PATRICK SIGNS EDUCATION LAW

It's not perfect, but a very charter school solid bill was signed into law by Gov. Patrick in MA today.  It's heartening to see how far he's come on this issue!

 

State House News Service

 

PATRICK SIGNS EDUCATION LAW: Superintendents in poorly performing Massachusetts schools can impose major policy changes, charter school operators can double the number of seats in low-scoring districts, and the state may have drawn closer to $250 million in federal funding under a law Gov. Deval Patrick signed Monday aimed at reducing educational disparities along demographic fissures. During a Martin Luther King Jr. Day bill-signing at the Children's Museum, where several speakers invoked the civil rights icon's memory in praising the bill, Gov. Deval Patrick said he was "most excited" with the so-called innovation schools created under the bill, which are intended to allow administrative flexibility at traditional public schools. "We do our kids a tremendous disservice when we identify underperforming schools and do nothing about it," Patrick said. "What kind of a message is that?" The ceremony drew an unusual number of legislative Democrats, several of whom brought their children, home from school for the holiday, along with them. Several officials made reference to the arduous lawmaking process that produced the bill, assistant House Majority Leader Ronald Mariano thanking Speaker Robert DeLeo, who was not present, "for giving me the opportunity to twist some arms and get this thing done." Boston Mayor Thomas Menino said he had made numerous phone calls and met with legislators, some of whom, he joked, were no long talking to him. "I like it when it gets rough," said Menino.