Will Brownsberger -- State Representative, Democrat, 24th Middlesex District

 

Education and the economy in Massachusetts

This page collects links on current challenges to our economy.

What is the role for institutions of higher education in the K12 online learning market

Online learning is exploding at the post-secondary level and as a result a number of post-secondary institutions are developing skills at delivering online products.  It seems inevitable that these institutions will begin to seek to break the artificial regulatory boundary between secondary and post-secondary education.

K12 online learning products — links

Inventory of emerging online learning products.

K12 independent online learning resources — links

Inventory of resources about online learning products.

How are online tools being used to support independent learning at the K-12 level?

Online learning means learning that is primarily reliant on the internet — as opposed to a physical classroom — for delivery of content.  There are many varieties of online learning, involving varying degrees of personal contact.  Online learning is growing rapidly at both the K12 and post-secondary levels.

What are the major options in adopting online learning?

Inventory of decisions that school districts need to consider as they introduce online learning.

Converging on the budget — commitment to local aid

At a State House press conference today, the House leadership team announced
the broad parameters of its approach to balancing the FY09 budget.

Fiscal 2009 Budget Priorities

Letter to Bob Deleo, the Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, outlining my state budget priorities.

Independent online learning — recommendations

The Readiness task force should take a strong position in support of self-guided online learning, which is expanding rapidly across the country.

Extended learning time

The Massachusetts 2020 foundation released a report today showing that a group of schools experimenting with longer learning days had dramatically improved their MCAS scores.  

School building authority approvals * 2 comments

The Massachusetts School Building Authority voted to send the Wellington Elementary School and 48 other school proposals around the state to the “feasibility” stage. The Thompson school in Arlington was targeted for additional “planning”.

School Building Authority Process

The attached letter doesn’t specify a particular date or give any particular
feedback on any of the projects, but it does provide an explanation of the
process in some detail.

Education perspectives offered by Pat Haddad

Patricia Haddad, the House Chair of the Joint Committee on Education spoke to a crowd of over 75 at the Wellington School last Thursday night. She offered a broad and informed perspective on the challenges of educating children today.

2006 Campaign Statement of Priorities

Regional transportation planning, educational excellence, health care, environmental protection.