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Massachusetts Job Market Bears Watching

/in , , , , /by Eileen McAnneny

The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ most recent national jobs report made headlines because it indicated the US economy added just 12,000 jobs in October, falling far short of the expected 112,500-job gain. While the number is preliminary and could be revised, it got me wondering about how the Massachusetts job outlook stacks up in comparison. The state’s economic growth hinges on its employment outlook because the state’s talented workforce tops the list of our competitive advantages, fueling past economic growth.  Massachusetts talent justifies our high average weekly wage, contributes to the wealth of the Commonwealth and is the backbone of our innovation economy.  Like federal data, recent state data show there may be some cracks in the armor. The following […]

NH Gov. Chris Sununu on School Choice

/in , , , , /by Editorial Staff

This week on The Learning Curve, co-hosts Alisha Searcy of DFER and U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng interview New Hampshire Governor Christopher Sununu. Gov. Sununu discusses his upbringing in a well-known political family and how the influence of his father, a former governor and White House chief of staff, and his brother, a former U.S. senator, has shaped his public service.

Five Reasons Why Project Labor Agreements Are Bad Public Policy

/in , , /by Editorial Staff

Project labor agreements (PLAs) essentially prevent non-union firms from participating in construction projects. They generally do so by including the following language: Union recognition and employment The Contractor recognizes the union as the sole and exclusive bargaining representative of all craft employees working within the scope of this agreement. All applicants for various classifications covered under the agreement required by the contractor shall be referred to the contractor by the local union. PLAs are back in the news because pending state economic development and climate legislation each call for their use. Their inclusion in the economic development bill is incongruous with and counterproductive to the purpose of the bill which is to make Massachusetts more competitive, affordable and equitable. PLAs fail on all counts. 1. PLAs […]

Statement of Pioneer Institute on MCAS Ballot Failure and State of Education in Massachusetts

/in , , /by Editorial Staff

Yesterday was a bad day for public school students in Massachusetts because the last pillar of the most effective state education reform in modern American history fell. Since 2008, the Commonwealth has been witness to the systematic dismantling of the 1993 Education Reform Act. With every step – the elimination of school district accountability, weakening of academic standards, severely limiting the growth of the nation’s best charter public schools and now eliminating the MCAS graduation requirement – the performance of Massachusetts students has fallen further from the time when Massachusetts eighth graders tied for best in the world in science and achievement gaps were narrowing. Today, few states are seeing their National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) scores decline as […]

Dr. Helen Baxendale on Great Hearts Classical Liberal Arts Charter Schools

/in , , , /by Editorial Staff

This week on The Learning Curve, co-hosts Alisha Searcy of DFER and U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng interview Dr. Helen Baxendale, the chief of staff and vice president of strategy at Great Hearts Academies. Dr. Baxendale discusses how her global educational experiences inform her perspective on K-12 policy and Great Hearts’ mission to integrate the humanities, math, and science for intellectual and character development.