Massachusetts Liberal has an awesome post that sums up the accomplishments of the “Great” & General Court in the year 2009. I recommend it.
Bridge naming, sick banks and land takings seem to be the major actions taken by our elected representatives. Sure, they have addressed other issues, and the BMG regulars have recently jumped on the elephant protection bandwagon as an issue that deserves attention.
Very little attention has been paid to the Educational Reform Act of 2009. Well maybe that will now change since the Speaker has embarrassed Governor Patrick with his refusal to extend the legislative year.
The Education Reform Act of 2009 contains many technical changes such as how a school superintendent can re-open contract negotiations with teachers’ unions, creation of stakeholder groups, submission of innovation plans and appeal rights of local school committees/ superintendents / local teacher unions, and technical descriptions of failing schools.
I ask that you draw your attention to Chapter 71. A new section is proposed adding Innovation Schools which will be funded in the same manner of another district schools. This looks interesting, let’s talk about it.
I also ask you to draw your attention to section 89 of Chapter 71; Charter School/ Commonwealth School expansion. My belief is that we cannot address the expansion of Charter Schools until an equitable funding solution is proposed in the Commonwealth. The recent Gloucester decision is a case in point, a local community with a small well connected group seems to have forced a new Charter on a community that cannot afford to lose funding for its other district schools. The current draft does not make any structural changes in the way that Charter Schools are funded.
Let’s protect the elephants but let’s also provide responsible education reform to the children of Massachusetts.
