Massachusetts Number One in Race to the Top Round Two!

Well we missed out in round one, but Massachusetts (my home state) has come out on top in round two. We have joined the pack and agreed to the Common Core Standards. Happily teachers voices were included in the application conversation and rather than relying only on standardized test scores, thankfully we are beginning to look at student growth models when we think about measuring teacher effectiveness. It will be critical for teachers to continue to make themselves heard as we begin to implement the grant. Speak up! When asked to comment or get involved - please consider doing it! Sitting in the session on teacher evaluation at the recent ECS conference in Portland I was proud to be from MA as I listened to panel member Paul Reville, our own Secretary of Education. There is much happening in Massachusetts to improve teacher prep programs. Ideas such as longer programs which would enable students to get in the classrooms from the first year or mentoring programs that last beyond college graduation could go a long way to preparing our teachers to teach the students of tomorrow. We will need to watch the programs that come as a result of the RTTT funds closely to see what they bring to the education of teachers and students in the Commonwealth.