Entries by Editorial Staff

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?

Study Urges New MBTA Strategic Plan to Focus on Attracting More Riders

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Increased ridership would boost revenue, reduce congestion and bring environmental benefits BOSTON – Measurable targets for increasing ridership would be an effective organizing principle as the MBTA develops its strategic plan, according to a new study published by Pioneer Institute. “Increasing ridership aligns well with many of the MBTA’s subsidiary goals,” said Pioneer Institute Research Director and former Massachusetts Inspector General Greg Sullivan, the author of “Aim High on MBTA Ridership: A big-picture take on the T’s strategic plan.”  “The additional revenue from more riders would help to improve the T’s finances.” Sullivan looked at ridership trends on six MBTA modes – bus, commuter rail, ferry, heavy rail (the Blue, Orange and Red Lines), light rail (Green Line), and trolley […]

“Aging In America” Is Topic For Pioneer Institute’s 26th Better Government Competition

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BOSTON – “Aging in America” is the topic of Pioneer Institute’s 26th Better Government Competition (BGC). For 2017, Pioneer seeks ideas on how to ensure a better future for aging citizens in Massachusetts and throughout the country by providing more effective and sustainable support systems for older citizens and leveraging their social capital. The Better Government Competition is a citizens’ ideas contest open to anyone. The winner of the competition will receive $10,000 and several runners up will be awarded $1,000. Since the inception, the implementation of winning Better Government Competition entries has saved Massachusetts taxpayers more than $750 million. Ideas for this year’s contest may include, but are not limited to, identifying ways to keep older Americans engaged in the […]

A Time to Give Back

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Coming on the heels of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, #GivingTuesday is a day to refocus on what’s most important – a day during the holiday season for business leaders, families, students, community organizations and others to celebrate giving back to the causes we value most. At Pioneer, that means improving the quality of life in this City on a Hill we call Massachusetts.  It means solutions that will give all kids access to a good school, sustain innovation in healthcare, promote movement whether through public transit or private mobility, expand job and business opportunities, and ensure that government works. Last year, more than 45,000 organizations in 71 countries came together to celebrate #GivingTuesday.  Since its founding in 2012, #GivingTuesday […]

Happy Thanksgiving!

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Pioneer Institute could not continue promoting world-class schools, affordable healthcare, reliable public transit service, government accountability, and economic prosperity for all without the generous support of our donors. In the coming weeks and months, look for an announcement about our 2017 Better Government Competition, and more in-depth research on the MBTA, academic standards, and other topics. From the Pioneer family to yours, we wish you a happy Thanksgiving!

2016 Lovett C. Peters Lecture: Global Security, Opportunity & Leadership in the 21st Century

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Fletcher School Dean to Deliver 2016 Lovett C. Peters Lecture in Public Policy Retired Four-Star Admiral James Stavridis will address Global Security, Opportunity & Leadership in the 21st Century BOSTON – Admiral James Stavridis, United States Navy (Ret.), Dean of The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, will deliver Pioneer Institute’s 2016 Lovett C. Peters Lecture. At a November 17th gathering of Pioneer supporters, he will discuss how the nation can address global challenges and seize opportunities through innovation, strategic communication and planning, and public/private collaboration. “The Peters Lecture honors individuals who have made a mark on the world.  This year, we are proud to present a four-star admiral who is the longest serving Combatant Commander in […]

Major Gift Announcement: The Peters Legacy Society

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~In Memory of R. Kingman Webster~ We were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of R. Kingman “King” Webster, a longtime confidant to Pioneer’s founder, Lovett C. “Pete” Peters, a benefactor for almost two decades, and a key member of the Institute’s early Board of Directors. After retiring from a fourth generation, family-owned business in 1989, Kingman and his wife Dee shifted their focus toward philanthropy – concentrating on common sense education reform and helping underprivileged youth trapped in failing schools. In addition to Pioneer, King promoted numerous initiatives such as the “I Have a Dream” project at Arlington Middle School, and the Community Day and Family Development Charter Schools, both based in Lawrence, Massachusetts. Though we have lost […]

Be informed, especially today

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Pioneer Institute’s core mission is educating the public on policy issues. No issue is more important to the future of the Commonwealth – and our nation – than education. So, as you head to the polls, we’d like to make sure you are armed with facts – not noise. The ballot this year includes a question about whether charter public schools should be expanded in the lowest-performing districts. Charter public schools, like district schools and vocational-technical schools, are public schools. Gold-standard research demonstrates that Massachusetts charter public schools are the most powerful achievement gap-closing public schools in the nation. (More evidence here and here.) Districts do not lose funding as a result of creating more charter public schools. Currently, four […]

Study Finds Boston Charter Students More Likely to Take and Pass AP Tests

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Pass rates for African-American, Latino, and economically disadvantaged students also higher than corresponding Boston Public Schools numbers BOSTON – Boston charter public school students are more likely than their counterparts in non-exam Boston Public Schools (BPS) to take Advanced Placement (AP) courses and tests, and Boston charters have also done a better job of helping traditionally underserved students pass AP tests, according to a new study published by Pioneer Institute. “Access to AP within the Boston Public Schools is radically skewed toward the system’s three exam schools,” said Dr. Cara Candal, co-author of “Advanced Placement Opportunities and Success in Boston Charter and District Schools: A Demographic Report.”  “Unlike charter schools, admission to the exam schools is selective and they are […]

Cap, Talent Pipeline, And Facilities Funding Among Factors Prohibiting State Charter Sector From Achieving Scale

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“Yes” vote on statewide ballot initiative could attract more quality charter management organizations BOSTON – Raising the cap, strengthening teacher and school leader pipelines, and revising facilities funding are among the key factors if Massachusetts is to succeed at bringing its charter school sector to scale, according to a new study published by Pioneer Institute. “Gold-standard research demonstrates that Massachusetts charter public schools are among the nation’s best,” said Dr. Cara Stillings Candal, author of “Massachusetts Charter Public Schools: Best Practices in School Expansion and Replication.”  “But many of these high-performing charters are small ‘boutique’ schools.” Uncommon Schools, KIPP, and SABIS are the only charter networks operating in Massachusetts that are also present in other states. While it’s not unusual […]

Putting Healthcare Consumers First

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Last week, Massachusetts’ Health Policy Commission convened for the annual Cost Trends Hearing, a two-day event exploring the Bay State’s healthcare market through expert testimony from industry representatives and policy makers. Although the wide-ranging discussion covered many important topics, there was a distinct lack of focus on how consumers interact with and perceive our current healthcare system, until Pioneer’s Senior Fellow in Healthcare and long-time consumer advocate, Barbara Anthony, spoke during the public comment session. Anthony’s testimony brought the Commission’s focus back to consumers and expressed disappointment with the implementation of the state’s 2012 healthcare price transparency legislation. The Chair of the Commission, Dr. Stuart Altman, thanked Anthony for her testimony and invited Pioneer to meet with the Commission and […]

Op-ed: Vote ‘yes’ on Question 2

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This excerpt is from an op-ed published on Oct. 18, 2016 in The Boston Globe, authored by Thomas Birmingham and Mark Roosevelt, co-authors of the 1993 Massachusetts Education Reform Act. “We included charter public schools in the 1993 law to provide poor parents with the type of educational choice that wealthy parents have always enjoyed. By keeping charter schools outside of school district bureaucracies and establishing a rigorous state-run application process, we hoped to spur innovation and ensure that more children had access to an excellent education. We now have enough data to conclude that charter schools have exceeded expectations. In our cities, public charter schools consistently close achievement gaps. No wonder more than 32,000 children are on charter school waiting lists. Imagine […]

Op-ed: Mass. charters fight racial oppression

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By Sephira Shuttlesworth By 1959, my late husband, the Birmingham, Ala. civil rights leader Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth, had been beaten with bike chains, brass knuckles, and baseball bats by a segregationist mob, had his church bombed twice and survived his house being bombed by the Ku Klux Klan on Christmas Day. On a Monday night that year at the St. James Baptist Church, he was convening a mass meeting of his parishioners and other community activists. After weeks of harassment from the Birmingham Fire Department, firemen showed up claiming a report was called in about a fire in the church. Upon leaving the church to resume the mass meeting at another church a block away, Fred Shuttlesworth told the Birmingham […]

The Future of the MBTA

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Last year the legislature created the MBTA Fiscal and Management Control Board with the explicit purpose of ensuring that attention would be focused on the transit system’s safety, reliability and sound fiscal management. This afternoon, the FMCB will host a forum to review work to date on a strategic plan for the MBTA. Pioneer has long played a prominent role in debates about how to improve area transit services.  In 2015, we provided thought leadership on various governance models including the concept of a “receivership-lite” control board to oversee and implement needed reforms in a truncated time period.  We continue to provide timely input, as is the role of a think tank committed to improving the quality of life in […]

Study: Massachusetts Charters Enrolling More English Language Learners

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Charter ELLs have lower attrition rates, better academic outcomes than district counterparts BOSTON – Massachusetts charter public schools are enrolling more English language learners (ELLs) in recent years, and those students have lower attrition rates and better academic outcomes than their district counterparts, according to a new study published by Pioneer Institute. As late as 2009, ELL enrollment in Boston charter schools was just 2 percent.  But a 2010 state law obligated school districts to share mailing lists with charters and required charter schools to submit detailed recruitment and retention plans for ELL students with the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). “The mailing lists gave charters an effective means of recruiting English language learners,” said Dr. Cara […]

Charter School Special-Needs Students Achieving Excellent Outcomes

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Percentage Of Charter School Special-Needs Students Is Rising, Outcomes Improving 2010 law required more extensive outreach to students with special needs, provided means to enhance recruitment Read coverage of this report in the Boston Herald: Report counters argument that charters don’t serve special-needs students BOSTON – In the wake of recent public policy changes, Massachusetts charter public schools are beginning to reach demographic parity with their district counterparts in terms of the percentage of special-needs students they educate, and those students, especially in Boston, are achieving excellent outcomes, according to a new study published by Pioneer Institute. A 2010 state law requires every Massachusetts charter school to develop a detailed plan for how to recruit and retain special-needs students and English […]

Survey Finds Prescription Drug Prices Easy To Access, But Not Always Accurate

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Wide variation found in price of generics, less for brand-name drugs; consumers must navigate difficult terrain to find lowest price BOSTON – It’s far easier to get prescription drug price information than to get similar numbers from hospitals or specialty physicians, but the information is not always reliable, according to a new survey published by Pioneer Institute. Researchers called 44 independent and chain drugstores across Massachusetts and asked for a 30-day supply in a common dosage of five generic and three brand-name drugs.  Callers said they were self-pay and pressed the stores for information about discounts. Massachusetts’ 2012 state law mandating price transparency does not cover retail pharmaceutical sales. “There were virtually no transfers or dropped calls, no lengthy hold […]

Study Finds Common Core Incompatible With Catholic Education

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Singular focus on workforce development conflicts with Catholic schools’ academic, spiritual and moral mission BOSTON – The workforce-preparation focus of the K-12 English and math standards known as Common Core puts them at odds with Catholic education, and the standards should not be adopted by parochial schools, according to a new study published by Pioneer Institute and the American Principles Project. As most states rushed to adopt the standards at the beginning of the current decade, the National Catholic Education Association urged Catholic schools to get on board, and many adopted Common Core.  But the tide began to turn, and in 2013 a group of 132 Catholic scholars sent a letter to American bishops asserting that adopting Common Core would […]

How Phoenix Academies Transform Potential High School Dropouts into College Grads

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Study Explores How Phoenix Academies Transform Potential High School Dropouts into College Graduates Network combines second chances and individualized support with academic rigor BOSTON – A network of three Massachusetts public schools is using “relentless support” to help at-risk students not only graduate from high school, but also succeed in college, according to a new study published by Pioneer Institute. In Massachusetts Charter Public Schools: Best Practices from the Phoenix Charter Academies, author Cara Stillings Candal writes that during the 2014-15 school year, more than 86 percent of Phoenix Academy students were teen parents, court-involved, highly truant, English language learners, received special education services, or had already dropped out of high school. “The Phoenix Academies network proves that with patience, […]

More Mass. Charter Public Schools: Daughter of Brown v. Board of Ed Plaintiff Makes the Case

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Last Monday, Pioneer hosted the event “Equal Access to Excellence: Charter and District School Reform,” which was co-sponsored by the Program on Education Policy and Governance at the Harvard Kennedy School, the Center for Education Reform, the Massachusetts Charter Public School Association, SABIS®, the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, Families for Excellent Schools and the Black Alliance for Educational Options. The keynote address was delivered by Cheryl Brown Henderson, whose father, the late Rev. Oliver L. Brown, was lead plaintiff in Brown v. Board of Education, the landmark 1954 U.S. Supreme Court case that banned segregation in public education. Cheryl is founding president of the Brown Foundation for Educational Equity, Excellence, and Research, and the owner of Brown & Associates, an […]

Op-ed: Charter and district schools need not be adversaries

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By Thomas Birmingham This op-ed appeared in the New Bedford Standard Times, The Lowell Sun, The Springfield Republican, and The MetroWest Daily News. In the run-up to a November ballot initiative that would allow more charter schools to open in Massachusetts, charter and traditional public schools have been cast in an adversarial relationship. But that isn’t always the case. The Phoenix Academies Network operates charter schools in Chelsea and Springfield, and a district school that is part of the turnaround effort underway in Lawrence. The schools focus on at-risk students like teen parents, the chronically truant, court-involved students, those with special needs, English language learners, and young men and women who have already dropped out. Like all charters, Phoenix’s schools can’t choose […]