Massachusetts’s State Highlights

Summary of Grades

Massachusetts scores above the average state in two of the four graded categories of education policy in Quality Counts.

The state ranks near the top of the nation in standards and accountability. Its academic standards for all four core subject areas at every grade span have been rated as clear, specific, and grounded in content by the American Federation of Teachers. Massachusetts also has strong measures in place to hold schools accountable for their performance. For example, it sanctions and provides assistance to all low-performing schools.

In teacher quality, Massachusetts scores slightly below average. There is room to improve in a number of areas, but particularly in efforts related to professional support and training for teachers. For example, the state does not finance professional development or require and finance mentoring for new teachers.

Massachusetts fares better in school climate. The state earns points in the areass of choice and autonomy. The strength of the state’s charter school law has received the highest possible rating from the Center for Education Reform.

The state earns a below-average grade on resource equity. The state’s wealth-neutrality score suggests similar funding levels in its wealthy and poorer districts. But Massachusetts fares worse on the other two equity indicators, signaling relatively wide disparities in per- pupil funding levels across districts in the state.

Note: Details may not sum to totals due to rounding.