This week, the Massachusetts House passed legislation that would give its department of education – known as DESE – the right to mandate use of state-approved curriculum.
A similar bill failed last year, yet Massachusetts outcomes have continued to slide:
In October, the Boston Globe proclaimed a “Northern Nosedive” in reading scores, and finally, Massachusetts leaders are willing to touch a third rail with curriculum mandates. Most states – and especially blue states – honor local control norms when it comes to curriculum, enabling districts to use whatever they please.
Massachusetts is on to something. Curriculum reform was the cornerstone of literacy work in Louisiana and Tennessee, two of the three states with the biggesr reading gains since 2019.
States are looking to replicate this Southern Surge, and Massachusetts – a longtime bellwether state for education policy – is already a reform pacesetter.
As an advocate for curriculum improvements in US schools, I’m cautiously cheering this bill. It’s necessary to combat the entrenchment of poor programs.
But I’m sounding some alarms, too.
Balanced Literacy Remains Rooted in Massachusetts
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more.
Related: MTEL & “Foundations of Reading”
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Did taxpayer funded Wisconsin DPI Superintendent Underly Juice Test Scores for Reelection?
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Only 31% of 4th graders in Wisconsin read at grade level, which is worse than Mississippi.
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Madison taxpayers have long supported far above average (now > $25,000 per student) K-12 tax & spending practices. This, despite long term, disastrous reading results.
Madison Schools: More $, No Accountability
The taxpayer funded Madison School District long used Reading Recovery…
The data clearly indicate that being able to read is not a requirement for graduation at (Madison) East, especially if you are black or Hispanic”
My Question to Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers on Teacher Mulligans and our Disastrous Reading Results
2017: West High Reading Interventionist Teacher’s Remarks to the School Board on Madison’s Disastrous Reading Results
Madison’s taxpayer supported K-12 school district, despite spending far more than most, has long tolerated disastrous reading results.
“An emphasis on adult employment”
Wisconsin Public Policy Forum Madison School District Report[PDF]
WEAC: $1.57 million for Four Wisconsin Senators
Friday Afternoon Veto: Governor Evers Rejects AB446/SB454; an effort to address our long term, disastrous reading results
Booked, but can’t read (Madison): functional literacy, National citizenship and the new face of Dred Scott in the age of mass incarceration.
When A Stands for Average: Students at the UW-Madison School of Education Receive Sky-High Grades. How Smart is That?