R 316
2018 -- S 2503
Enacted 06/19/2018

S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N
RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THE RHODE ISLAND BOARD OF EDUCATION TO CONDUCT A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF THE MASSACHUSETTS EDUCATION REFORM ACT (MERA) OF 1993, AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE RHODE ISLAND'S OVERALL EDUCATION STANDARDS AND GOVERNANCE

Introduced By: Senators Pearson, Satchell, Gallo, Lombardi, and Picard
Date Introduced: March 01, 2018

     WHEREAS, The Massachusetts Education Reform Act (MERA) of 1993 established a
detailed and ambitious agenda and framework under which public education in Massachusetts
would operate. Over the ensuing two and a half decades, the standards-based reform effort has
been an overwhelming success for the Commonwealth; and
     WHEREAS, The reform led to major increases in the amount of state aid that flowed to
schools, established high standards, and required more accountability across the entire education
system; and
     WHEREAS, Under reform guidelines, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and
Secondary Education employs five overarching core strategies to advance the goal of success for
all students:
     1. Strengthen standards, curriculum, instruction, and assessments;
     2. Promote educator development;
     3. Support social-emotional learning, health, and safety;
     4. Turn around the lowest performing districts and schools; and
     5. Use technology and data to support student learning; and
     WHEREAS, Currently, reforms support educators in a process of self-improvement and
performance review; help districts strengthen their curriculum and instruction; deliver
technologically sophisticated tools to help educators and administrators leverage data they
routinely collect; and identify and intervene in schools that are struggling the most to serve their
students well; and
     WHEREAS, In addition, reform efforts led to the adoption of the Common Core State
Standards, the development and administration of the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment
System (MCAS); and
     WHEREAS, The 2010 Achievement Gap Act more clearly outlined accountability
provisions that flowed from the original Act's broad framework and powers, and pursued a
realistic set of expectations for state oversight of school and district turnaround efforts and
significantly reflected and delineated the role of charter schools within the evolution of the
education system; and
     WHEREAS, In June of 2011, The Model System was implemented, and provided a
comprehensive educator evaluation system; and
     WHEREAS, The Massachusetts Education Reform Act (MERA) of 1993 has made
Massachusetts a national leader in public education, and the state's continuing analysis and
resultant provisions are providing students with a competitive advantage that Rhode Island
students deserve; now, therefore be it
     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
hereby respectfully requests the Rhode Island Board of Education to conduct a comprehensive
review of the Massachusetts Education Reform Act (MERA) of 1993, and subsequent Acts and
reform measures, to determine and recommend measures to promote the adoption of ways in
which this state's resources can be most effectively utilized to improve Rhode Island's overall
education standards and governance; and be it further
     RESOLVED, That this Senate hereby requests the Rhode Island Board of Education to
report back to the Senate on or before December 1, 2018; and
     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to
transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Honorable Gina Raimondo, Governor of the
State of Rhode Island, Barbara S. Cottam, Chair of the Rhode Island Board of Education, and
Ken Wagner, Commissioner of the Rhode Island Department of Education.
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LC004963
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