IN A RECENT sharp and focused speech on education reform, President Obama highlighted Massachusetts for our long and unwavering support for rigorous curriculum and high standards for students. The agenda he outlined aligns closely with Governor Patrick's Education Action Agenda. From a focus on early-childhood education to longer school days and school year to an increased push for more students to enroll in higher education, it is apparent that Massachusetts is already leading the way on the next generation of school reform, building the system's capacity to educate all students to proficiency.
One of the exciting areas of the president's speech was his call for innovation, greater access to inventive teaching approaches, and models to expand innovative practices.
Massachusetts has already fully embraced the path to innovation. The state offers options for greater autonomy, including for the Commonwealth and Horace Mann charter schools and co-pilot and pilot schools. We are proud of the achievements of the best of these schools and are eager to promote the sharing of best practices statewide.
We seek to build on the success of high-performing charter schools to reach a larger number of students, especially those with special needs and those who are English Language Learners. Currently, charter schools serve only
2.6 percent of the state's total public school population, and typically educate fewer special education and non-English-speaking students than their sending school districts.
However, the governor has proposed lifting the cap on charters in Massachusetts, specifically in low-performing districts that are nearing their caps, so proven charter operators can serve our most challenged student populations who have not been well served. The governor's ``smart cap'' proposal lifts the district spending cap from 9 percent to 12 percent in those low-performing districts when providers commit to work with the neediest students. This cap lift will ensure that successful charter school operators have the ability to expand their contributions in school districts where the need for innovation is greatest.
Further, to encourage innovation and expand access to a greater number of students, Patrick has boldly called for the creation of Readiness Schools, autonomous, in-district, charter-like schools designed to give experienced educators increased discretion to operate schools under performance contracts with school committees. Readiness Schools will attract universities to operate partnership schools and empower educators, charter providers, and others to take responsibility for not only running schools but improving student achievement. One form of Readiness School will be offered in situations where outside providers will be invited in to operate chronically under-performing schools under new rules.
Noted education reformer Ted Kolderie is developing a similar approach to Readiness Schools in Minnesota, the birthplace of charter schools. Massachusetts is in good company in upgrading its school choice options.
We seek to promote innovation in how, what, and when students are taught, as the president referenced in his speech. In addition to school models, we are working to build on our nation-leading Expanded Learning Time program, which adds hours for learning to access enrichment programming, physical education, and arts instruction. Massachusetts is also engaged in efforts to ensure students can apply their knowledge and skills in more meaningful ways. Through better integration and measurement of hard skills such as written and oral communication, application of technology, and creative problem-solving, we are complementing our ambitious content standards and responding to Obama's call for schools to incorporate 21st-century skills into curriculum and assessment.
Patrick has set forth a bold vision for public education in the state: All students educated to proficiency. In order to meet that goal, we must break old patterns, embrace the need for change, and work more collaboratively to mount new strategies that will ensure that every student has the opportunity to succeed.
Paul Reville is Massachusetts secretary of education.