Public school funding in Massachusetts is based on foundation budget principles. However, funding formula modifications often create disparities between district foundation budgets and actual required spending levels. This study provides an in-depth look at Massachusetts' state aid formulas used between 2004 and 2009 and utilizes two approaches to…

In the North Middlesex Regional School District, located in north central Massachusetts near the New Hampshire border, teachers knew that the district had urgent challenges. Isolated programs provided rigor to only some students, student achievement scores showed room for improvement, and a recent accreditation review had raised questions about…

Learning stations common to many programs are shared in this vocational school that serves 12 suburbs of Boston. (MLF)

A vocational school built on a rural site at the edge of Cape Cod serves four towns. (Author/MLF)

This 3,000-student school covers 11 acres of land on its rural site and is one of the largest vocational schools in the nation. (Author)

Computerized universalization of occupational education in Massachusetts is described. (Author/SP)

The problem was to compare regional high schools including grades 9 to 12, small high schools having the same grades, and other high schools having per-pupil cost comparable to regional high schools in terms of the following criteria: (a) per-pupil expenditures; (b) pupil-teacher ratios; (c) number of different preparations per teacher; (d) scope…

IN RECENT EFFORTS OF THE U.S. OFFICE OF EDUCATION TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN DEVELOPMENT AND ADAPTATION OF EDUCATIONAL PRACTICE, VISIBILITY HAS BEEN GIVEN TO COMMUNITIES WHICH HAVE INTRODUCED NEW CURRICULUMS, TEACHING METHODS, AND INSTITUTIONAL PATTERNS. FIVE LOCALLY-INITIATED PROGRAMS WHICH HAVE ATTEMPTED TO PROVIDE A FLEXIBILITY OF THE…

The document is an attempt to provide a comprehensive approach to the determination and development of purposeful educational plans in occupationally related areas for special needs children. The synthesis of information compiled from this plan was intended to provide school systems with an accurate account of the requirements of Chapter 766 of…

The document reports a pilot test of the feasibility of the MISOE Census Data System (CDS) for estimating the costs of individual programs in a regional vocational school setting. The test determined that the data collection forms can be completed by a regional vocational school but that they can be simplified, and the costs of individual programs…

This handbook describes four innovative methods of connecting schools and colleges with employment training in Massachusetts. It is a companion document to "Commonwealth Connections," which describes successful traditional programs in schools and colleges. An introduction provides an overview of the coordination approaches, two of them…