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CUNY’s Carl Rollyson on William Faulkner & Southern LiteratureNovember 20, 2024 - 10:36 am
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NH Gov. Chris Sununu on School ChoiceNovember 13, 2024 - 2:02 pm
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Statement of Pioneer Institute on MCAS Ballot Failure and State of Education in MassachusettsNovember 6, 2024 - 2:01 pm
Dr. Helen Baxendale on Great Hearts Classical Liberal Arts Charter SchoolsNovember 6, 2024 - 12:08 pm
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Study Published by Pioneer Institute Shows Massachusetts Learning Loss Among Nation’s WorstOctober 24, 2024 - 10:31 am
Beware of Administrations Bearing Gifts
/0 Comments/in Better Government, Blog, Blog: Better Government, Economic Opportunity, Housing, News /byRemember the pledge to put 1000 new police officers on the street? That is not happening, but the administration has just put forward a plan to put 50 more officers on the street. However, Chief Anthony Scott of Holyoke is balking at the state aid, saying “After the three or four years, the city and taxpayers need to find the money to keep those individuals employed…[i]t’s not fiscally responsible.” The Chief points out the problem with state initiatives for local programs. Can you rely on continued funding? Its akin to someone ‘buying you a house’ by making the downpayment, then handing you a mortgage. State government pays for the initial cost of hiring the officers (and takes the credit), then […]
Why wait?
/0 Comments/in Blog, News, Related Education Blogs /by Liam DayMy post today is really a question. It has to do with Boston English High, one of the oldest and most venerable secondary schools in the country, erstwhile rival to Boston Latin and the focus two weeks ago (sorry, I’m behind the times) of a Boston Globe feature. It seems that English High is on the brink of closure due to consistent underperformance. The school, and its principal, Jose Duarte, have been granted a one-year reprieve to turn it around. To help him, Mr. Duarte has been given a moratorium on union work rules, allowing him “greater leeway over faculty appointments.” As Mr. Duarte and his teachers strive to turn English High around, I wish them only the best. But […]
School Choice Without Vouchers: Expanding Education Options Through Tax Benefits
/0 Comments/in Press Releases, Press Releases: Education, Press Releases: Religious Education, Press Releases: School Choice, Related Education Blogs /by Editorial StaffAuthors: 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
DiMasi Rex
/1 Comment/in Better Government, Blog, Economic Opportunity, News /by Scott W. Graves and Micaela DawsonReady, AIM, fire! Call it what you want–line in the sand, declaration of war, shot across the bow. Can it be that, a few years into his reign as Speaker of the House, DiMasi is morphing into Amicus Consortii, the grown-up in the room, DiMasi Rex ready to brandish the sword of fiscal discipline? To push this overwrought string of descriptors further than it ever ought to have gone, is he the “salvatore” of business? OK, if you read on, I promise to cut that junk out. The Associated Industries of Massachusetts event on Friday showcased House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi, and as the State House News noted he asserted that state government does not need ‘new revenue sources’ and proposed […]
Needless Piling On Department
/0 Comments/in Better Government, Blog, Blog: Better Government, News /byFrom today’s Senate Session, via State House News (sub. required): MOORE STATEMENT ON MISSED ROLL CALLS: The Senate agreed to print in its journal a statement from Sen. Moore explaining how he would have voted on roll calls he missed Sept. 20 while attending a National Conference of State Legislatures event. The statement indicated Moore would have voted to override all of Gov. Patrick’s budget vetoes taken up that day. Given that all the overrides passed by overwhelming margins, was this really necessary?