Massachusetts
News, analysis, and opinion about K-12 education in Massachusetts
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?
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.
States
5 Ways You Didn't Know the Election Will Affect K-12 69´«Ã½
Voters will weigh ballot items that affect funding for electric school buses, tax revenue for state education budgets, and more.
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.
School & District Management
Meet the 3 Finalists for National Principal of the Year
All three finalists spoke about the need to lift up their peers.
Law & Courts
Court Backs School That Barred Student's 'Two Genders' Shirt
The court said the shirt could be understood to demean transgender and gender-nonconforming students, and administrators could prohibit it.
Equity & Diversity
More 69´«Ã½ Stock Tampons and Pads, But Access Is Still a Problem
Period products are becoming more commonplace in schools. But there are gaps in funding—and in access, a barrier for lower-income students.
Budget & Finance
Why Chronic Absenteeism Is a Budget Problem, Too
Chronic absenteeism has serious academic consequences. It also comes with a price tag.
Student Well-Being
SEL Could Move Into School Sports. What That Might Look Like
Massachusetts is considering a bill to establish guidelines on how school athletics incorporate SEL.
Teaching
Opinion
An Interview With Educator and Author Jonathan Kozol
In his new book, longtime activist Jonathan Kozol dives further into school inequity and offers solutions.
69´«Ã½ & Literacy
The 'Science of 69´«Ã½' in 2024: 5 State Initiatives to Watch
These actions join a mounting tide of reading legislation across the country.
Law & Courts
Court Backs Race-Neutral Criteria in Selective K-12 69´«Ã½
In a case involving Boston's "exam schools," the 1st Circuit said even admissions plans with a goal of boosting racial diversity pass muster.
School & District Management
Sometimes Principals Need to Make Big Changes. Here’s How to Get Them to Stick
School leaders need their community to take a leap of faith with them. But how do they build trust and conviction?
School & District Management
Late Arrivals, Steep Costs: Why Some Districts Ditch Third-Party Bus Companies
Districts are facing a host of transportation challenges. Some have addressed them by deciding to bring buses back in house.