice Week, we’re focusing on the need to overcome the Know-Nothing/Blaine legal obstacles that prevent largely poor and minority students from accessing equal educational opportunities. In nearly 40 states (see yellow states on map), the most severe barriers to school choice are antiquated, nativist constitutional amendments that block children from educational options that wealthy families can pursue through parochial and private schooling. Pioneer has held numerous forums and published research, op-eds, public opinion poll results, and videos showing the opportunities for greater school choice, which you can review below. Stay tuned! Pioneer Institute is busy filming an exciting new documentary that features the stories of families in states across America that […]

Celebrating School Choice Week: Vocational-Technical Education

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On Day 4 of National School Choice Week, we’re shining the spotlight on career-vocational technical education in Massachusetts, which is delivering on the promise of preparing students for both college and career success. Along with charter public schools, no other category of schools in Massachusetts has delivered results as impressive as those at voc-techs. Over the last decade, voc-tech students’ MCAS performance has improved by 40%. Regional voc-techs enroll a higher percentage of special education students than traditional districts, while posting much lower dropout rates and much higher special education graduation rates. Voc-techs’ success has led to increased demand, with over 4,000 students on waitlists across the state. As Pioneer research has shown, it would cost the state less than […]

Celebrating School Choice Week: Digital Learning

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On Day 3 of National School Choice Week, we explore opportunities to personalize educational options through Digital Learning. Pioneer believes that effective and accountable digital learning opportunities can benefit students across Massachusetts. Virtual schools challenge our traditional “one-size-fits-all” education model. They can often keep students engaged who may have physical disabilities or medical conditions, face bullying in traditional school settings, live in remote locations, or have caretaker responsibilities at home. Pioneer supported legislation passed in 2010 and 2013, which authorized digital learning in Massachusetts and allowed for up to 10 virtual schools to be established statewide by 2020. Unfortunately, Massachusetts has failed to keep pace with innovation elsewhere in the U.S. More than 2.7 million students across the nation participate […]

Celebrating School Choice Week: The METCO Program

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On Day 2 of National School Choice Week, we take a closer look at METCO, which provides over 3,300 children in Boston and Springfield with access to high-performing suburban schools. METCO, the nation’s longest-running voluntary school desegregation program, recently celebrated its 50th anniversary. As our research has shown, test scores and graduation rates are higher for METCO students than their Boston and Springfield peers. METCO students have been making progress in closing the achievement gap in both 3rd grade reading and 6th grade math. Despite its proven track record, METCO receives inconsistent funding from the state and districts. The program has a waiting list of approximately 10,000 students, due in large part to its demonstrable academic success. We must expand and reform […]

Celebrating School Choice Week: Charter Public Schools

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Today marks the beginning of National School Choice Week, an annual celebration of the variety of high-quality academic options available to families across the U.S. Each day this week at Pioneer Institute, we’ll be highlighting charter public schools, the METCO program, digital learning, vocational-technical schools, and independent and parochial schools. We kick off the week with video clips and op-eds featuring Cheryl Brown Henderson and Sephira Shuttlesworth, family members of Civil Rights leaders, who remind us of the central importance of school choice in delivering on the promise of equal educational rights for all. We’ll be sharing school choice success stories all week – join in the conversation today by speaking up on Twitter, using #SchoolChoice, at 2:30 pm Eastern! Event videos Cheryl Brown […]

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

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Charters also seeing higher special needs enrollment, helping those students achieve strong outcomes BOSTON – Data from the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) show that Massachusetts charter public schools have lower attrition rates than the district schools from which their students come, according to a study published by Pioneer Institute. “These data disprove the false argument that the charter schools only outperform their district counterparts because charters supposedly ‘push out’ students who are less likely to perform well academically and on state tests,” said Dr. Cara Candal, author of “Attrition, Dropout and Student Mobility in District and Charter Schools: A Demographic Report.” DESE has been tracking attrition since the 2010-11 school year and finds that charter school […]

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

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Response commissioned by fund to whistleblower report dismissed or ignored red flags This report received press coverage in: The Boston Globe, The Boston Business Journal, and numerous radio and television outlets. BOSTON – The MBTA’s Fiscal and Management Control Board (FMCB) should commission an independent audit and actuarial valuation of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Retirement Fund (MBTARF) in the wake of red flags that were either ignored or dismissed in a report commissioned by the MBTARF Board of Directors after a 2015 study by Bernie Madoff whistleblower Harry Markopolos and Boston University Professor Mark Williams raised concerns about the fund, according to a new study published by Pioneer Institute. “FTI Consulting dismissed or ignored a number of legitimate red […]

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

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Today, America celebrates the legacy of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., whose eloquence and courage mobilized this nation during the Civil Rights era. Over the last several years, Pioneer Institute has promoted U.S. History instruction and school choice options in K-12 schooling. We seek to ensure that schoolchildren will learn about their national heritage and have quality school options that help make Dr. King’s dream a reality for all. Related links: Jamie Gass appeared on WBZ’s Nightside with Dan Rea to discuss MLK’s legacy and education reform. Related videos: Dr. Clayborne Carson, Editor of the MLK Papers & Director of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Research & Education Institute: Diane McWhorter, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian & author, Carry Me Home: […]

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

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Pioneer Institute’s 2017 Better Government Competition  topic, “Aging in America,” is timely and critical. The older population in the United States and elsewhere is expected to increase dramatically in the coming decades as those in the post-war baby boom generation approach retirement. The population of people 65 and over will double – from 36 million to 72 million – by 2030. The 85-and-older population will also double, from 4.7 million to 9.6 million. Senior care will likely become an even more pressing social, economic and political issue. While only 15 percent of the U.S. population is over the age of 65, this demographic accounts for half of all health care spending, using resources such as hospital inpatient admissions, residential care […]

Study Highlights Best Practices For Establishing and Updating K-12 History Standards

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Massachusetts should be cautious in updating its highly regarded history standards BOSTON – As Massachusetts sets about the task of reviewing its K-12 history and social science standards, a new study published by Pioneer Institute describes the processes that have produced exceptional state standards as well as pitfalls that the commonwealth should avoid. In “Laboratories of Democracy: How States Get Excellent K-12 U.S. History Standards,” authors Anders Lewis and William Donovan recommend that states use an academically rigorous and open approach to update standards that provides members of the public and teachers in particular with multiple opportunities to express their views throughout the drafting and review phases. The study includes a preface entitled “Horace Mann and the Origins of American […]

Public Statement on Nonrenewal of Keolis Commuter Rail Contract

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Pioneer Institute welcomes the news that the MBTA will not renew its contract with problem-plagued commuter rail operator Keolis Commuter Services when the term ends in 2022. If the MBTA can put an effective bidding process into place for the next contract, this is a positive development for the hundred thousand-plus riders who depend on the system every day. Since 2013, Pioneer Institute has published a steady stream of research, op-eds, blog commentary, and media appearances critical of Keolis’ performance, and calling for greater penalties for lack of performance and even re-opening the current contract. Increasingly frequent cancellations have incurred a reported $14 million in fines over the past two years, many of which have been forgiven by the MBTA, […]

Before the clock strikes midnight…

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Before the clock strikes midnight tomorrow evening, we look back at twelve big wins at Pioneer Institute this past year.  Retaining control over Massachusetts’ robust public school assessments Finding solutions to ensure the safety of vulnerable children in the custody of the Department of Children and Families The establishment of an emergency control board to oversee MBTA management Pragmatic solutions to address sick-time abuses at state agencies Increased transparency at the MBTA pension system Advancing the debate on the state’s burgeoning issue of opioid and substance abuse Identified numerous programs aimed at expanding and improving the scope of mental health services The launch of our Healthcare Price Transparency Working Group National media coverage highlighting our investigative surveys comparing the prices […]

Happy Holidays!

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Best wishes to you and your loved ones for a healthy, happy holiday season and a prosperous new year! – Your friends at Pioneer Consider giving the gift of Pioneer Membership to friends and colleagues interested in our work: Or help young professionals expand their network through a New Leaders Membership:

Pioneer Institute Statement On The MBTA Contract With The Carmen’s Union

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In February 2015, Pioneer Institute issued a statement citing the numerous problems that faced the MBTA and its riders. The release noted that the MBTA board, as then structured, had failed the public, resulting in a highly mismanaged system of mass transit in metropolitan Boston. Pioneer recommended that the current board structure be dissolved and replaced with a board that had greater powers, including exemption from the so-called Pacheco law, and the autonomy needed to begin to fix the T.  The recommendation was adopted by the Governor and the Legislature, and a Fiscal and Management Control Board (FMCB) was established.  Over a span of less than two years, numerous improvements have been made. These include cutting the MBTA’s operating budget’s structural […]

Op-ed: Challenge and Opportunity for Catholic Education

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Given our desire to do as much as we can, especially to help poor urban kids participate fully in the American Dream, we need to provide them with access to school choice options: charter schools; vocational-technical schools; private and parochial schools; and METCO. Choice is what the privileged have for their children. Why shouldn’t everyone have access to high quality academic options?