Fifteen years after enacting statewide education reform, a new report finds the plan has worked, though less than hoped for in high-poverty areas.
The report, released by MassINC. and titled Incomplete Grade: Massachusetts Education Reform at 15, assesses the impact of the Massachusetts Education Reform Act of 1993. It compares the relative performance of low-spending school districts with those of high-spending school districts.
The study, which took two years to complete and was funded by the Bank of America, determined that despite producing gains in overall student achievement, the legislation has not closed the achievement gap that remains between high- and low-spending districts. The report also found that shifting demographics in the state have produced increased percentages of low-income students in the lowest spending districts.
Fall River is among the municipalities fitting that description. According to numbers developed by MassINC., the city’s percentage of low-income students has increased by from 45.4 percent in [...]

Original post by Will Richmond