Massachusetts has the capacity to make our schools the best in the world. We have examples of great public schools that can be replicated in communities across the state, but we lack the political consensus to make common sense reform a reality. Progress is threatened by name-calling that too often replaces civil discourse. Obsession over small fights in the name of reform overshadows real reform efforts.
Educating our youth is a shared responsibility. Massachusetts residents need to support parents, teachers, and school leaders by providing resources, encouraging collaboration, and accepting joint accountability for the success of our public schools. To get this done, we need an army of problem solvers willing to work together on reform solutions that benefit our schoolchildren. If all of our kids succeed, we all succeed!