In recent years, it has become evident to parents, teachers, superintendents, school committees, and lawmakers that the educational model we are currently using is in desperate need of an overhaul. The way we teach and the way students learn will have a significant impact on our economy in the coming years. Right now, that educational model is broken and needs to be overhauled to meet those needs.
“We must find ways to expand access to educational opportunities for all our students, teach viable work-related skills, and most importantly, insure we include students in the bottom of the income bracket,” said Tom Scott, Executive Director of M.A.S.S. “The Massachusetts economy is dependent on all of us to insure all students have the skill set for today’s workplace.”
To that end, the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents is calling on state lawmakers to address grave inequities in the state’s funding formula for public education and is sponsoring community forums on Tuesday, January 8th at 6 p.m. in three locations: Fitchburg State University – Kent Recital Hall, Malden High School, and New Bedford Keith Middle School. Local and state educational leaders will discuss the gravity of the situation and propose solutions. It is our hope that these forums will bring attention to this critical issue and instigate the changes needed to insure all students, regardless of zip code or income level, have equal access to educational opportunities.
The mechanism the state uses to provide students with equitable access to educational opportunities is obsolete. It must be revised to meet the expectations of today’s economy.
These events and future efforts are aimed at educating the public and our many state and local officials about the substantive challenges facing our school districts. We believe that addressing these issues will require widespread understanding of the problems school districts are confronting and a thorough appreciation of the urgency in finding solutions.
These three forums are follow ups to the forum held in October, 2018 which included discussions with Brockton, Holyoke, Springfield and Worcester.
All are welcome to join the discussion TONIGHT, January 8th!!