New Report Tracks Progress, Areas for Improvement in Mass. Education (BOSTON, MA)

The Condition of Education in the Commonwealth report looks at school performance in Massachusetts, highlighting successes while zeroing in on areas in need of improvement. [...] “Especially with the passage of the Student Opportunity Act, schools and districts require new approaches to assessing student success that supplement existing methods of testing, allowing educators to see whether investments in programs or initiatives are addressing persistent disparities in student outcomes and supporting all students to thrive.” “Assessment processes are deeply influenced by hi. [...] Examples include the mental health assessment model in Methuen Public Schools, a kindergarten readiness evaluation in Somerville Public Schools, the “portrait of a graduate” developed in Natick Public Schools, the transition assessment process in Newton Public Schools, and the process of awarding students “digital badges” for skills built through out-of-school programming in Boston and Providence. [...] Looking outside of Massachusetts for lessons from other states, the report also highlights culturally responsive assessment practices in Hawaii and the evaluation of college and career readiness in Vermont. [...] Through our staunch commitment to independent, non-partisan research and constructive conversations, we work to promote an education system that provides every child with the opportunity to be successful in school and in life.