Page 7 - Ted Lambert News Today

BOSTON — Enrollment in early college programs in Massachusetts has continually increased over the past three years, even while the COVID-19 pandemic has thrown many teenagers post-high school planning into flux. Data presented to state education officials Thursday showed a total of 2,864 students enrolled in early college programs in 2021, up from 2,512 last year and 1,140 in 2019. The Baker administration began officially designating early college programs, partnerships that allow students t...

By State House News Service Enrollment in early college programs in Massachusetts has continually increased over the past three years, even while the COVID-19 pandemic has thrown many teenagers post-high school planning into flux. Data presented to state education officials Thursday showed a total of 2,864 students enrolled in early college programs in 2021, up from 2,512 last year and 1,140 in 2019. The Baker administration began officially designating early college programs, par...

More than 300 days have passed since public schools in Massachusetts had to close due to the coronavirus pandemic, resorting instead to remote or hybrid learning programs that have proved inferior for many students. Yet, at least in Massachusetts, there isn’t reliable data to assess the stunted progress and outright learning loss that many students have experienced during this time. That’s why the announcement last month that a modified version of the MCAS will be administered this year is ...

School districts won’t be able to chart a path forward without an accurate measurement of what’s been lost.

Teachers unions and some lawmakers have pushed Massachusetts to scrap a standardized testing requirement in a pandemic-impacted school year, but the state and some advocacy groups still want public schools to administer tests this year. Preparing for and administering the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) exam, opponents fear, would take away learning time that is especially scarce due to the pandemic. Moreover, some question the ability of standardized testing to measure stu...

MCAS needed to evaluate learning loss during COVID pandemic, Massachusetts education officials say Updated Jan 05, 2021; Education officials in Massachusetts say Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System testing is necessary during the pandemic to analyze learning loss and growing achievement gaps. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education on Tuesday announced that this year’s MCAS would have flexibilities for districts, including a shorter test for students in grades 3-8 and ...