Governor Deval Patrick will file legislation today to revive the Cabinet-level position of education secretary, a controversial post that has been twice abolished by the Legislature in recent decades because it spawned conflict and confusion over who oversaw education in the Commonwealth.
Patrick told the Globe yesterday that he plans to create the position so he can better coordinate policies across early childhood education, elementary and secondary schools, and colleges. The education secretary would oversee a new Executive Office of Education that would encompass the three areas, and be a voting member of all three governing boards.
The move, Patrick said, reflects his vision to create a seamless system that would support the next phase of education reform. Despite the fact that public high school students consistently lead the country on national tests, more than a third of graduates attending Massachusetts public colleges end up in remedial courses. There are discrepancies between what high school teachers teach and what students must know to succeed in college, Patrick said.
"I am a governor trying to take responsibility for that," he said. "I want the authority to go with it."
The bill, which the Legislature must vote on within 60 days, would give the education secretary narrowly tailored powers over hiring, long-range plans, and budgets. The secretary, for example, would approve the hiring of the commissioners of early education, elementary and secondary education, and higher education.
This strikes me as yet another idea that's good in theory, but bad in fact.
UPDATE: More from the AP and Matt Margolis.
SECOND UPDATE: More from the Herald and Globe.
