BOSTON
Gov. Deval Patrick envisions free education for every Massachusetts
resident from age 3 through community college.
To help him make that vision a reality, Patrick on Monday
appointed an 18-member panel to draw up blueprints for the 10-year plan.
“We need to change fundamentally the way we think about
and most of all deliver public education in this commonwealth,” the
Democratic governor said. “Everything is on the table.”
The leadership team will work under former Boston Public
Schools superintendent Thomas Payzant, EMC
Corp. chairman and CEO Joseph Tucci and Wheelock College President Jackie
Jenkins-Scott.
That trio has until March to come up with recommendations to
Patrick, whose plan includes longer school days, strengthening curriculum
requirements in math and English and launching new teacher training programs.
There is no pricetag on the plan, and Patrick said he’s
realistic in his goals, acknowledging that teachers’ unions, among others, may
disagree with some ideas, such as how to extend school days.
