A Way Forward

Recently I heard the new Massachusetts Commissioner of K-12 Education, Jeffrey Riley, share his vision for K-12 education in the Commonwealth.  Commissioner Riley has spent the better part of his first year on the job visiting schools, talking to students, teachers, and administrators, and listening to parents, legislative leaders, and education advocates offer their perspectives and hopes and dreams for Massachusetts children.

The Commissioner explained in a report to the State Board of Education how important it is to take the many successes of education reform and reset expectations moving forward.  He said the need is urgent to reconsider priorities in light of a dynamic workforce and interconnected world community:

“We are preparing students for a world that is changing at an accelerating rate.  Our graduates will switch jobs – and even careers – frequently throughout their lives, and many of those jobs have yet to be invented.  The goal of education is no longer simply to possess knowledge; instead, leveraging ever-smarter technology, students must learn to access knowledge, mine it for relevance, and apply it in new ways.  Employers are increasingly valuing skills and dispositions, which can be challenging to measure, on par with content expertise.  And with soaring tuitions and an uncertain return on investment from the traditional college experience, students need additional options for pathways and credentials that bridge K-12, higher education, and employment.” (The Commissioner’s Report to the Board: Our Way Forward for Massachusetts K-12 Public Education June 2019)

The Commissioner has identified four key themes for growth, discovery, and exploration:

i                 Deeper Learning for All

ii               Holistic Support and Enrichment

iii              Innovation and Evidenced-Based Practices

iv             The State as a Partner

Within each of these areas, the Commissioner proposes opportunities, new ways of thinking, and pathways for development.  For example, within the theme of Deeper Learning for All, the Commissioner proposes that schools consider expanded or new opportunities for innovative and hands on instruction; ensuring that expectations for all students are high and academically challenging; connecting students to learning experiences outside of the classroom and community; reconsidering policies, practices, and schedules that impede learning for all.  These ideas align perfectly with Needham’s recently adopted Portrait of a Needham Graduate, and I look forward to understanding how the Commissioner’s vision and our work here locally can help us boost learning for each student in Needham’s classrooms.  Stay tuned as the year unfolds for more information and progress updates!

You can read the Commissioner’s full report here: Our Way Forward