News
Mass Math & Science Initiative News
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Kirabo Jackson gives lecture in Dallas, affirms the value of AP programs
C. Kirabo Jackson, an assistant professor of human development and social policy at Northwestern University, delivered a noteworthy speech strongly affirming the value of Advanced Placement incentive programs last Friday (Jan. 20) at the University of Texas at Dallas.
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WPI gives successful AP program boost
The Massachusetts Math + Science Initiative has won praise for raising enrollment and student success in Advanced Placement courses, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute President Dennis D. Berkey likes the results so much that he is putting his school’s pocketbook behind it.
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The AP advance - Worcester program gets results
Four years ago, amid much skepticism, the Mass Math + Science Initiative launched an ambitious effort to raise academic expectations and achievement by encouraging high schools to increase the numbers of students taking Advanced Placement courses. Today, four of Worcester’s high schools — Burncoat, North, South and Worcester Technical — are demonstrating that MMSI works.
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MCAS scores down, AP classes up in Mashpee
Mashpee High School is working to increase participation and performance in math, science and English AP courses in partnership with the Mass Math + Science Initiative. "It's become a part of the culture now," Mashpee Superintendent Ann Bradshaw said. "Now everybody wants to be in AP because it's seen as in reach for so many kids."
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Ludlow School Committee votes to apply for grant to increase student participation on AP tests
At the urging of Ludlow High School Principal and Interim School Superintendent, the School Committee has voted to apply to join the Massachusetts Math Science Initiative to increase student participation on Advanced Placement exams and increase passing scores.
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Legislators laud Bellingham math, science advances
State Sen. Richard Moore and state Rep. Ryan Fattman voiced support last night for Bellingham's participation in a program that promotes high school math and science. Bellingham is in the second of a three-year grant with the Massachusetts Math and Science Initiative, which uses high school Advanced Placement courses to try to improve students' math and science skills.
School Turnaround Group News
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Making School Turnaround A National Priority
Large numbers of schools across the country are low performing and have been for years. This longstanding, widespread problem reveals that districts and states, as well as schools, wrestle with how to turn around struggling schools. Federal policy can play a key role in rectifying the systemic failures that allow schools to flounder. The reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act is a ripe opportunity to revise the law's main program that supports school turnaround, the School Improvement Grant fund.
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Successful School Turnaround in Chicago
In Chicago, Sherman Elementary School begins its fifth successful year of school turnaround under the AUSL model.
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Turning Around Low-Performing Schools (NPR Story)
October 05, 2010 - The Obama administration has made a priority of what's called "school turnaround," or changing what are now the lowest performing schools. The administration has made $3 ...
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Inexperienced Companies Chase U.S. School Funds
Justin Cohen, President of the School Turnaround Group at Mass Insight, was recently quoted in a NYTimes article, discussing how dozens of companies are now entering the turnaround space and competing for federal money. Unfortunately, with little or no experience overhauling failing schools, the vast majority of people entering the field are not ready to do the work.
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Least-Disruptive Turnaround Model Proving Popular
A recent EdWeek article notes that many schools are selecting the "transformation" school improvement model, which may be the easiest thing to do politically, but it is the hardest to do technically.
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Response to Representative Judy Chu’s SIG Framework
The School Turnaround Group responds to Congresswoman Judy Chu’s proposed framework for overhauling the federal School Improvement Grant (SIG) program.