Pathways to Economic Mobility

Identifying the Labor Market Value of Community College in Massachusetts

Ben Forman
New research shows that simply attending community college increases employment rates, while a certificate or degree sparks increases in employment and earnings – including an increase of as much as $14,000 annually in salary in some fields. read more
Topic(s): Education, Jobs and Economic Security

Drafting an Action Plan for Early College Expansion

Ben Forman
Building on the June 2019 MassINC report exploring the promise of Early College High Schools, this discussion paper examines strategies to sustainably finance these programs. The analysis describes the additional costs associated with delivering the model with fidelity, and looks at how leading Early College states invest funds to help school districts and their college read more
Topic(s): Education

Investing in Early College

Our Most Promising Pathway

Ben Forman
This report begins by revisiting projections indicating Massachusetts will end the next decade with fewer college-educated workers. We then present compelling evidence that Early College is a cost-effective response to this challenge and describe nascent efforts to grow Early Colleges throughout the state. As leaders on Beacon Hill work to update education funding formulas, this read more
Topic(s): Education

Local Accountability

An Untapped Strategy for Advancing Student Achievement in Massachusetts Public Schools

Ben Forman
This volume combines the three papers in the local accountability series in one document with an executive summary. The five-page executive summary encapsulates the findings and recommendations and provides further context to demonstrate why strengthening local accountability is a powerful imperative for Gateway Cities. read more
Topic(s): Education, Gateway Cities

Governing Local Accountability

The Health of School Committees and Councils in Gateway Cities

Ben Forman and Connor Lentz
Paper two documented a dearth of local account­ability practice in Gateway Cities. The third and final installment in our series, this report traces the absence of robust local accountability in these communities to fundamental weaknesses in governing bodies at both the school and the district levels. The authors conclude with policy recommendations to position school read more
Topic(s): Education, Gateway Cities

School and District Improvement Plans

A Review of Local Accountability Practice in Massachusetts Gateway Cities

Ben Forman and Connor Lentz
The second installment in a series of three reports, this paper explores the extent to which communities in Massachusetts exercise local accountability through an examination of Gateway City school and district improvement plans. Data gleaned from a review of these plans suggest communities are not complementing and building upon state and federal performance measures with read more
Topic(s): Education, Gateway Cities

Local Accountability

The Forgotten Element in Education Reform

Ben Forman, Charles DePascale and Chris Domaleski
Prepared in partnership with the Center for Assessment, this novel paper is a first attempt to define the purpose and principles of “local accountability” practices that complement state and federal accountability frameworks. The conceptual frame in a series of three reports, The Forgotten Element in Education Reform explores the shifting balance of responsibility for monitoring read more
Topic(s): Education

Improving College & Career Outcomes through Research-Practice Partnerships

A Case Study of ILP Implementation in Three Gateway City School Districts

Ben Forman
Public schools are under pressure to close wide opportunity and achievement gaps so that disadvantaged students can compete for jobs in today’s knowledge economy on an equal footing. While the resources to accomplish this important work are often limited, advances in education technology, data availability, and research methods can help schools get more learning out read more
Topic(s): Education, Research

The Public’s Take on Education Accountability

Results from a Survey of Massachusetts Voters

Ben Forman, Rich Parr and Steve Koczela
Understanding public opinion on education account- ability is crucial as policymakers work to implement the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), the 2015 federal law that replaces No Child Left Behind (NCLB). MassINC partnered with The MassINC Polling Group to learn more about how voters throughout the Commonwealth feel about efforts to assess student learning, measure read more
Topic(s): Education, Public Opinion, Research
1 2 3 4 5

Our sponsors