Latest news with #MassINC
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Opinion: To Close the Latino Student Success Gap, Open Up the Educator Pipeline
Recent National Assessment of Educational Progress scores reveal concerning trends for Latino students. While some student groups showed modest improvements in 2024, Hispanic eighth-graders experienced declines across core subjects — dropping 5 points in reading and 3 points in mathematics since 2022. The declines reflect widening disparities between higher- and lower-performing students of all backgrounds. More than two-thirds of lower-performing students come from historically disadvantaged populations, such as English language learners. With English learners projected to make up 25% of students by 2025 — and 76.4% of those being Spanish speakers — it's time to remove the barriers hindering Latino students. A key factor holding back Latino students academically is that educators rarely mirror the demographics of schools. When Latino students have teachers with the same background, these teachers reflect the same culture as students, creating an environment for students to have their identity affirmed. Research links exposure to minority teachers to improvements in attendance and achievement. Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter Latino students now represent 29% of pre-K to 12 students across the U.S., yet only 9% of teachers identify as such. At the same time, teacher candidates of color encounter obstacles to entering and staying in the classroom. Four critical areas need to be addressed to strengthen the Latino educator pipeline: financial support, strategic recruitment, professional networks and culturally responsive practices. First, financial support must be enhanced at crucial points in educators' careers. Competitive salaries that allow for a middle-class lifestyle — combined with loan forgiveness programs, scholarships and performance bonuses — can make teaching more attractive as a career path for Latino educators. Second, Latino educator recruitment requires strategic workforce development approaches similar to those used in other fields. For example, the Tulare County Office of Education in California has been administering the Teacher Residency for Rural Education Project since 2019, preparing single-subject teachers who focus on STEM and English to meet the needs of local rural school districts. 'We strive to mirror the student population of the schools we serve and implement grow-your-own programs for preparing local talent as educators in our communities,' explained Marvin Lopez, executive director of the Tulare County Office of Education. All schools in partner districts have a higher population of socioeconomically disadvantaged, Hispanic/Latino and English learners than the state overall. On average, 68.2% of learners qualify for free/reduced lunch rates, 49.2% are Hispanic/Latino and 15% English learners. Research conducted by the Wheelock Education Policy Center on behalf of MassINC in partnership with Latinos for Education recommended a similar initiative in Massachusetts. The study found that while Massachusetts doubled the number of teachers of color hired from 2012 to 2022, students of color increased at a faster rate, leading to a larger gap in representation. According to the report, 'a homegrown strategy to close gaps in college access and success could have considerable impact.' The researchers also noted that if new hires reflected student demographics, by the end of the decade, the percentage of teachers of color would double — from 10% today to about 23% by 2030. Related Third, robust support systems and professional networks for Latino educators are essential for their success and longevity in the profession. Only 57% of Hispanic teacher candidates pass the Praxis exam even after multiple attempts, while 75% of white candidates ultimately pass. Supporting test preparation for Latino teacher candidates can make a big difference in addressing this hurdle. A 2024 research partnership between ETS®, and TEACH demonstrated significant improvements in exam pass rates through test prep. The study showed that, with sufficient support, teacher candidates from historically marginalized backgrounds experienced meaningful increases in pass rates. This focus on certification support represents one step toward building a more representative teacher workforce. Supporting professional growth is also essential. Latinos for Education's Aspiring Latino Leaders Fellowship offers one solution, giving Latino education leaders culturally responsive professional development to envision long-term careers in education rather than temporary positions. There's always room for more organizations to help keep these vital teachers in classrooms. These support systems should provide opportunities for leadership advancement, professional development and mentorship connections that understand the unique challenges Latino educators face when navigating school systems. Fourth, promoting culturally responsive practices that reflect student communities helps retain Latino teachers and improves educational outcomes. It's not just schools and administration that must address this challenge. Family and community support are vital to expanding the Latino educator pipeline. One huge asset in this population's favor: Nine out of 10 Latino parents see high-quality public schools as instrumental to their child's success, according to a Latinos for Education survey of Houston-area parents. The same Houston survey uncovered strong support for more teachers who can bridge language and cultural divides. A striking 80% of Latino parents said they would become more involved if more Spanish-fluent educators were present. And teachers see similar value in family support: A survey of 700 teachers found that 87% believe increased parent and family engagement is the most impactful way to close student learning gaps. Schools that incorporate culturally responsive curriculum and ensure staff composition reflects student demographics create environments where Latino educators feel valued rather than isolated. These practices also benefit students directly by exposing them to varied perspectives and teaching approaches. The declining academic scores of Latino students require urgent action. Increasing Latino teacher representation offers a powerful long-term solution. When students see educators who share their cultural background and experiences, achievement gaps begin to close. Financial support enhancement, strategic recruitment, robust support networks and culturally responsive practices will strengthen the Latino educator pipeline. As more Latino teachers serve as 'mirrors' for Latino students, academic outcomes can improve, creating better learning environments for all students.
Boston Globe
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Most Mass. voters want more housing, poll finds
A new poll this week from MassINC, commissioned by the pro-housing group Abundant Housing Massachusetts, found that the majority of the state's voters More than 90 percent of the 803 voters MassINC surveyed in March identified the cost of housing here as a problem, and 71 percent said they would prioritize building more homes that people can afford over preserving the character of neighborhoods. Some 57 percent of respondents said the cost of homeownership and renting in their own communities is 'a big problem,' and 75 percent said there are not enough homes in Massachusetts that the average person can buy or rent. 'This survey shows that the loud opposition that often show up at local planning meetings are actually a minority,' said Richard Parr, senior research director at The MassINC Polling Group. 'Most people, when presented with practical solutions, seem ready to say yes to more housing.' Related : Advertisement The poll, said Jesse Kanson-Benanav, executive director of Abundant Housing, indicates that the extreme cost of housing in the state — the median-priced single-family home in Greater Boston Advertisement An apartment building under construction in Lynn in 2023. David L. Ryan/Globe Staff Its a welcome sign for housing advocates, who argue the state needs to compel cities and towns to build more. Massachusetts has not built enough housing over the last couple of decades to keep up with the state's growing population, and the Healey Administration earlier this year established The majority of people surveyed by MassINC said they would support efforts to increase new development near public transit, as well as allowing homes to be built on smaller patches of land. Most also said they would support allowing smaller multifamily buildings like triple-deckers in their neighborhoods. The results of the poll may sound contradictory because opposition to new housing is loud in many communities. But it aligns with homeowners. Those opponents may not necessarily be representative of the community at large, the BU research found. And even so, the majority of the voters surveyed by MassINC said they lived in a single-family home. Support for new housing development was highest among renters, non-white voters, parents, and people under the age of 45. Advertisement The poll, said Kanson-Benanav, should serve as evidence for the Legislature to pass more policies that encourage development. Several legislators have recently introduced bills that would reduce the scope of the MBTA Communities Act, the law that requires towns to zone for more housing. And two recently announced Republican candidates who plan to run against Governor Maura Healey have criticized the administration for its approach to enforcing the law, with one, former MBTA executive Brian Shortsleeve, saying he would push the Legislature to repeal it. 'Across the Commonwealth, voters want more housing solutions that create an abundance of housing opportunities for families, renters, and longtime homeowners alike,' said Kanson-Benanav. 'They're telling lawmakers: say yes to homes — and yes to the future of Massachusetts by passing reforms that will build more homes for everyday residents.' Andrew Brinker can be reached at
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Poll looks at ditching gas tax, expanding tolls, fees
BOSTON (SHNS) – About half of Massachusetts residents backed phasing out the state's gasoline tax and instead expanding roadway tolling or imposing fees based on mileage, according to a new poll that took the temperature on a range of transportation-related ideas. Fifty-one percent of respondents said they would somewhat or strongly support replacing the gas tax with a 'fee based on how much people drive, whether they drive a gas car or an electric car,' a MassINC Polling Group survey published Wednesday found. Thirty-one percent opposed the idea, and 18% said they do not know. Pollsters found a nearly identical split for eliminating the gas tax and instead deploying 'tolls on more Massachusetts roads': 52% support, 32% opposition and 16% who said they did not know. Massachusetts relies on revenue from the 24-cents-per-gallon gas tax to fund its transportation investments, but experts argue that funding from that source will decline as vehicles become more efficient or as drivers shift to electric vehicles. Gas tax revenues increased from $603 million in fiscal 2023 to $615 million in fiscal 2024, according to the Department of Revenue's 'blue book' report. The MassINC poll conducted on behalf of advocacy group Transportation for Massachusetts also found a plurality of Bay Staters are open to at least studying congestion pricing, a practice of charging motorists higher fees at certain times and in certain locations to disincentivize driving when traffic is at its worst. In their question to respondents, pollsters referenced the start of congestion pricing in New York City and said early reports indicate 'the fee has led to 1 million fewer cars and 10-30% less traffic on the bridges and tunnels into Manhattan.' They also noted President Donald Trump wants to cancel the program. Asked if Massachusetts should study the use of congestion pricing in and around Boston, 48% said yes and 35% said no. MassINC surveyed 702 Massachusetts residents between Feb. 21 and Feb. 25. The poll's margin of error is 4 percentage points. Transportation for Mass. supports legislation that would overhaul the Metropolitan Highway System and its tolls (S 2353) and bills that would push for reductions in how many miles Bay Staters travel in motor vehicles (S 2246 / H 3726). Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
