Massachusetts’ Race To The Top Plan Paul Reville, Secretary of Education Mitchell D. Chester, Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Carol Johnson, Superintendent, Boston Public Schools Karla Baehr, Deputy Commissioner Jeffrey Nellhaus, Deputy Commissioner

Our vision is anchored in the Governor’s Readiness Agenda. R e d a c t e d We will have succeeded when every student: Is taught by highly competent, well-educated, strongly supported, and effective educators Is provided the understanding, encouragement, support, knowledge, and skills required to exceed Massachusetts’ high expectations Is prepared for postsecondary education and careers, and also lifelong economic, social and civic success 2

1993 reforms left a gap in achieving that vision 1993 reforms left a gap in achieving that vision. Race to the Top funding can help us fill it faster. Ed reform 1: increased accountability for results ? Dramatic overall gains; persistent achievement gap + + Assessment and accountability = High standards Ed reform 2: increased support for educators High quality resources and support for districts and educators; broad and deep implementation + + Assessment and accountability = All students achieve at high levels High standards 3

We have made great strides, but our work is unfinished We have made great strides, but our work is unfinished. Race to the Top will get us to our goals faster. MCAS grade 10 mathematics Scaled score of the average raw score Advanced Overall Proficient Needs improvement

We have made great strides, but our work is unfinished We have made great strides, but our work is unfinished. Race to the Top will get us to our goals faster. MCAS grade 10 mathematics Scaled score of the average raw score Advanced Overall Proficient Low income Black Hispanic Students w/disabilities English language learners Needs improvement

State education agency role in reform We must go beyond a standards-based reform framework. We must balance our compliance responsibilities with a focus on supporting improvement and promoting transformation. We must support broad implementation of effective practices and approaches. We must increase district capacity to support school improvement and turnaround.

Alignment, commitment, capacity Massachusetts priorities Race to the Top priorities Educator effectiveness Great teachers and leaders Curriculum and instruction Standards and assessments Data systems to support instruction Accountability and assistance Supports for students and families Turning around the lowest achieving schools

Massachusetts’ objectives Develop and retain an effective, academically capable, diverse, and culturally competent educator workforce Provide curricular and instructional resources that support teacher effectiveness and success for all students Concentrate great instruction and supports for educators, students, and families in our lowest performing schools Increase our focus on college and career readiness for all students

From this baseline, we will continue to increase achievement for all while accelerating gains for those farthest behind. MCAS grade 10 mathematics Scaled score of the average raw score Advanced Overall Proficient Low income Black Hispanic Students w/disabilities English language learners Needs improvement

Why Massachusetts? Why now? We are already doing the work. We have learned lessons from our previous work. We have a unified leadership team. We have a strong history of effective collaboration. We will do reform with educators, not to them. We will have a statewide impact. We are committed to better results. We are ready.