MORE ARTICLES
Pioneer Institute Study Finds Wide Range of Approaches to Compliance with MBTA Communities LawOctober 6, 2024 - 9:12 pm
Surf, Skate, Learn: Hands-On Science for HomeschoolersOctober 3, 2024 - 11:55 am
MA Teacher James Conway & High School Grad Ela Gardiner on MCAS TestingOctober 2, 2024 - 11:11 am
Study Finds Results of International Assessments Confirm Quality of MCASSeptember 30, 2024 - 10:47 am
Vitamin Parents Part 2: Twin Moms Converting a Decent Traditional School Experience Into a “Wow” Homeschool OneSeptember 26, 2024 - 11:50 am
Edward Achorn on Abraham Lincoln, the Civil War, & SlaverySeptember 25, 2024 - 11:45 am
Vitamin Parents Part 1: Twin Moms Converting a Decent Traditional School Experience Into a “Wow” Homeschool OneSeptember 19, 2024 - 12:21 pm
PRI’s Lance Izumi on The Great Classroom CollapseSeptember 18, 2024 - 7:20 am
Learning From California: Policy Lessons From Golden State ExodusSeptember 17, 2024 - 10:35 am
Is Massachusetts at a Turning Point – 10 Data Points That Give Me PauseSeptember 12, 2024 - 3:57 pm
High Noon?
/0 Comments/in Blog, News /byHigh noon on the charter bill, and the Senate is still not in session. The State House News Service noted at 10:30 that “All was quiet outside Senate President Therese Murray’s office at 10 a.m., the appointed time for a caucus of Senate Democrats who are trying to regroup” and that “Teachers union and other union lobbyists were the only ones around. The Senate was scheduled to go back into session at 12. Thoughts to follow on where we are.
Small Employers, there is something you can do.
/0 Comments/in Blog, Healthcare /byMany people have received coverage via health care reform and that has been good for the Commonwealth. However, it’s clear now, that there have been losers too— small businesses. The Globe article yesterday highlighted the situation for small businesses today: http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2009/11/15/blue_cross_rates_for_small_businesses_to_surge?mode=PF The state is holding hearings to examine the cause of these increases and to assess whether changes should be made to how small businesses purchase insurance. We should examine what has caused these increases in rates, was it the merger with the non-group market (something that can only explain a very small increase, by my accounting), increases due to benefit mandates (like the Rx coverage decision made by the Connector), or simply health care trends (as the BCBS representative […]
Go back to the Governor's bill
/3 Comments/in Blog, News, Related Education Blogs /byThe Senate is going to be debating a bill that on the face of it lifts the charter school cap. But it is deeply flawed. Some of it goes back to the Governor’s first proposal on charters in February 2009. With the Race to the Top fund in the balance, he showed leadership in changing his view in July, when he issued a proposal that maximizes the possibility of receiving federal funds and (1) doubles the number of kids in charters, (2) leaves the rest of the existing in tact, with a framework to ensure that charter operators redouble their efforts to enroll special needs and English language learners. The Senate Ways & Means bill under consideration is deeply flawed. […]
Innovation or re-inventing the flat tire
/0 Comments/in Blog, News /byThe state legislature’s rewrite of the governor’s two education bills, to expand charter schools and to create new “readiness” schools, is now one bill. Readiness schools are now called “innovation” schools. The charter sections seem to be ok, though we will see as it moves forward if quotas for specific types of students will be part of the final package. That would not be helpful, though requiring charters to do robust outreach to special needs and English language learners is ok with me. One big question I have on the readiness, now innovation, schools. Given that the statutory draft calls for approval by two-thirds of the teachers in the school in order to move forward, I am wondering if we […]
Transparency — Bring it on
/0 Comments/in Blog, Healthcare /byOn Friday, my old agency released a report entitled “Measuring Health Care Quality and Cost in Massachusetts.” The report can be found here: http://www.statehousenews.com/qualitycost.pdf. This report is full of really useful information on quality and costs for various procedures at hospitals in Massachusetts. Unfortunately the report received very little press and consumers probably don’t even know it is available. The information can also be found on the consumer website, developed by the Health Care Quality and Cost Council. This new report allows you to see a profile of a hospital’s indicators on one page and allows you to compare all hospitals in the state (compared to the website which only allows you to compare 4 hospitals at a time). This is […]