Regardless of the lack of racial justice in housing and employment, American democracy cannot tolerate discrimination in its public schools if it is to honor its traditions as a country. State bodies must make clear their position on school desegregation and establish that desegregation is wrong legally and educationally. Sanction must be imposed…

The study has presented a case history of the evolution, passage, and early implementation in vocational education of a Massachusetts law, the first of its kind in the country, designed to counter practices and policies in public education which resulted in students receiving different treatment solely on account of their sex. Analysis of the…

This report discusses the history and nature of State aid to education in Massachusetts. The report is both a summary and an update of information contained in four earlier studies that analyzed the economics of education in Massachusetts and the State's new equalizing education aid formula. The report recommends that the State adopt an…

This report takes a look at the issues concerning racial segregation and educational outcomes in Metropolitan Boston. Despite the fact that metro Boston is overwhelmingly white, its public schools are highly segregated by race and language. Segregated minority schools in metro Boston are profoundly unequal, with high poverty levels, with lower…

Responses of 26 teacher educators provided information about the current condition of multicultural education in the preparation of elementary school teachers in 7 programs in Massachusetts. The predominant approach to infuse curricula with multicultural education was to insert topics or units into existing foundations. Recommendations are made…

Seven higher education institutions in Massachusetts collaborated to develop and implement Project QUEST (Quality Urban Education and Support for Teachers), a support program for beginning urban teachers. Motivated by both the need to retain beginning teachers beyond the first few years of teaching and the desire to increase urban school…

On October 19 and 20, 1983, citizens' hearings were held by the Massachusetts Advocacy Center to receive testimony from students, parents, educators, economists, researchers, and advocates concerning a crisis in public education in the Commonwealth. Section I of this report presents an overview of the current debate concerning the reform of the…

In response to both Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and Chapter 622 of the Acts of 1971 prohibiting racial or sexual discrimination in schools, 43 exemplary curriculum and inservice training projects in the State of Massachusetts are described in detail. While providing specific information about each new project or program in an…

Though metropolitan Boston is still one of the nation's whitest metropolitan areas, its growth is increasingly non-white and multiracial. Given the demographic trends and the high fragmentation that characterizes the metropolitan area, students are most segregated in regions where they are highly concentrated: black students in Boston, Latino and…

This paper presents the annual report of the National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI) for 2008. Eighteen months ago, the National Math and Science Initiative did not exist. Today NMSI is helping lead the country forward in math and science. In just 18 months, NMSI has rolled out the first round of grants and has implemented programs in 14…

The report provides an update on the status of Massachusetts' equal educational services for minority students in special education. Among progress cited is increased awareness of the problem of disproportionate placement of racial and linguistic minorities in special education. A chronological record of events occurring after the initial report…

The handbook provides guidelines for implementing the Massachusetts right to education law (Chapter 766) through the development of regional collaboratives to deliver educational services to low incidence handicapped and severely handicapped children. Chapter 1 includes instructions on the use of the handbook, reasons for considering…

The purposes of this report are (1) to document the present inequalities in public school spending and local tax burdens and to identify the principal reasons for existing disparities; and (2) to review and evaluate proposals for reform of the currently inadequate public school finance systems. Previous studies, current State and Federal aid…

A sociometric instrument assessed the progress of a school system toward integration and provided feedback for teachers. A computer program generated information about classroom social structure, indicating progress in integration in the Springfield public schools. (LHW)

Argues that although parents have primary responsibility for education society must ensure that it is distributed fairly and provides the skills and knowledge that every American should learn. Outlines arguments for and against "open enrollment" or unrestricted choice school plans. Describes a system of conditional choices implemented in…