Entries by Editorial Staff

Enrollment Trends in Massachusetts

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Author(s): Ken Ardon — Publication date: 2008-09-24 Category: Education Abstract: Enrollment in public schools in Massachusetts has fallen by 24,000 students, or 2.5 percent, over the past five years. The total number of students in Massachusetts public schools is now just 936,000. The decline started several years ago, and is likely to accelerate over the next decade. The drop in enrollment is steepest in Western Massachusetts and Cape Cod, and urban districts are losing students faster than suburban districts. Additionally, the enrollment decline is more severe in lower-income areas than in middle or upper-income areas. [wpdm_package id=72]

Differential Pay for Math and Science Teachers

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Author(s): Theodor Rebarber and Kathleen Madigan — Publication date: 2008-08-28 Category: Education Abstract: Of the various proposals under discussion for improving public education, some of the most hotly debated have been those designed to reform teacher compensation. This Brief addresses differential compensation designed to attract and retain effective mathematics and science teachers; it accomplishes this through a focus on approaches that integrate performance-based reforms into an ongoing wage enhancement. [wpdm_package id=73]

How to Strengthen K-12 Mathematics Education in Massachusetts: Implications of National Mathematics Advisory Panel’s Report

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Implications of the National Mathematics Advisory Panel’s Report Author(s): Dr. Sandra Stotsky — Publication date: 2008-06-16 Category: Education Abstract: This position paper suggests how Massachusetts can strengthen K-12 mathematics education in its schools, drawing chiefly on the findings and recommendations presented in the final report of the National Mathematics Advisory Panel (henceforth referred to as the Panel). The Panel’s report was released in March 2008 after two years of work and deliberation by seventeen researchers and scholars appointed by Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings. Its findings and recommendations are based on a thorough review of the evidence from all the best available high quality research. [wpdm_package id=74]

Additional Reforms for the Governor’s Accelerated Bridge Repair Proposal

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Author(s): Steve Poftak — Publication date: 2008-06-01 Category: Economic Opportunity Abstract: The Governor’s proposal to fix structurally deficient bridges is an aggressive approach to addressing the massive backlog of deferred maintenance in the Commonwealth. To be sure, this approach does not create revenues, it only accelerates planned future spending. However, this acceleration will result in greater value by fixing hundreds of decaying bridges sooner rather than later; thereby avoiding the effect of construction inflation and higher future repair costs due to ongoing deterioration. [wpdm_package id=76]  

GIC Consolidation

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Author(s): Steve Poftak — Publication date: 2008-06-01 Category: Better Government Abstract: Municipal leaders seeking cost savings should examine the potential benefits of joining GIC. A compelling case can be made that GIC consolidation reduces pressure on local budgets, allowing the provision of additional services, reducing the need for higher taxes, and presenting an opportunity for savings that will ultimately benefit municipal employees. [wpdm_package id=77]

Shades of Green: The Patchwork of Wetlands Regulation in Massachusetts

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The Patchwork of Wetlands Regulations in Massachusetts Author(s): Amy Dain — Publication date: 2008-02-14 Category: Better Government Abstract: “Why can’t I just fill the little swamp in the backyard? That way I have more lawn to enjoy.” This question is listed on the website for Gloucester’s Conservation Commission under “Frequently Asked Questions.” The Commission’s response is that all wetlands, including small seasonal wetlands, help clean stormwater, serve as drainage areas and provide habitat for many species.  

Scaling Up Educational Innovation

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Author(s): Jamie Gass — Publication date: 2008-06-01 Category: Education Abstract: In recent years, a vast majority of schools in Boston, Worcester, and Springfield, not to mention Fall River, New Bedford, Lowell, Lawrence, Holyoke, and Brockton were placed on the federal ‘In Need of Improvement’ list, as mandated under the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) law. Today, in these urban districts in the Bay State, nearly 70 percent of the students score in the ‘Needs Improvement’ and ‘Warning/Failing’ categories on the MCAS test. [wpdm_package id=75]

Learning From Springfield: Lessons in Effective Fiscal Management

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Lessons in Effective Fiscal Management Author(s): Steve Poftak — Publication date: 2008-04-01 Category: Economic Opportunity Abstract: The Middle Cities Initiative seeks to develop concrete policies to help the Middle Cities grow. One foundational element for economic growth is effective fiscal management by the public sector. The Middle Cities Initiative includes a benchmarking program that would establish incentives for good municipal management, and also equip municipal leaders with the tools they need to succeed. This Policy Brief considers Springfield as a case study in effective fiscal management and reform, and as an example for other communities. It integrates specific policy proposals derived from Springfield’s experience with Pioneer’s work on benchmarking [wpdm_package id=78]

New Business Creation and The Urban Economy

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Author(s): John H. Friar — Publication date: 2008-02-28 Category: Economic Opportunity Abstract: Policymakers have long grappled with the challenge of revitalizing cities whose economies have declined as manufacturing jobs moved elsewhere. Older industrial cities’ economic woes have compounded other problems, including municipal budget crises, struggling schools, high crime rates, and persistent poverty. [wpdm_package id=79]

School Choice Without Vouchers: Expanding Education Options Through Tax Benefits

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Authors: William Howell and Mindy Spencer Date: October 2007 While efforts to offer Massachusetts families more school choice have stalled, other states have moved ahead, implementing innovative tax deductions and credit programs. By lowering barriers to private education, these programs open a new door for students trapped in underperforming public schools. School Choice Without Vouchers: Expanding Education Options Through Tax Credits

Transforming Urban School Districts through Choice

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Roe Paper No. 20 2007 Author(s): Foundation for Education Reform and Accountability — Publication date: 2007-09-01 Category: Better Government Abstract: The Foundation for Education Reform & Accountability (FERA), based in Albany, New York, has been implementing a school-choice initiative – the Albany Project – that has created high-quality charter schools to serve more than half of the local public school student population in the state’s capital city. FERA believes that a district composed of choice schools can better serve students, parents, and the community than the traditional urban school district system. The Albany Project is demonstrating that the charter school model – freedom from state regulations and education bureaucracy, freedom to innovate, and increased accountability – can better serve all […]

Repair, Replacement, Renovation and Maintenance Program

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Roe Paper No. 19 2007 Author(s): Hillsborough County, Florida — Publication date: 2007-09-01 Category: Better Government Abstract: The Repair, Replacement, Renovation and Maintenance (R3M) Program concept is a strategy for managing Hillsborough County’s physical assets. The purpose of the R3M Program is to protect investment in infrastructure, reduce the maintenance backlog, control and reduce costs, minimize waste, and to maintain public buildings and facilities in a safe and efficient condition. [wpdm_package id=85]

Extending the Stat Model Across the Commonwealth

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Roe Paper No. 18 2007 Author(s): Somerville SomerStat Program — Publication date: 2007-09-01 Category: Better Government Abstract: After nearly a decade of evolution, municipal Stat programs, such as NYPD’sCompStat and Baltimore’s CitiStat, have proved very successful in improving city service delivery and cutting unnecessary spending. Though slightly different in each implementation, all Stat programs involve frequent meetings at which key decision-makers and department heads review data on operational performance, identify problems and solutions, and track follow-up. The City of Baltimore reported $70 million in savings attributable to CitiStat in its first three years of operations. [wpdm_package id=84]

Reducing Unnecessary Institutionalization of Senior Citizens

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Roe Paper No. 17 2007 Author(s): ProVentive — Publication date: 2007-09-01 Category: Better Government Abstract: This proposal involves collecting and integrating existing data on the health of elderly patients. This information would be used to construct patient profiles to help predict and prevent unexpected incidents. A data-driven coordination of programs and services would aid in early interventions, and also help evaluate how different strategies, programs, and agencies could reduce unnecessary nursing home institutionalization. [wpdm_package id=83]

MyFloridaMarketPlace

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Roe Paper No. 16 2007 Author(s): Kimberly Koegel — Publication date: 2007-09-01 Category: Better Government Abstract: In 2000, the Florida state legislature approved funding for an online e-procurement portal called MyFloridaMarketPlace. The project was overseen by Florida’s Division of Management Services (DMS), which contracted with Accenture in the fall of 2002 to create and manage the portal. [wpdm_package id=82]

Fixing Maintenance in Massachusetts

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Author(s): Steve Poftak — Publication date: 2007-08-15 Category: Better Government Abstract: The horrifying spectacle of the Minnesota bridge collapse has prompted a national reevaluation of the condition of our public infrastructure. In Massachusetts, two recent reports have found a multi-billion dollar backlog of deferred maintenance. [wpdm_package id=87]

The Cash Incentive Saftey Initiative: City of Gallup, New Mexico

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Roe Paper No. 9 2007 Author(s): Eric Honeyfield — Publication date: 2007-07-01 Category: Better Government Abstract: The City of Gallup, NM, like many governmental bodies that employ field crews, suffered from an ever-increasing number of worker’s compensation claims and associated annual increases in worker’s compensation insurance premiums. The implementation of the Cash Incentive Safety Initiative has both improved the health of employees and reduced costs associated with absent and injured workers. As explained below, there is real potential for similar programs to benefit municipal and state governments nationwide. [wpdm_package id=96]

The Clinical Performance Improvement Initiative: Massachusetts Group Insurance Commission

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Roe Paper No. 13 2007 Author(s): Massachusetts Group Insurance Commission — Publication date: 2007-07-01 Category: Better Government Abstract: The Massachusetts Group Insurance Commission (GIC) has embarked on a groundbreaking plan to control costs, improve healthcare quality, and promote cost-efficiency. Labeled the Clinical Performance Improvement (CPI) Initiative, this multi-year effort has the potential to save the Commonwealth and its enrollees tens of millions of dollars, while improving the quality of care. [wpdm_package id=99]

The Estuaries Project: Massachusetts Estuaries Project

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Roe Paper No. 11 2007 Author(s): — Publication date: 2007-07-01 Category: Better Government Abstract: The Massachusetts Estuaries Project, through the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth School of Marine Science and Technology (SMAST), supports the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in the development and implementation of policies to protect nitrogen-sensitive coastal embayments. The Project collects data and develops models to manage and restore the 89 embayment systems that comprise the coastline of southeastern Massachusetts. The Project encompasses new technologies, regulatory approaches and funding mechanisms to reduce the costs of conducting estuarine restoration. [wpdm_package id=98]

The Electronic Grants System for Education: Michigan Department of Education

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Roe Paper No. 10 2007 Author(s): Michigan Department of Education — Publication date: 2007-07-01 Category: Better Government Abstract: The Michigan Electronic Grants System (MEGS) is an initiative that permits online education grant applications to feed directly into the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) system. By removing a time-consuming step from the application process, MEGS has improved performance and slashed administrative costs without any additional state funds. A similar program could benefit both the Massachusetts Department of Education (DOE) and the grant applicants who hope to put state funds to work. [wpdm_package id=97]

Consolidating Off-Road Vehicle Registration

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Roe Paper No. 8 2007 Author(s): — Publication date: 2007-07-01 Category: Better Government Abstract: Massachusetts suffers from a wastefully duplicative system for registering motor vehicles. There are separate registration sites and bureaucracies for on-road and off-road vehicles. The Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) registers cars, busses, trucks, motorcycles and all other on-road vehicles. The Executive Office of Environmental Affairs’ (EOEA) Registration and Titling Bureau registers off-road vehicles—boats, snowmobiles and all terrain vehicles (ATVs). [wpdm_package id=95]

The Bid-to-Goal Program: San Diego Metropolitan Wastewater Department

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Roe Paper No. 7 2007 Author(s): — Publication date: 2007-07-01 Category: Better Government Abstract: Bid-to-Goal is a program originally developed by the City of San Diego’s Metropolitan Wastewater Department (MWWD), in conjunction with consulting firm Henningson, Durham and Richardson (HDR), in 1997 as an “optimization strategy” to more cost-effectively implement large public works initiatives. By means of a binding pact between the city and public sector employees, the MWWD had hoped to create a hybrid dynamic that incorporates the most desirable features of both public and private sector contracting. [wpdm_package id=94]

A Reform of Workers’ Compensation Insurance

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Roe Paper No. 6 2007 Author(s): — Publication date: 2007-07-01 Category: Better Government Abstract: The Massachusetts Department of Industrial Accidents has implemented numerous reforms that have improved the safety of workplaces throughout the state since Governor Mitt Romney’s election in 2002. In the process, the DIA has reduced the number companies that do not adhere to the state’s worker compensation laws.

A Reform of Wetlands Regulations

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Roe Paper No. 5 2007 Author(s): Kurt Gaertner — Publication date: 2007-07-01 Category: Better Government Abstract: The cost of housing in Massachusetts absorbs too much of the average resident’s income and drives people and businesses out of the state. According to recent research studies, the problem is not a lack of land but an excess of regulation. I propose a concrete and politically palatable policy reform to ensure that septic and wetland regulations are used to protect the environment and public health. This reform would remove the temptation for towns to misuse these rules to discourage development. [wpdm_package id=92]

The Wetlands Bankting Program

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Roe Paper No. 4 2007 Author(s): John DeVillars — Publication date: 2007-07-01 Category: Better Government Abstract: In spite of stringent federal, state and local wetlands regulations in Massachusetts, too many fragile ecosystems are still threatened by development. A primary reason for this is that the Commonwealth’s wetlands mitigation regulations are poorly designed, difficult to implement and costly to regulate. In many permitting situations a new, privatized approach to mitigation—wetlands banking—could help ensure that our wetlands are more fully and cost-effectively protected and restored. [wpdm_package id=91]

The Building Permitting Automation Efficiency Program

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Roe Paper No. 3 2007 Author(s): — Publication date: 2007-07-01 Category: Better Government Abstract: Buildings in Florida’s Miami-Dade County typically fill up as quickly as they can be built. Between glimmering high-rise towers for vacationers or retirees, banks and offices that serve as the nerve centers of Miami’s southward- looking economy, or schools and public buildings to support a growing population, South Florida has the look of a perpetual hard-hat zone. This steady pace of needed construction is maintained by an innovative building department and its Building Permitting Automation Efficiency Program. [wpdm_package id=90]