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Articles by Jamie Gass
These Massachusetts parents face an impossible choice
These Massachusetts parents face an impossible choice (washingtonpost.com) These Massachusetts parents face an impossible choice By David Hodges; Jamie Gass 2026100711010500 Most parents are familiar with the moment when their child asks an unanswerable question. For Ariella Hellman, it came when her 4-year-old son asked why he had to leave the school he loved. The truth was difficult to explain. He had done nothing wrong. Nor had his parents.
These Massachusetts parents face an impossible choice
Opinion These Massachusetts parents face an impossible choice Families have the right to put their children in the school best suited for their needs. 1 minute ago
Because of one bad policy move after another, Massachusetts has been backsliding on education for more than a decade. We will face up to this reality and change course? - CommonWealth Beacon
NEW MCAS RESULTS reveal that the performance of Massachusetts public-school students remains far below pre-pandemic levels and shows few signs of improvement. The data follow National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) scores released earlier this year in which the Commonwealth’s students scored at a 20-year low.
We need to confront the state's long decline in student achievement
IT’S UNFORTUNATE that the Oscar nominations were just announced, because the recent performance by Gov. Healey, Lt. Gov Driscoll, and their education team at a press conference announcing another set of sobering National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) results would have made them the odds-on favorite in the “Nero Fiddled While Rome Burned” category.
Jamie Gass: Restoring U.S. History & Civics in America's Schools
Only 13% of American eighth grade students are proficient in history and 22% are proficient in civics, according to 2022 NAEP results. The Pioneer Institute’s Jamie Gass joins the podcast to discuss the past, present, and potential future of rigorous history and civics instruction as detailed in his new book, Restoring the City on a Hill: U.S. History & Civics in America’s Schools.
Ending MCAS requirement would be a step backward
IN RECENT YEARS, many Massachusetts public education policy decisions have been made with an eye toward increasing equity. It’s a worthy goal, but too many of the policies have proven to diminish both equity and academic excellence.
Chieppo & Gass: Perks only for the ‘right’ kind of public schools
You can at least understand why some elected officials prioritize public over private schools. They are, after all, the schools for which those officials are responsible, the ones their constituents fund and that most of the children of those constituents attend.
Opinion: Creating engaged Georgia citizens starts at school
Charles Chieppo is a senior fellow and Jamie Gass is director of school reform at Pioneer Institute, a Boston-based public policy think tank. In this guest column, Chieppo and Gass write that civics education in Georgia’s public schools needs serious improvement. By Charles Chieppo and Jamie Gass Georgians are least likely among residents of all 50 states to regularly consume information about political or local issues.
Education is failing America’s future by forgetting its past
In 2022, eighth grade test scores in civics and U.S. history hit record lows. The decline didn't start with pandemic school closings.But they made it worse and revealed its extent. Less than half of a... An online subscription is required to view this content! Please login below or Subscribe today! Remember Me
Education is failing America’s future by forgetting its past
PUBLIC COMMENTARY An online subscription is required to view this content! Please login below or Subscribe today! Remember Me
Education is failing America’s future by forgetting its past
In 2022, eighth grade test scores in civics and U.S. history hit record lows. The decline didn't start with pandemic school closings. But they made it worse and revealed its extent. Less than half of adults can name the three branches of the U.S. government. Another 25% can't name even one. And just over one-third of Americans can pass the U.S. citizenship test. These sad facts are a reminder that the future success of our nation is far from guaranteed.
Education is failing America
In 2022, eighth grade test scores in civics and U.S. history hit record lows. The decline didn’t start with pandemic school closings but they made it worse and revealed its extent. Less than half of adults can name the three branches of the U.S. government. Another 25% can’t name even one. And just over one-third of Americans can pass the U.S. citizenship test. These sad facts are a reminder that the future success of our nation is far from guaranteed.
Opinion: Education is failing America’s future by forgetting its past
By Jamie Gass and Chris Sinacola In 2022, eighth grade test scores in civics and U.S. history hit record lows. The decline didn’t start with pandemic school closings. But they made it worse and revealed its extent. Less than half of adults can name the three branches of the U.S. government. Another 25% can’t name even one. And just over one-third of Americans can pass the U.S. citizenship test. These sad facts are a reminder that the future success of our nation is far from guaranteed.
Education is failing America’s future by forgetting its past
Audio articles on Wilson County News made possible by C Street Gift Shop in downtown Floresville! In 2022, eighth grade test scores in civics and U.S. history hit record lows. The decline didn’t start with pandemic school closings. But they made it worse and revealed its extent. Less than half of adults can name the three branches of the U.S. government. Another 25% can’t name even one. And just over one-third of Americans can pass the U.S. citizenship test.
Education is failing America's future by forgetting its past
In 2022, eighth grade test scores in civics and U.S. history hit record lows. The decline didn't start with pandemic school closings. But they made it worse and revealed its extent. Less than half of adults can name the three branches of the U.S. government. Another 25% can't name even one. And just over one-third of Americans can pass the U.S. citizenship test. These sad facts are a reminder that the future success of our nation is far from guaranteed.
Education is failing America's future by forgetting its past
In 2022, eighth grade test scores in civics and U.S. history hit record lows. The decline didn’t start with pandemic school closings. But they made it worse and revealed its extent. Less than half of adults can name the three branches of the U.S. government. Another 25% can’t name even one. And just over one-third of Americans can pass the U.S. citizenship test. These sad facts are a reminder that the future success of our nation is far from guaranteed.
GUEST VIEWPOINT: Education is failing America's future by forgetting its past
By Jamie Gass and Chris Sinacola In 2022, eighth-grade test scores in civics and U.S. history hit record lows. The decline didn’t start with pandemic school closings. But they made it worse and revealed its extent. Less than half of adults can name the three branches of the U.S. government. Another 25% can’t name even one. And just over one-third of Americans can pass the U.S. citizenship test. These sad facts are a reminder that the future success of our nation is far from guaranteed.
Commentary: Education is failing America's future by forgetting its past — Jamie Gass and Chris Sinacola
This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate In 2022, eighth grade test scores in civics and U.S. history hit record lows. The decline didn't start with pandemic school closings. But they made it worse and revealed its extent. Fewer than half of adults can name the three branches of the U.S. government. Another 25% can't name even one. And just over one-third of Americans can pass the U.S. citizenship test.
Education is failing America’s future by forgetting its past
By Jamie Gass and Chris Sinacola Last year, eighth grade test scores in civics and U.S. history hit record lows. The decline didn’t start with pandemic school closings. But they made it worse and revealed its extent. Less than half of adults can name the three branches of the U.S. government. Another 25% can’t name even one. And just over one-third of Americans can pass the U.S. citizenship test. These sad facts are a reminder that the future success of our nation is far from guaranteed.
Chieppo & Gass: Civics poll shows state has much work to do
With wars raging in the Middle East and Ukraine — not to mention the recent conflict in the Republican caucus of the U.S. House of Representatives — it has rarely been more important that American voters have the knowledge they need to make wise choices in upcoming federal elections. Unfortunately, after decades of civics being marginalized in public schools, the data show that such knowledge is sorely lacking.
Commentary: No need to change 'voc-tech' admission policies
Massachusetts’ vocational-technical high schools are a national model, and that fact has never been more important than it is today. The federal infrastructure law enacted last year is expected to create 1.5 million construction jobs annually over the next decade. The Associated Builders and Contractors project that this year alone the industry will need to attract an additional 546,000 workers in addition to the normal pace of hiring to meet nationwide demand.
Licensing changes eyed to address teacher shortage
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE THE STATE EDUCATION board is exploring new ways to address the statewide teacher shortage through more "flexible" regulations for specialized educators. Board members voted Tuesday to start the process of amending education licensure regulations to create an easier pathway for already-licensed teachers to be able to teach special education and English as a second language, among other changes.
Teachers union wants ed reform money
THE MASSACHUSETTS TEACHERS ASSOCIATION is calling on its members to be "conscientious objectors" by refusing to administer MCAS and not let their own children take the dreaded tests. Such farcical extremes ensue when a special interest group has had too much power for too long. Massachusetts' landmark 1993 Education Reform Act transformed K-12 public education by providing substantial funding increases in return for accountability, high standards, and expanded school choice.
Some Senate Dems on fence on term limit issue
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE AS SENATE DEMOCRATS emerged Wednesday from a private caucus in President Karen Spilka's office, they had mixed reactions to the proposed removal of a decades-old term limit on the presidency that dates back to the tail-end of Sen. William Bulger's regime. The chamber's Democrats huddled for around three hours ahead of a Thursday formal session where proposed Senate rules ( S 17), joint rules ( S 18), and 44 amendments will be up for discussion.
Encore allowed to expand its gaming footprint
THE MASSACHUSETTS Gaming Commission voted 4-1 on Wednesday to allow Encore Boston Harbor to expand its gambling operations in Everett to a new property under development across the street from the company's existing casino. The commission bent over backwards to accommodate the expansion, interpreting a 2013 vote by Everett voters as a mandate for extending gambling beyond the company's original footprint.
The state child welfare system needs an overhaul, not more Band-Aids
THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES is broken, and as public defenders faced with the deficiencies of this system every day, we hope Gov. Maura Healey will make it a priority to fix it. The cases of David Almond and Harmony Montgomery have shined a bright light on DCF, but thousands of other children are harmed by DCF's intervention every year, with little public scrutiny. Factoring in poverty, DCF removes children from their homes at one of the highest rates in the country.
Civics education is crucial to engaged citizenship
Two of the biggest-spending groups of Republican megadonors are making it clear that they don’t want Donald Trump to be the GOP nominee, a sign that anti-Trump candidates will be well-funded in the 2024 presidential primaries. The Koch network, the largest-spending political network on the right, and The Club...
Civics education is crucial to engaged citizenship
A FORMER PRESIDENT of the United States calls "for the termination of all rules, regulations, and articles, even those found in the Constitution" less than two years after a mob attacked the US Capitol seeking to prevent the certification of an election and calling for the vice president to be hanged. Perhaps the best antidote for such abhorrent behavior is a citizenry conversant in civics and US history. Sadly, that is definitively not the case.
Civics Education is More Important than Ever
At its founding, American K-12 public education was meant to prepare young people to be active participants in our democratic republic. That should still be its highest purpose, especially when it comes to teaching civics. Historically, public schools held fast to the principle that effective education must be non-partisan.
Civics Education is More Important than Ever
By Jamie Gass March 09, 2022 AP Photo/Ted Warren At its founding, American K-12 public education was meant to prepare young people to be active participants in our democratic republic. That should still be its highest purpose, especially when it comes to teaching civics. Historically, public schools held fast to the principle that effective education must be non-partisan.
Maine Tries Ignore a Clear Supreme Court Ruling on Education
Every once in a while, a U.S. Supreme Court ruling is so clear that even laypeople can understand it. Such was the case last year when, writing for the majority in Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue, Chief Justice John Roberts concluded that, “A state need not subsidize private education.
Op-Ed: Maine tries to ignore a clear Supreme Court ruling on education
Every once in a while, a U.S. Supreme Court ruling is so clear that even laypeople can understand it. Such was the case last year when, writing for the majority in Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue, Chief Justice John Roberts concluded that, “A state need not subsidize private education.
Time for state action on troubled Boston Public Schools - CommonWealth Magazine
(Photo via Creative Commons/Flickr by ThoseGuys119) Education/ Opinion Elected and appointed school committees have failed students for too long By Charles Chieppo and Jamie Gass Sep 30, 2021 FORMER STATE SENATE President Tom Birmingham often describes the centerpiece of the landmark 1993 Education Reform Act he co-authored as a massive infusion of state dollars into public schools in return for high standards and accountability for all.
Opinion/Chieppo and Gass: Education tax credits don't cost taxpayers a cent
Charles Chieppo is a senior fellow and Jamie Gass is director of education research and policy at Pioneer Institute, a Boston-based think tank. In a republic based on the consent of the governed, there is a strong public interest in having an educated citizenry. Yet in Massachusetts, the cradle of public schooling in America where the state constitution directs us to “cherish” education, we seem to dole out incentives for just about everything except education.
Beacon Hill Favors Race Horses And Hollywood More Than School Kids
School students in class working with tablets Klaus Vedfelt/Getty Images In a republic based on the consent of the governed, there is a strong public interest in having an educated citizenry. Yet here in Massachusetts, the cradle of public schooling in America where the state constitution directs us to “cherish” education, we seem to dole out incentives for just about everything except education. Consider the Race Horse Development Fund.
IMHO: Trump’s Midnight Agenda
Jim Braude shares his thoughts on President Trump’s last-minute actions aimed at cutting protections for the environment, low-income workers and more.
Jamie Gass: There’s no mystery why Mass. should stick with MCAS
Sept. 15th marks the 125th birthday of Dame Agatha Christie, author of nearly 100 whodunit mysteries, which have sold over two billion copies worldwide, making her the best-selling novelist of all time. Only the Bible and Shakespeare have sold more than Dame Agatha has, and her murder drama The Mousetrap (1952) is the longest-running play of the modern era.
Sixty-five years later, we remember Emmett Till Original
This week marks the 65th anniversary of the murder of Emmett Till, a 14-year old Black boy from Chicago who was killed by two white Mississippians for whistling in the presence of a white woman. “The news of Emmett’s death caused many people to participate in the cry for justice and equal rights, including myself,” wrote Rosa Parks, the first lady of civil rights.
Opinion: Students should know about Emmett Till, a 14-year-old Black boy who was murdered 65 year ago
By Jamie Gass Friday Aug 28, 2020 at 8:52 AM Aug 28, 2020 at 8:52 AM "Oh, what sorrow, Pity, pain, That tears and blood Should mix like rain In Mississippi! And terror, fetid hot, Yet clammy cold Remain." —"Mississippi – 1955” (To the Memory of Emmett Till), Langston Hughes This week marks the 65th anniversary of the murder of Emmett Till, a 14-year old Black boy from Chicago who was killed by two white Mississippians for whistling in the presence of a white woman.
Opinion/Gass: When ignorance and violence are permitted to trump justice
By Jamie Gass/Guest Columnist Thursday Aug 27, 2020 at 5:53 PM This week marks the 65th anniversary of the murder of Emmett Till, a 14-year old black boy from Chicago who was killed by two white Mississippians for whistling in the presence of a white woman. Columns share an author's personal perspective and are often based on facts in the newspaper's reporting.
Our Turn: Charles Chieppo and Jamie Gass: High court’s ruling is a victory for school choice
By Charles Chieppo and Jamie Gass Thursday Aug 13, 2020 at 5:00 PM Our nation’s Founding Fathers had a pluralistic view of K-12 schooling. A recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling brings the country closer to the original vision of the framers, and helps erase the stain of 19th-century amendments to most state constitutions that were rooted in anti-Catholic bigotry. The court’s June 2020 decision in Espinoza v.
Column: Restoring the educationally pluralistic vision of the founders
By Charles Chieppo and Jamie Gass/Guest Columnists Saturday Aug 1, 2020 at 5:39 PM Our nation’s Founding Fathers had a pluralistic view of K-12 schooling. A recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling brings the country closer to the original vision of the framers, and helps erase the stain of 19th-century amendments to most state constitutions that were rooted in anti-Catholic bigotry. Columns share an author's personal perspective and are often based on facts in the newspaper's reporting.
What would the nation's founders think of school choice?
Our nation’s Founding Fathers had a pluralistic view of K-12 schooling. A recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling brings the country closer to the original vision of the framers who crafted the federal and early state constitutions, and it helps erase the stain of 19th-century amendments to most state constitutions that were rooted in anti-Catholic bigotry. The Court’s June 2020 decision in Espinoza v.
LETTER: Coronavirus has exposed online learning as educational weak spot in Mass.
By Jamie Gass Thursday May 7, 2020 at 9:00 PM The Standard-Times verifies and reviews all letters to the editor we receive. The letters represent the views of the letter writers, not those of The Standard-Times. Massachusetts is routinely cited as having one of the nation’s most innovative economies. The cornerstone of that innovation is education — both K-12 and colleges and universities. There too Massachusetts has done well in recent decades.
Rightsizing Fed Ed: Principles for Reform and Practical Steps to Move in the Right Direction
May 4, 2020 • Policy Analysis No. 891 By Mary Clare Amselem, Lindsey Burke, Jonathan Butcher, Jamie Gass, Neal McCluskey, & Theodor Rebarber The federal government has been heavily involved in education since the mid‐1960s, intervening in everything from early childhood education to graduate schooling. This paper lays out the principles that should govern federal involvement in seven specific areas and briefly examines the effects of Washington’s policies.
Rightsizing Fed Ed: Principles for Reform and Practical Steps to Move in the Right Direction
The Tenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution clearly states: “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”12 Our Constitution does not grant the federal government nationwide authority in the area of K–12 education.
Column: Anti-Catholic and anti-religious attitudes are persistent
By Raymond Flynn and Jamie Gass/Guest Columnists Tuesday Mar 17, 2020 at 1:00 AM There’s no time like St. Patrick’s Day to reflect on Massachusetts’ bitter legacy of 19th-century anti-Catholic bigotry, which still blocks parents of all faiths from choosing their children’s schools. Columns share an author's personal perspective and are often based on facts in the newspaper's reporting. “[T]he Government of the United States ...
Column: Anti-Catholic and anti-religious attitudes are persistent
By Raymond Flynn and Jamie Gass/Guest Columnists Tuesday Mar 17, 2020 at 1:00 AM There’s no time like St. Patrick’s Day to reflect on Massachusetts’ bitter legacy of 19th-century anti-Catholic bigotry, which still blocks parents of all faiths from choosing their children’s schools. Columns share an author's personal perspective and are often based on facts in the newspaper's reporting. “[T]he Government of the United States ...
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