Massachusetts
News, analysis, and opinion about K-12 education in Massachusetts
Curriculum
Q&A
Buying Curriculum Isn’t Enough to Change Teaching and Learning. Here’s What It Takes
Buying a research-backed curriculum is the easy part. Providing the training and support to use it takes years, district leaders say.
Teaching Profession
In Their Own Words
'I Just Want to Get Better': A Teacher With Long COVID Retires Earlier Than She'd Hoped
A former Massachusetts teacher shares how long COVID damaged her cognitive abilities and accelerated her retirement.
Social Studies
Opinion
I Am a High School Junior. I’m Not Prepared to Vote
I will be voting for the rest of my life, so why aren't I taught how to do so in school?
States
School-Related Ballot Measures to Watch This Midterm Election
Voters in six states will decide on issues ranging from more funding for free school meals and the arts to reining in the state board.
School Climate & Safety
Teachers and Students Must Join Forces to Fight Gun Violence, Advocates Say
Student activist David Hogg was among those who called for educators to join in the fight for gun control.
Teaching
Schools Want to ‘Accelerate’ Student Learning. Here’s What That Means
Classrooms provide a glimpse into how the strategy works. But acceleration also requires shifts in district priorities.
States
States Are Dropping School Mask Requirements. Here's the Latest and What's Ahead
By the end of this week, only five states and the District of Columbia will still mandate universal masking in schools.
States
What's Up With Mask Requirements in Schools? 6 Things to Know
There's been a flurry of recent activity around masks in schools. Here's what you need to know.
School & District Management
In Their Own Words
'You Shouldn't Be Alone': A Superintendent Scrambles to Find Masks After the State Falls Short
The superintendent of a rural district spends hours scrolling online mask vendors after the state sent defective masks to schools.
School & District Management
Are Bus Driver Shortages So Bad They Require the National Guard? Why Leaders Made the Call
Schools in nearly a dozen states are calling for the Guard to fill bus driver gaps—but logistics, optics, and funding are in the way.
Education Funding
State K-12 Spending Is Inequitable and Inadequate. See Where Yours Ranks
There's a $17,000 per student difference between the highest- and lowest-spending states. High-poverty schools suffer especially.
States
From Our Research Center
Map: A-F Grades, Rankings for States on School Quality
Here’s a map showing grades for all the states on this year’s Quality Counts summative report card, on which the nation gets a C overall.
States
From Our Research Center
Nation Gets a 'C' on Latest School Quality Report Card, While N.J. Again Boasts Top Grade
A slight increase in this year's Quality Counts score isn't enough to boost the nation's school system above last year's middling grade.
States
From Our Research Center
State Grades on K-12 Achievement: 2021 Map and Rankings
Examine the grades and scores that states and the nation earned on K-12 achievement, along with how they scored on a host of indicators.