The Massachusetts Story: Are There Lessons To Be Learned? SHEEO Conference August 17, 2005

“The problem with you people in public education is your pants are on fire – you just haven’t noticed yet.” -- A Massachusetts Mayor Public Education: The Problem

Massachusetts: What do we look like?

Percent Who Earned a Competency Determination: First Attempt & Current Status 2 more retests before graduation

MCAS: Percent of Students Earning Competency Determination

All Students African American Hispanic Class of 2004 by Race: % Who Earned Their Competency Determination Gr. 10 Test May 2002 Retest Dec Retest May 2003 Retest Nov Retest March 2004

All Students SWD LEP Class of 2004 by Subgroup: % Who Earned Their Competency Determination Gr. 10 Test May 2002 Retest Dec Retest May 2003 Retest Nov Retest March 2004

MCAS: Who Passed On The First Try?

Massachusetts Mean SAT Scores: Combined Verbal & Math Years of Annual Increases; Scores Today Up 39 Points MA Nation

NAEP Math Results: Pts. +18 Pts. -13 Pts.+15 Pts. Below BasicProficient/Advanced

What We Did Right In Massachusetts Established the right minimum passing standard. Created a transparent system. Remained inclusive, and use local educators in all phases. Maintained strong, bipartisan political support. Created a system that is both flexible and fair. –Focused Retest –Appeals Process –Multiple Retest Opportunities

Most Important Lesson We Learned in Massachusetts Set Reasonable Standards + Stick With It = System and Students Will Succeed

The Problem Facing Public Education Today K-12 and Higher Education both face constant scrutiny and criticism – and we deserve it. WHY? - We have lowered our standards. - We expect less effort from our students. - Students are living up to our lowered expectations, and are losing ground to their peers around the world. This has to change.

What Can Higher Ed do? Be Proactive And Communicate Be clear about expectations and standards. Keep the public informed. Release all data - both good and bad. Set a reasonable baseline and report progress from that point.

What Can Higher Ed do? Partner with your K-12 system. Work with local high schools to ease the transition from high school to college for students. Align freshman year standards with grade 12 standards, so students are ready for college. Provide ongoing support to ensure students graduate from college. Take The Lead To Define “College Ready”

What Can Higher Ed do? Make Sure Your Education Graduates Are Well Prepared To Teach New teachers need to know: About NCLB, AYP and other federal and state standards and requirements. Methodologies including the latest technologies to produce students as active, engaged learners. How to enter the classroom prepared to implement standards-based reform.

As They Say… “The great thing in the world is not so much where we stand as in what direction we are moving.” ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes "Let us not be content to wait and see what will happen, but give us the determination to make the right things happen." ~ Horace Mann “ The greatest danger for most of us is not that we aim too high and we miss it, but we aim too low and reach it. ~ Michelangelo