Latest news with #PatrickTutwiler
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Amherst-Pelham Regional School District receives electric school bus grant funding
AMHERST, Mass. (WWLP) – Amherst-Pelham Regional School District is among eight districts in the state receiving funding to replace diesel-powered school buses with electric ones. The Healey-Driscoll administration is awarding over $9 million to electrify public school buses through an initiative led by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) and funded by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP). These western Massachusetts cities awarded funding to boost protection against cyberattacks This is the third round of awards distributed through this program, going to several school districts and private transportation providers across the Commonwealth. This includes Highland Electric, which supports the Amherst-Pelham Regional School District. 'Transitioning to electric school buses is a meaningful investment in the well-being of our students and the future of our communities,' said Massachusetts Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler. 'This program showcases what's possible when we prioritize sustainability and equity in our investments, and I'm grateful to our partners at MassCEC and MassDEP for leading this important work.' As part of the School Bus Deployment Program, MassCEC and MassDEP say this will help improve public health across the state. Highland Electric received $500,000 in funding through the program, with other districts receiving up to nearly $2 million. MassCEC is now accepting applicants for the fourth round of the program. For those looking to submit proposals or to find more information, visit WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Mass. education secretary addresses graduation policy changes in Holyoke
HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) – Earning a high school diploma in Massachusetts looks a lot different now. This comes in response to ballot question number 2, part of November 5th's state election. Healey calls for Job Corps reopening Patrick Tutwiler, The Massachusetts Secretary of Education, was in Holyoke on Thursday. He heard out the concerns from educators and parents on the new graduation requirements. The graduating classes of 2026 and 2027 will be required to complete specific courses to receive a diploma. 'What we're doing now is taking the input, researching to understand how we want to shift and sort of reform the high school experience, and in the form of graduation requirements,' Tutwiler states. Students are still required to take the MCAS exam. However, their scores will not be used as a requirement to graduate. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Healey testifies on UMass funding bill
BOSTON (WWLP) – Governor Healey testified on behalf of her higher education bill on Tuesday, seeking to invest up to $2.5 billion in the UMass system, state universities, and community colleges. The governor's bill, dubbed the BRIGHT Act, is meant to address deferred maintenance projects, modernize and decarbonize buildings, and construct major projects. Governor Healey said the funding will also provide a boost to the economy. Life sciences sector growth slows in Mass. 'They're also economic engines, job creators, workforce pipelines for our state,' Healey said. 'They train nurses, engineers, technicians that drive our industries forward.' While the Bay State is a leader in education, top lawmakers say our facilities do not reflect that. Massachusetts' education secretary says many of the state's top higher education buildings have not been updated for the better part of half a century. 'Spaces that students, staff, and faculty spend time in can either facilitate or inhibit learning,' said Secretary Patrick Tutwiler. 'Our students deserve to learn in safe, green, high-quality environments.' The bill also includes some policies that would strengthen the college building authority's ability to borrow money and contribute additional resources to supplement state funding. As with many governor-led projects, Team Healey says they want to get this work underway as soon as possible, but they do not have a timeline for funding implementation. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Massachusetts launches public survey on graduation requirements
BOSTON (WWLP) – The Healey-Driscoll administration is giving residents a chance to submit ideas on what the state should adopt for graduation requirements going forward. The state is launching a public survey for students, parents, and educators alike to detail how they define a graduate in the Bay State. They're also holding listening sessions around the state, with one coming up in Holyoke on Thursday and a virtual session on Tuesday at 6 p.m. Education Department pausing plan to garnish Social Security checks over defaulted loans 'The listening sessions in Taunton, Worcester and Somerville provided deeply meaningful feedback, and I thank all of the parents, educators and community members who joined. We are working to bring the definition of what it means to graduate from high school to new heights, and additional public feedback is only going to strengthen these efforts. I encourage everyone to fill out the survey and look forward to engaging with more residents at the remaining listening sessions,' said Secretary of Education Dr. Patrick Tutwiler. For more information on those listening sessions or to complete the survey by June 30th at WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Mass. asks public how to replace MCAS grad requirement. How to respond
An online survey launched Monday will expand public input opportunities for people to share ideas on the future of a new statewide high school graduation requirement in Massachusetts. The survey, along with listening sessions being held across the state, come after voters last November opted to do away with the requirement that public high school students must pass three MCAS tests in language arts, mathematics and science in order to achieve a diploma. It was one of the most hotly contested ballot questions the state had seen in years — the Massachusetts Teachers Union led the charge to get rid of the MCAS requirement, while many state officials, including Gov. Maura Healey, strongly opposed it. Now, after the voters have spoken — passing the measure by a wide margin — education officials are assessing what a future requirement may look like to ensure graduates are demonstrating learning and readiness for college, careers and civic life. The public has until June 30 to complete the online survey, which is available in six languages. Read more: Springfield invites former students who failed MCAS to apply for a diploma Secretary of Education Dr. Patrick Tutwiler said listening sessions held so far in Taunton, Worcester and Somerville have provided 'deeply meaningful feedback' and that additional public feedback 'is only going to strength these efforts. 'I encourage everyone to fill out the survey and look forward to engaging with more residents at the remaining listening sessions,' he said. The last listening sessions will be held in Holyoke and Barnstable on June 5 and 9, respectively. There will be a virtual one, as well, on June 3. Until the state develops a new statewide requirement, school districts are resorting to local graduation standards and competency determinations set by school committees. Controversial guidance previously issued by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education said school districts can still use MCAS scores as part of their local graduation requirements. The leaders of the Massachusetts Teachers Association said the guidance circumvented the intention of Question 2 and, ultimately, the will of the voters. Similarly, the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education recently approved the 'limited use' of MCAS scores to determine if students are satisfying the competency determination for a high school diploma, also drawing blowback from the teachers union. Springfield invites former students who failed MCAS to apply for a diploma Teachers union urges public to stay informed, speak up about changing ed regs Springfield schools weigh graduation requirements after MCAS test dropped Everything you need to know about MCAS heading into 2025 Read the original article on MassLive.
