Massachusetts
News, analysis, and opinion about K-12 education in Massachusetts
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.
Reading & Literacy
The 'Science of Reading' 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 Schools
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.
English-Language Learners
How Schools Should Support Newcomers to the U.S.: A Case Study
The number of students enrolling into high school from other countries in Massachusetts has tripled in the last 15 years.
Student Well-Being
Principals Share 3 Tips for Centering Mental Health in Schools
Building supportive communities within and outside the school is key, say principals.
Teaching
4 Ways Districts Make 'Acceleration' Work
Providing support for students to tackle grade-level work requires time and planning, administrators say.
Student Well-Being
In Their Own Words
LGBTQ+ Student Perspective: At School, ‘My Safety Didn’t Feel Like the Priority’
For Landon Callahan, mental health challenges and substance use became easier to manage once he came out as a transgender man.
Student Well-Being
In Their Own Words
LGBTQ+ Student Perspective: ‘My School’s GSA Saved My Life’
Esmée Silverman came to the realization that they were transgender in high school, but thought about suicide constantly during their freshman year.
School & District Management
Schools Can Use These Little-Known, Unlimited Funds to Make Their Buildings Greener
Districts can reclaim a substantial portion of the cost of green building improvements through a little-known federal provision.
School & District Management
What's Stopping Later School Start Times That Support Teen Sleep? Bus Schedules, for One
See practical strategies for districts looking to move start times to accommodate teen sleep schedules.