THE PIONEER BLOG

MuckRock

Why do Massachusetts municipalities make meeting transparency harder than it has to be?

/0 Comments/in , /by MuckRock

Executive session is where local governing boards interview police chiefs and school superintendents, negotiate with unions, discuss litigation, talk about misconduct by town employees, and conduct other delicate business that is kept temporarily private for legitimate reasons. Once the purpose of the meeting is resolved, the minutes are supposed to be reviewed by the town board or city council, and any minutes not exempt under the Public Records Law are supposed to be released. The goal of my project – the Closed Meeting Crash – is to make the inner workings of local government more visible by obtaining five years worth of executive session minutes from all 351 municipalities in Massachusetts. So far, I’ve requested Bristol, Plymouth, Middlesex, and Barnstable […]

Matt Blackbourn

Ensuring a secure financial future for older adults

/0 Comments/in , , , , , /by Matt Blackbourn

Every day, 10,000 Americans turn age 65. Adults over this age now make up more than 15 percent of the U.S. population, according to the Census Bureau – by 2029, this number will surpass 20 percent. Our 2017 Better Government Competition is focused on ensuring a better future for older Americans – and some of the most valuable ideas in this discussion will concern the retirement security implications of this demographic shift. The fiscal reality today is that most Americans do not have adequate savings to live comfortably in retirement. Equally troubling, many retirement systems are woefully underfunded and unsustainable in their funding practices. Public pension systems are in particularly rough shape. Research from JPMorgan Chase, published last spring, found […]

Editorial Staff

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

/0 Comments/in , , , , /by Editorial Staff

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 […]

Barbara Anthony

Insurer Using Market Clout to Lower Healthcare Costs for Consumers

/0 Comments/in , , /by Barbara Anthony and Scott Haller

There are rumblings among some in the hospital community voicing displeasure with the Group Insurance Commission’s (GIC) new plan to cap payments to providers at 160% the Medicare rate. The GIC says this move will help save the agency $50-100 million annually and meet the state’s cost growth benchmark. Over the years, the GIC has been a leader in healthcare cost containment, from tiered provider plans to a recently launched cash incentive program called Vitals SmartShopper designed to incentivize high-value healthcare decisions. In yet another innovative program from the state agency responsible for 436,000 state workers and their family members, the GIC has voted to limit payments to providers, some of the most prestigious of which have attacked the plan […]

Editorial Staff

Celebrating School Choice Week: Vocational-Technical Education

/0 Comments/in , , , , /by Editorial Staff

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 […]

Alex Carlin

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

/0 Comments/in , , , , , /by Alex Carlin

With the advent of the Baker administration, Massachusetts transparency advocates were optimistic that the statute governing public records requests would be among the laws targeted for overhaul.  The optimism proved somewhat warranted as the legislature and Governor Baker were able to reach an agreement on a long-overdue update to procedures relating to the release of public records. Pioneer has long been a critic of Massachusetts’s records laws, highlighting exemptions and the poor records compliance of the MBTA – while continuing to recommend additional action. Reform was clearly needed, as Massachusetts has consistently ranked at the bottom of the list in government transparency. In the past, the commonwealth has treated the public records law as more of a suggestion, as demonstrated […]

Editorial Staff

Celebrating School Choice Week: Digital Learning

/in , , , , , /by Editorial Staff

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 […]

Editorial Staff

Celebrating School Choice Week: The METCO Program

/0 Comments/in , , , /by Editorial Staff

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 […]

Editorial Staff

Celebrating School Choice Week: Charter Public Schools

/0 Comments/in , , , , /by Editorial Staff

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 […]

Mary Connaughton

Our Government Transparency Resolutions for 2017

/0 Comments/in , , , , , /by Mary Connaughton

Although transparency was the expression of choice on Beacon Hill in 2016, the year fell short of what could have been a transformative period of government openness. Long overdue public records law reform was the most dramatic action taken by the Legislature in this vein, but compromise ultimately weakened what otherwise could have been very toothy legislation to advance the public’s interest. Nevertheless, progress was made. Pioneer Institute has long supported many elements of the enacted legislation, including subjecting the MBTA Retirement Board to public records law, making its operations transparent, establishing a public records officer for every agency, promoting electronic records in response to requests, imposing stronger penalties on delinquent agencies, promoting electronic disclosure, and reducing costs to obtain public records. Historically, Massachusetts has ranked at or near […]

Editorial Staff

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

/in , , , , /by Editorial Staff

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: […]

Editorial Staff

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

/0 Comments/in , , /by Editorial Staff

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 […]

Editorial Staff

Before the clock strikes midnight…

/in , /by Editorial Staff

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 […]

Editorial Staff

Happy Holidays!

/in , /by Editorial Staff

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:

Editorial Staff

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

/in , , , , , /by Editorial Staff

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 […]