The past five decades have produced a tremendous archive of important and interesting strategies, frameworks and practices aimed at improvement in public education. Yet despite the vast set of knowledge generated by this work, gains have not been significant enough nor sustained. Young people still arrive at postsecondary institutions ill-prepared…

In May, President Obama stated the need for every American to have at least one year of postsecondary education. That sentiment echoes the Nellie Mae Education Foundation's 2008 report, "What It Takes to Succeed in the 21st Century--and How New Englanders Are Faring." The report cites a growing consensus that reveals the minimum indicator of the…

What does it really take to shape a generation of well-rounded young people who will support their families, strengthen their communities, and uphold the values of a civil society? New insights about when and where learning takes place reveal the connection between a child's summer experiences and his or her success in school and beyond. In so…

As New England continues to experience dramatic demographic shifts, it becomes increasingly clear that future prosperity will depend on how well all learners are prepared for postsecondary success. Preparing people for success has always been a moving target of sorts. What skills do people need to become civically engaged and economically…

In the conversation about underserved populations in New England, higher education often revolves around "school-aged" students of color and students from low-income families. This is understandable; after all, these are the fastest growing populations in the region. In this article, the author says it is time to reinvent education. One place to…

New England's reputation for world-class educational excellence is well-earned but tenuous, especially as a changing world demands increased levels of learning for a much broader population. People know the current K-12 system is not producing enough students with the knowledge necessary to succeed in college. Too few enter higher education. Too…

Educators, economists and policymakers agree that raising the level of achievement for more learners is important. Studies of global workforce competitiveness regularly point toward the goal of nearly everyone achieving skills and knowledge commensurate with at least two years of higher education. According to this author, educators have…