1 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

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

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

4 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 Overall Proficient Advanced Needs improvement

5 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 Overall Low income Black Hispanic Students w/disabilities English language learners Proficient Advanced Needs improvement

6 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.

7 Alignment, commitment, capacity Massachusetts priorities Race to the Top priorities Educator effectivenessGreat 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

8 Massachusetts’ objectives 1.Develop and retain an effective, academically capable, diverse, and culturally competent educator workforce 2.Provide curricular and instructional resources that support teacher effectiveness and success for all students 3.Concentrate great instruction and supports for educators, students, and families in our lowest performing schools 4.Increase our focus on college and career readiness for all students

9 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 Overall Low income Black Hispanic Students w/disabilities English language learners Proficient Advanced Needs improvement

10 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.