Joint Committee on Education In Support of House 451 An Act Relative to Educator Excellence, Testimony of Christopher Anderson
Thank you for the opportunity to provide testimony in support of this important bill.
In my capacity both as President of the Mass. High Tech Council and as Chairman of the Board of Education, I realize how important it is to create a world class education system in Massachusetts. In order to achieve that goal we must improve the environment and training for educators in the classroom.
Massachusetts has historically ranked high among its peer states in academic performance, but we recognize that it is increasingly important to succeed on a global level among our new, rapidly rising peers from China, Europe, Singapore and India. To ensure that Massachusetts students are best prepared to compete in a college/university setting, the workforce and ultimately, in a global economy, a two-tiered strategy is required that concentrates on School and District Empowerment (Systems Change) and Educator Quality (Capacity Building).
Last month Chairlady Haddad and Chairman Antonioni hosted an informal discussion for me and members of the Joint Committee on Education who were available to discuss a range of important education initiatives. I outlined a collaborative project I’ve been involved in for 15 months with various education, business, and policy leaders (see attached). Together we are crafting an education strategy, a large measure of which was reflected recently in the Governor’s Cradle to Career announcement.
Central to this strategy is the teacher. And H. 451 represents a comprehensive and strategic approach to building educator quality across the state. It is dedicated to the promotion of two major goals:
I. Ensure high levels of student growth and achievement in every school across the Commonwealth
II. Combine research-based approaches with rigorous standards, adequate supports, and effective accountability to build a seamless, coherent education system that develops and sustains educator expertise in each grade-level and content area
These goals may best be realized by supporting the basic tenets outlined in this bill:
1) Provide knowledge-based standards for professional practice and require demonstrated entry-level proficiency of beginning educators through performance assessments
- Embed knowledge-based practice in pre-service instruction and training
- Raise graduation performance standards
- Create professional development schools
- Ensure the same high standards for alternative licensure programs as for college and university programs
- Provide candidates a one-year internship
2) Ensure that educators who enter the profession can demonstrate entry-level proficiency in the knowledge base for professional practice
- Create a reliable set of performance standards of what educators should know and be able to do
- Link performance assessments to the performance standards
3) Secure candidates who are committed to raising achievement, closing the gap, and improving school effectiveness and the profession
- Ensure high-quality teachers in the subject areas of highest need, such as math and science
4) Provide comprehensive, systematic supports to make the transition from pre-service training through the first three years of practice more effective and Increase retention and expertise in early career edu
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