Boston’s MCAS Improve, But Still Behind

While the city of Boston still lags behind the state in the MCAS, they posted an improvement in their scores.

Boston public school students improved in English and Math, but continued to lag behind the state, particularly in science, an exam that, beginning with the Class of 2010, they will need to pass in order to graduate, according to standardized test results released today by the state Department of Education.

Complete district-by-district, school-by-school statistics are available today on the Herald’s web site.

In Boston, students scored the worst on the eighth-grade MCAS science test, with 0 percent scoring in the “advanced” category and 52 percent earning a “warning/failing” grade. Statewide, 3 percent of eighth graders scored “advanced” in science and 22 percent scored “warning/failing.”

In the 10th grade, 5 percent of Boston students scored “advanced,” and 29 percent scored “warning/failing” on the science portion, compared to 14 percent and 12 percent respectively statewide.

The Class of 2010 will be the first class that will have to pass the science Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System exam in order to graduate. So there is growing pressure on school officials to prepare students in that subject.

I’m sure Mayor Menino will come up with something to bring those scores closer to the state level.

Tags: Education, MCAS

Add comment September 24th, 2008

Deval Unveils Ten Year Budget-Busting Education Plan

Deval Patrick ran on a promise to lower property taxes… and yet his plan to overhaul education hardly screams “lower property taxes.”

Governor Deval Patrick unveiled his plan to overhaul public education in Massachusetts on Monday.

It’s a plan that includes a longer school year, a longer school day and possibly free community colleges.

At the Boys and Girls Club in Dorchester, the Governor made his suggestions for changes over the next 10 years.

While Deval accepts applause for such lofty goals, would he like to explain just how he plans to pay for this plan, or is he just hoping that he won’t be governor long enough to be held accountable?

UPDATE, June 24, 2008: MassGOP Executive Director Rob Willington issued the following statement today, on Deval’s latest blue-ribbon commission to figure out how to pay for the results of his first blue-ribbon commission.

“Let me get this straight. Governor Patrick convened a commission to come up with education reforms, but now needs another commission to figure out how to pay for it? We’d ask the Governor to explain to the public why he can’t make good on his promise for property tax relief, but he’d probably have to appoint a commission to figure out an answer.”

Tags: Deval Patrick, Education, property taxes

11 comments June 23rd, 2008