Invest in Public Education and Close the Achievement Gap
We will close the achievement gap in Massachusetts and continue to show leadership in public education. Being first in the Nation is a good start. But being first in the world is where we are headed.
- Governor Deval Patrick's Inaugural Address
Thanks to our teachers and continuing commitment to our public schools, Massachusetts students are consistently among the best in the nation.
Governor Patrick and Lieutenant Governor Murray are fully committed to maintaining our educational leadership and eliminating the persistent achievement gap in public schools. Read below about the administration's commitment to educational excellence.
- Continue Investments in Public Education
- Close the Achievement Gap
- Encourage Classroom Innovation
- Support Innovation in Higher Education and Workforce Training
Continue Investments in Public Education
Governor Patrick has supported public schools at record levels
, despite the challenges of a global economic recession.Our students and our teachers are responding. Massachusetts students consistently rank top five in the world in math and science achievement. And Massachusetts was
the top scorer in the national Race to the Top competition
.Close the Achievement Gap
The Patrick-Murray Administration will continue to implement its aggressive agenda for closing the achievement gap by implementing the Governor's education reform legislation.
The administration will work with communities to utilize fully the tools provided by the landmark legislation to ensure that students receive the best support possible.
Learn more about the Education Reform law.
Encourage Classroom Innovation
Thanks to the administration's commitment to education reform, Massachusetts won the national Race to the Top competition, receiving the highest scores in the nation.
Maintaining Massachusetts' designation as a national leader in education must remain a priority.
- The Patrick-Murray administration will work with communities to enhance participation in the Innovation Schools initiative, which allows for the creation of in-district charter schools designed to meet the needs of individual communities.
- Having raised the charter school cap and introduced the Readiness Schools program, the administration will continue to support bold, new approaches in public education.
- The state will continue to responsibly distribute the federal Race to the Top funding that Massachusetts won in 2010.
Support Innovation in Higher Education and Workforce Training
Having a highly-educated workforce is critical to our ability to compete in the global economy. The Patrick-Murray administration is committed to providing our young people access to affordable, world-class public education and making sure that workers have the resources they need to compete.
- Learn more about the Vision Project agenda for Massachusetts public higher education.
The administration is also working to make college more accessible to Massachusetts families, providing