A Note from New England Region VP Mike Bartini

May 2010

New England News

VP Mike Bartini

Dear Colleagues,

One of the highlights of our year is the recent one-day conference that took place in Massachusetts, where education leaders discussed how AP® programs and improvements in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) curricula can help meet the twin goals of ensuring that all students are prepared for college opportunities and reducing the costs of college.

At our Massachusetts School District, Higher Education, Business and Policy Leadership Summit, stakeholders in all of these areas concentrated on how innovative strategies can raise achievement, promote college success and reduce costs for students. Speakers included state leaders, school superintendents and College Board staff who shed light on ways to create effective partnerships and take advantage of high-quality professional development to enhance these areas of education for Massachusetts students.

Our regional representatives to the Academic Division Advisory Committee, the Financial Aid Division Advisory Committee and the New England Regional Council also met in May to review work on issues such as college readiness and the Common Core State Standards Initiative. They also discussed the organization’s role in furthering the cause of student opportunity and success.

Nationally, we send best wishes to our states who are formulating their proposals for the second round of Race to the Top grants, President Obama’s program for school reform. States are being asked to advance changes in four areas: standards and assessments; data systems to measure growth and inform decisions; recruiting, developing, rewarding and retaining effective teachers and principals; and dramatically improving low-performing schools.

We share these goals and believe our work together is moving us toward them on many fronts. These awards could help trailblazing efforts find solutions that could be replicated nationwide. We eagerly await news of Massachusetts, Maine, Connecticut, Rhode Island and New Hampshire as they forge ahead.

In the meantime, please make plans to join us at Forum 2010, “Education Leading Change for a New Decade,” Oct. 27–29 in Washington, D.C., and at our 2011 New England Regional Forum, Feb. 3–4 at the Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel. You will be hearing more about both of these events, and I look forward to seeing you there.