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Creative Challenge Index Moves Forward - Rep. Bosley and Sen. Rosenberg Testify in Support

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MAASH Advocates Send 405 Letters!

Dear Friends,

The Massachusetts Joint Committee on Education heard public testimony on the Creative Challenge Index (House 3547) today at the State House.

Rep. Dan Bosley (D-N. Adams) and Senator Stan Rosenberg (D-Amherst) testified in support as the two lead sponsors of the bill. They were followed by Dan Hunter, Executive Director of MAASH.

Through the Creative Challenge Index, schools are measured by how much opportunity they provide for creative and critical thinking. Currently, we use individual achievement (measured by the MCAS) to determine school-wide success. The Creative Challenge Index will measure the overall environment of a school. Although it's impossible to measure individual creativity, we must establish guidelines and tools to foster creative thinking and innovation for the 21st century.

Also testifying on behalf of the Creative Challenge Index bill were four advocates with substantial experience and expertise in education issues:

  • Isa Zimmerman, former school principal and superintendent, past president of Young Audiences of Massachusetts and a leader in the STEM movement (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math).
  • Jonathan Rappaport, executive director of the National Arts Learning Collaborative and music educator
  • Mary Forte Hayes, executive director of the Massachusetts Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development (MASCD)
  • Dennis Richards, former superintendent of schools in Falmouth and current president of MASCD

MAASH hand-delivered a large stack of 405 personal letters in support of arts education and the Creative Challenge Index from our advocates all across the state.

Julie Johnson of the Massachusetts Teachers Association spoke favorably on behalf of the Creative Challenge Index and other new measures of school accountability.

MAASH thanks all of our persistent and creative advocates who support the Creative Challenge Index and wrote thoughtful letters that are making a significant impression on the Joint Committee on Education.

To learn more about the Creative Challenge Index, please click here:

http://www.maash.org/news/creative_challenge_index.htm

The Creative Challenge Index will be considered by the Joint Committee on Education, which will then provide a recommendation to the House and Senate leadership.

Thank you,

Dan Hunter, Executive Director

Hathalee Higgs, Development Director