Massachusetts

News, analysis, and opinion about K-12 education in Massachusetts
Side view of young African girl programming electric toys and robots at classroom.
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Science AP's Newest Computer Science Course Has Attracted More Diverse Students
In schools where the course is offered, more girls, Black students, and Latino students take an AP computer science exam, a new study finds.
Sarah Schwartz, April 15, 2025
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5 min read
People Waiting In Line Before Brass Scale On Blue Background
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Law & Courts Religious Charters, LGBTQ+ Books, and More: A Winter Legal Roundup
This winter, key court cases tackled school desegregation, parental rights, religious charters, LGBTQ+ policies, and education funding.
Mark Walsh, March 19, 2025
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7 min read
A person holds up LGTBQ+ pride flags during the Pride Parade in New York, June 24, 2018.
LGTBQ+ pride flags during the Pride Parade in New York City in 2018. A federal appeals court has rejected a parental rights claim against a Massachusetts district's policy of supporting students' gender transitions.
Steve Luciano/AP
Law & Courts Parents Lose Appeal Over School’s Gender Identity Notification Policy
A federal appeals court ruled for a district in the case of a 9th grader who did not want officials to notify parents of gender transition.
Mark Walsh, February 19, 2025
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6 min read
A student uses their cell phone after unlocking the pouch that secures it from use during the school day at Bayside Academy on Aug. 16, 2024, in San Mateo, Calif.
A student uses a cellphone after unlocking the pouch that secures it from use during the school day at Bayside Academy in San Mateo, Calif., on Aug. 16, 2024.
Lea Suzuki/San Francisco Chronicle via AP
Ed-Tech Policy More States Are Moving to Ban Cellphones at School. Should They?
While cellphone bans are popular with many educators, some researchers say there's not much evidence yet that these policies work.
Lauraine Langreo & Arianna Prothero, February 6, 2025
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8 min read
School kids placing putting phones away during class
Dobrila Vignjevic/E+
Ed-Tech Policy What Schools Look Like Without the Cellphone Distraction
Student behavior has improved and disciplinary referrals have gone down, administrators say.
Olina Banerji, February 4, 2025
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7 min read
First grader Makai Parker practices reading skills at Eastern Elementary School in Washington, N.C. The state of North Carolina is taking measures to improve reading rates in elementary schools, including this first grade classroom at Eastern Elementary in Washington, N.C.
First grader Makai Parker practices reading skills at Eastern Elementary School in Washington, N.C. The state of North Carolina is taking measures to improve reading rates in elementary schools, including this first grade classroom at Eastern Elementary in Washington, N.C.
Kate Medley for Education Week
Reading & Literacy Video Video: Why Are Parents Suing Lucy Calkins and Fountas & Pinnell?
All you need to know about the lawsuit targeting popular literacy gurus Lucy Calkins, Irene Fountas, and Gay Su Pinnell.
Stephen Sawchuk & Lauren Santucci, December 17, 2024
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The Supreme Court is pictured, Oct. 7, 2024, in Washington.
The Supreme Court is pictured, Oct. 7, 2024, in Washington. The court on Monday declined to take up a case about the Boston district’s facially race-neutral admissions policy for selective magnet high schools.
Mariam Zuhaib/AP
Law & Courts High Court Won't Review School Admissions Policy That Sought to Boost Diversity
The U.S. Supreme Court refused a case about whether race was unconstitutionally considered in admissions to Boston's selective schools.
Mark Walsh, December 9, 2024
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5 min read
An elementary student reads on his own in class.
An elementary student reads on his own in class.
Allison Shelley for All4Ed
Reading & Literacy Here's What Happens Next on the Calkins, Fountas & Pinnell Curriculum Lawsuit
The reading series were deceptively marketed as backed by research, despite omitting key instructional elements, the lawsuit claims.
Sarah Schwartz, December 6, 2024
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7 min read
Two students in a combined second- and third-grade class read together.
Allison Shelley for All4Ed
Reading & Literacy 4 Things to Know About the Literacy Lawsuit Targeting Lucy Calkins and Fountas & Pinnell
A novel lawsuit could open a new front in the reading wars. Here's what you need to know.
Evie Blad, December 5, 2024
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6 min read
Volunteer teacher reading to a class of preschool kids, preschool age; school children; students.
iStock/Getty
Reading & Literacy Parents Sue Lucy Calkins, Fountas and Pinnell, and Others Over Reading Curricula
A first-of-its-kind lawsuit targets creators of whole-language reading curricula.
Evie Blad, December 4, 2024
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6 min read
Close up of student holding a pencil and filling in answer sheet on a bubble test.
iStock/Getty
Assessment Why the Pioneers of High School Exit Exams Are Rolling Them Back
Massachusetts is doing away with a decades-old graduation requirement. What will take its place?
Sarah Schwartz, November 11, 2024
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7 min read
Tight cropped photograph of a bubble sheet test with a pencil.
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Assessment Massachusetts Voters Poised to Ditch High School Exit Exam
The support for nixing the testing requirement could foreshadow public opinion on state standardized testing in general.
Alyson Klein, November 6, 2024
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3 min read
Pencil drawing a checkmark in a box. U.S.A. ballot measures voting in elections.
DigitalVision Vectors
States 5 Ways You Didn't Know the Election Will Affect K-12 Schools
Voters will weigh ballot items that affect funding for electric school buses, tax revenue for state education budgets, and more.
Mark Lieberman, October 31, 2024
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8 min read
Person using technology smart robot AI, enter command prompt. A.I. Chat concept AI, Artificial Intelligence.
iStock/Getty
Artificial Intelligence Parents Sue After School Disciplined Student for AI Use: Takeaways for Educators
The Massachusetts lawsuit is one of the first to highlight the benefits and challenges of generative AI use in the classroom.
Lauraine Langreo, October 24, 2024
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5 min read
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