Cindy Trac
WPI Teacher Prep Practicum
History of Education in MA
Massachusetts Education Reform Act of 1993
The Massachusetts Education Reform Act of 1993 was passed to introduce changes to the public school education system. Some of these changes included more equitable funding, student learning accountability, and statewide standards and student testing.
Prior to 1993, history and physical education were the only subjects to have statewide educational requirements. As a result of the act, statewide curriculum frameworks and learning standards were created for all subjects. The Act created these frameworks based on the Common Core of Learning, which was developed during the first year of the Education Reform Act. The Act also introduced the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS). Its purpose was to identify struggling students and schools. The test is given in grades 4, 8, and 10. Students must also pass the MCAS in 10th grade in order to graduate and receive a high school diploma. In addition to setting standards for testing students, the Education Reform Act emphasized high expectations for all educators. Beginning in 1998, all prospective and current public school educators had to pass two tests, one in their subject content area and one in communication/literacy skills, in order to be certified.
Then-Governor of MA William Weld signs the Education Reform Act on June 18, 1993.
Every Student Succeeds Act (2015)
The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) was signed into law by President Obama on December 10, 2015. It is the primary education law for public schools in the United States. It holds schools accountable for student learning and achievement. This focus on accountability has been essential in ensuring a quality education for all children. ESSA builds on the previous education legislature, the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). With the introduction of the ESSA, states still had to follow national standards but had more flexibility when creating frameworks and student achievement goals. The ESSA required that all students across the country be taught to high (college prep and career ready) academic standards, for the first time ever. Parents were also given a larger say and were required to be allowed to be involved with the design, development, and assessment of their district's schools and goals.
The passing of ESSA reauthorized the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), which was the previous national education law for providing equal opportunity to all students. "The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) was signed into law in 1965 by President Lyndon Baines Johnson, who believed that 'full educational opportunity' should be 'our first national goal'" (Mass DOE).
