Dive Brief:

• Massachusetts is known for its high test scores and thorough academics, but a new report warns the state is slipping into complacency and suggests it should push for ambitious changes in its education system.
• The report, commissioned by the Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education, urges Mass. to judge itself against academically superb foreign countries. 
• While the report advocates for the Common Core, its biggest argument is that the state needs to challenge itself and make changes in how schools are run and funded, as well as teacher preparation. 

Dive Insight:

The Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education — which helped the state design strong academic standards and policies in the '90s — has been given credit for the state's stellar academic performance today, so it is no surprise its recommendations are being taken seriously. 

Even though Mass. students consistently score well on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), the alliance points out that 4th grade reading has slipped in the most recent two-year period. It cites this as evidence that the state needs to make changes to avoid stagnation or, worse, decline. 

It is important, however, to take the report with a grain of salt. The advice is coming from a business perspective and may have a very specific agenda when it comes to education. For example, as evidence that the education agenda needs to change, the alliance cited the fact that 69% of business leaders in the state said it was somewhat difficult to find people with the skills needed to fill jobs. Using this as evidence narrowly defines the purpose of education — to create businessmen and women — and also doesn’t take into account who is applying for these jobs. Given the fact that Boston has so many universities and colleges, it would be safe to assume that some of the people applying for work would be from other states but landed in Mass. for higher education purposes.