Social-emotional learning and the missing link in ed reform

First three years of life are crucial

UNDER THE UMBRELLA of “social-emotional learning” (SEL), there has been an explosion in knowledge about how children develop the kinds of skills that are crucial to academic and lifelong success. As defined by the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL), social-emotional learning includes five interrelated competencies: self-awareness, self-management (or self-regulation), social awareness, relationship

Those who tell the stories, rule the world

“Those who tell the stories rule, the world” goes the proverb. Gateway City leaders know firsthand that there’s still a lot of truth in this old wisdom. Too often, the performance and potential of Gateway Cities are defined by those on the outside who have little understanding of the struggle. When we make policy based

Celebrating relentless Gateway City leadership…

Gateway Cities Journal

Congratulations to the Holyoke SSYI Program for demonstrating an effective new model to reduce violent crime by supporting proven-risk young men! We’re excited to recognize their inspiring work with a 2015 Gateway Cities Innovation Award. The Holyoke SSYI Program is a powerful example of how successful Gateway City initiatives fuse leaders and leadership styles together to overcome stubborn challenges. SSYI

Leading Together

The Holyoke Safe and Successful Youth Initiative Case Study

The Holyoke SSYI Program is a powerful example of how successful Gateway City initiatives fuse leaders and leadership styles together to overcome stubborn challenges. SSYI is a carefully coordinated effort to reach the community’s most difficult to reach young men—those who are “proven-risk” for violence. Making the most of a new state grant program, Holyoke

Ty Allan Jackson

This week’s Gateway Cities Leader

Cities are shaped by their citizens. From New Bedford to Pittsfield, a new generation of passionate young leaders are spearheading innovative efforts to reinvent their communities. This series profiles their work and introduces their ideas, visions, and aspirations to the wider Gateway City world. Is there a young leader in your city that we should spotlight? Please let us know.

The Lawrence Story

Partnerships boost student performance and strengthen the community

MassINC is working hard to find new ways to tell the story of Gateway City Leaders. This video and the related case study describe Lawrence’s community partnership model. Jeff Riley, the leader appointed to transform the Lawrence schools in 2012, immediately set about extending the school day to offer students a wider array of learning opportunities.

Why we believe in social emotional learning

Ben Forman's remarks at the Social Emotional Learning Policy Forum

Our focus at MassINC is serving as a nonpartisan voice for state policies that support a growing middle class; about decade ago, we started to organize our work around the Gateway Cities. This was in recognition that the communities where low-income families are increasingly concentrated have an outsized role, as either launching pads up into the middle class or as pockets where persistent generational poverty have formed.

Riley’s turnaround effort bigger than schools

Lawrence groups and city in general pitch in to revamp education system

A FEW YEARS AGO, Lawrence’s schools were considered some of the worst in the state.  Only half of their students were finishing high school.  Test scores were abysmal.  Beyond the school walls, there was distress in the community: more than a quarter of the residents were living in poverty. The state appointed a receiver, Jeff

We’re excited to recognize…

Special Edition Gateway Cities Journal

Congratulations to the Lawrence Public Schools and their community partners for demonstrating collaborative new models to support youth and families! We’re excited to recognize their inspiring work with a 2015 Gateway Cities Innovation Award. Gateway City leaders have been curiously watching Lawrence since the district entered state receivership in 2012. Jeff Riley, the leader appointed

Leading Together

The Lawrence Community Partnerships Case Study

In 2012, the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education moved to address the chronically low performance of the Lawrence Public Schools by placing the district in receivership. Jeff Riley, the leader appointed to transform the system, immediately set about extending the school day to offer students a wider array of learning opportunities. A central

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