Gov. Patrick plans to bless the teacher's unions.
Saying that teachers are the keys to great schools, Governor Deval Patrick unveiled proposals yesterday in his education plan aimed at boosting teacher quality and keeping teachers in the classroom longer."We must elevate the profession of teaching," he said during a press conference in Hopkinton, where he outlined another round of initiatives included in his upcoming package of education changes. "We have to attract and retain the best and brightest to lead our classrooms."
Among the proposals: implementing financial rewards for schools that show academic improvement, and higher pay for teachers who work in poor schools and for those who teach subjects such as math, science, and special education that have chronic teacher shortages. Patrick also said that the teacher certification process, which has long been criticized as overly complicated, should be simplified.
The initiatives are the latest to be unveiled as Patrick rolls out pieces of his plan, assembled after 18 months of study by a gubernatorial commission of some 200 educators, administrators, lawmakers, and public policy specialists. On Monday, Patrick detailed a first wave of proposals, including universal kindergarten and a drop-out prevention program. He also said he had appointed a commission to come up with options to pay for the reform plan. The full proposal is expected to be announced today.
UPDATE: From Scot Lehigh, the Globe and Herald.
SECOND UPDATE: From the Herald and Globe.
THIRD UPDATE: From Howie Carr, the Herald and the Boston Globe.
