The Senate voted to approve Gov. Deval Patrick’s plan to create an Executive Office of Education, one day after the House did the same. Supporters of the education plan say it will give the governor more control over education agencies, better coordinate education efforts, and put a single education secretary in charge of the education spectrum, from early education through higher education.
The bill would end the practice of having commissioners of the three education agencies – Early Education and Care, Higher Education and K-12 Education – serve on boards of their counterparts, instead allowing the secretary to serve as an overarching liaison between them. It would also increase the membership of the Board of Education from nine to 11 members. To view the full text of the legislation, click here. To view video of the Governor’s announcement regarding the legislation, click here.
Keeping to his vision to offer a world-class education for all children in Massachusetts, Governor Patrick filed the legislation on January 10, 2008 to reorganize the state’s education system by creating a cabinet-level secretary of education. “There is no greater gateway to opportunity and success than a first-rate education. This reorganization, along with the work of the Readiness Project will guide us through the next phase of education reform to ensure all of our children are ready to compete in the global economy,” said Governor Patrick. “A cabinet-level secretary of education will help us move forward.”
“This is a bold move by a bold leader who recognizes that continuous improvement in education is critical if we are going to compete in the global economy,” said Dana Mohler-Faria, the Governor’s Special Advisor on Education and President of Bridgewater State College.
“This proposal is the result of months of cooperative work between Governor Patrick and legislative leaders and I am pleased with the results. I am hopeful that the creation of an education Secretary will help better coordinate our efforts to promote greater educational achievement in the Commonwealth and encourage more cohesion and increased accountability in the system,” said Speaker of the House Salvatore DiMasi. “This proposal strikes an appropriate balance between maintaining stability in our schools and positioning ourselves to meet the immediate challenges before us. I look forward to working with the Governor to pass this reorganization.”
Critics say it’s a power grab that will unnecessarily add administrative costs.
Senate Minority Leader Richard Tisei said the bill would “turn back the clock” and begin “stacking the board of education with special interests.”
Republican senators repeatedly cited the governor’s appointment of prominent MCAS critic Ruth Kaplan to the board – Tisei called it a “slap in the face” – as evidence the governor is seeking to undermine current education standards.
The plan will cost about $1.5 million to implement, largely accounting for new personnel costs. Although the reorganization is officially scheduled to take effect on March 10, it was unclear when the office would be up and running.
