# healey (blogs) — RSS Amplifier Recent posts from the 2 feeds in the RSS Amplifier directory that cover healey. Page: Feed: --- ## [I wouldn't call that "innovation"](https://who-cester.blogspot.com/2026/08/i-wouldnt-call-that-innovation.html) _2026-08-21 · Tracy Novick · Whos of Who-cester_ You might remember that Springfield's Empowerment Zone schools came back under Springfield School Committee control last spring, now as innovation schools, which you may or may not remember were a part of the 2011 Act Relative to the Achievement Gap. They allow for schools, under a school committee approved plan, to have individual modifications of some things, which can include schedule,… ## [Influential Catholic Political Group CatholicVote Accused of Suppressing Israel Reporting After Its Flagship Publication’s Aggressive Reporting On Brutal Mistreatment of West Bank Palestinians](https://thecatholicobserver.substack.com/p/influential-catholic-political-group) _2026-08-21 · The Catholic Observer_ But CatholicVote’s leader denied the claim from a former political editor that he had been told to “drastically reduce” Israel coverage, Christopher Hale reports in the newsletter Letters from Leo. ## [U.S. Funding Cuts Fuel Child Recruitment Into Haiti’s Armed Groups](https://thecatholicobserver.substack.com/p/us-funding-cuts-fuel-child-recruitment) _2026-08-21 · The Catholic Observer_ “Without USAID support, all you have left is the rule of the ganglord.” -- Journalist Jess DiPierro Obert writes in The New Humanitarian, with reporting supported by the nonprofit Pulitzer Center. ## [After Pope Leo Meets with Lebanese President, Vatican Expresses ‘Serious Concerns’ Over Stalled Lebanon Agreement](https://thecatholicobserver.substack.com/p/after-pope-leo-meets-with-lebanese) _2026-08-20 · Gary Gately · The Catholic Observer_ Two months after Lebanon, Israel and the U.S. signed the deal aimed at ending Israel’s military presence in Lebanon and disarming the militant group Hezbollah, peace seems elusive. ## [Wisdom for the Ages: “Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak for me.”](https://thecatholicobserver.substack.com/p/wisdom-for-the-ages-then-they-came) _2026-08-20 · Gary Gately · The Catholic Observer_ -- Martin Niemöller, German theologian ## [A Prayer for the City: In My Hometown of Baltimore, Murders Plunge to Record Low](https://thecatholicobserver.substack.com/p/a-prayer-for-the-city-in-my-hometown-b78) _2026-08-20 · The Catholic Observer_ In 2017, I reported for The Guardian on homicides in “Body-more, Murdaland,” which then had twice the per-capita murder rate of Chicago and more total murders than New York City. ## [as goes Brockton...](https://who-cester.blogspot.com/2026/08/as-goes-brockton.html) _2026-08-19 · Tracy Novick · Whos of Who-cester_ At the School Committee meeting at the beginning of August, the Brockton School Committee was told that they should anticipate cuts for next year's--FY28--budget: School district leaders in Brockton anticipate cuts in the coming years as they stare down two budget time bombs: the end of the Student Opportunity Act and rapidly escalating pension costs. "The way I see it, this does mean cuts moving… ## [Catholic Voices: Republican U.S. Rep. Don Bacon shows refugee advocacy doesn’t have to be partisan](https://thecatholicobserver.substack.com/p/catholic-voices-republican-us-rep) _2026-08-18 · The Catholic Observer_ Jesuit Refugee Service USA President Kelly Ryan writes in an op-ed. ## [yes, most federal grant funding is still coming from the U.S. Department of Education](https://who-cester.blogspot.com/2026/08/yes-most-federal-grant-funding-is-still.html) _2026-08-17 · Tracy Novick · Whos of Who-cester_ With ongoing thanks to Mark Lieberman for keeping his eyes on this: Congress in February approved more than $12.5 billion for K-12 schools to flow to states on Oct. 1, including $10.8 billion through the Title I formula grant for schools serving low-income students and $1.7 billion through Title II for teacher professional development. In a statement to Education Week, the department confirmed… ## [exploding a few myths of the coming Massachusetts school year](https://who-cester.blogspot.com/2026/08/exploding-few-myths-of-coming.html) _2026-08-17 · Tracy Novick · Whos of Who-cester_ We do not have new graduation requirements. The council created to submit a report has done so . Those are, as I noted in my post about it , recommendations, most of which will take new legislation to implement. I know there are timelines in the report, but what the timelines don't take into account is the authorities necessary to fulfill the requirements. Not only is that not happening for this… ## [Licensed Dispensaries, Pay with Crypto (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/FgqVLnXlFeNb) _2026-08-17 · **Sponsored**_ Search verified licensed dispensaries and pay with Bitcoin, Lightning, or stablecoins. ## [How we are starting the school year](https://who-cester.blogspot.com/2026/08/how-we-are-starting-school-year.html) _2026-08-17 · Tracy Novick · Whos of Who-cester_ ...without herd immunity in more than 70 percent of classrooms: image from the Washington Post's look-up tool (gift link) ## [Wisdom for the Ages: "Listening to some of the populist leaders we now have, I am reminded of the 1930s, when some democracies collapsed into dictatorships seemingly overnight."](https://thecatholicobserver.substack.com/p/wisdom-for-the-ages-listening-to) _2026-08-15 · The Catholic Observer_ -- Pope Francis, Let Us Dream: The Path to a Better Future ## [Catholic Voices: The Wolf and the Shepherd - A 3 a.m. Mediation. The vigils can be “a daunting walk through ‘the valley of the shadow of death.'”](https://thecatholicobserver.substack.com/p/catholic-voices-the-wolf-and-the-c14) _2026-08-14 · The Catholic Observer_ “Not until my desperation mounts do I look to the shepherd.... to keep my thoughts from running wild,” Catholic theologian and author Timothy P. Schilling writes in Commonweal. ## [Thousands of U.S. Catholics Demand that Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey Be Excommunicated for Signing Late-Term Abortion Bill Into Law](https://thecatholicobserver.substack.com/p/thousands-of-catholics-demand-that) _2026-08-13 · Gary Gately · The Catholic Observer_ Healey pledged to keep abortion safe, legal and accessible in Massachusetts for as long as she remains governor, drawing praise from abortion rights advocates. ## [Conservative Catholics Demand that Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey Be Excommunicated for Signing Late-Term Abortion Bill Into Law](https://thecatholicobserver.substack.com/p/conservative-catholics-demand-that) _2026-08-13 · Gary Gately · The Catholic Observer_ Healey pledged to keep abortion safe, legal and accessible in Massachusetts for as long as she remains governor, drawing praise from abortion rights advocates. ## [As Massachusetts now has the lottery online...](https://who-cester.blogspot.com/2026/08/as-massachusetts-now-has-lottery-online.html) _2026-08-10 · Tracy Novick · Whos of Who-cester_ ...it might be good to remember that more teens are getting hooked on gambling : A recent national survey from Common Sense Media found that 36% of boys age 11 to 17 in the U.S. have gambled in the past year. "It's a lot of kids," says Michael Robb, the head of research at Common Sense Media, a nonprofit that promotes digital safety for kids. "A third of kids is a lot of kids." Read more » ## [AI slop: coming to a classroom near you?](https://who-cester.blogspot.com/2026/08/ai-slop-coming-to-classroom-near-you.html) _2026-08-10 · Tracy Novick · Whos of Who-cester_ Is there bad news on AI in education? There is ALWAYS bad news on AI in education! Chalkbeat earlier this month had a look at the AI slop on the Teachers Pay Teachers website: The poster depicting famous inventions by Black figures throughout history should show the invention George Crum is widely credited with: the potato chip. Instead, the picture labeled with Crum’s name shows a firefighter in… ## [We're losing kids on free lunch](https://who-cester.blogspot.com/2026/08/were-losing-kids-on-free-lunch.html) _2026-08-09 · Tracy Novick · Whos of Who-cester_ Hey, remember how we've noted that as we lose SNAP enrollment, we're going to lose free lunch enrollment? That has now started to be seen happening, per EdWeek In addition to Miami-Dade, some schools in nearby Palm Beach County, Fla., Houston, the San Antonio area, and Hardin County, Ky., have also announced the end of universal free meals in recent months because they no longer qualify for CEP.… ## [Michigan Becomes First State to Stop Enforcing Ban On Conversion Talk Therapy](https://thecatholicobserver.substack.com/p/michigan-becomes-first-state-to-stop) _2026-08-07 · Gary Gately · The Catholic Observer_ The counseling seeks to help minors struggling with gender dysphoria — discomfort or distress that they feel over their biological sex. ## [Pope Leo Offers Message of Hope for Elderly Who Feel Forgotten, Abandoned](https://thecatholicobserver.substack.com/p/pope-leo-offers-message-of-hope-for) _2026-07-26 · Gary Gately · The Catholic Observer_ In his message for the sixth annual World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, the pontiff points to God's promise through Isaiah: "I will never forget you." ## [Non-custodial Crypto Payments & Escrow (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/YadKzfWWvAcy) _2026-07-26 · **Sponsored**_ Accept multi-chain crypto with trustless escrow, instant confirmations, and no KYC ## [Nun Speaks Out About ICE Agents Arresting Her As She Walked to Mass In Texas](https://thecatholicobserver.substack.com/p/nun-speaks-out-about-ice-agents-arresting) _2026-07-24 · Gary Gately · The Catholic Observer_ Neither DHS nor ICE has commented on the June 28 arrest of Sister Leticia “Letty” Ugboaja, which drew widespread outrage. ## [Don't go spending that $100M yet](https://who-cester.blogspot.com/2026/07/dont-go-spending-that-100m-yet.html) _2026-07-23 · Tracy Novick · Whos of Who-cester_ The chair of House Ways and Means weighed in yesterday : House Ways and Means Chair Aaron Michlewitz has “some serious concerns” about the governor’s election-year proposal to spend $100 million on public schools before they’ve even collected the revenue to support it. “The ink hasn’t dried yet on the actual fiscal year 2027 budget, so I think we’d like to see that be implemented first,” the House… ## [Things I am reading this week](https://who-cester.blogspot.com/2026/07/things-i-am-reading-this-week_02102887934.html) _2026-07-23 · Tracy Novick · Whos of Who-cester_ Not specific to education, but this lengthy piece on "AI mania" in the workplace is a very "the Emperor has no clothes" description, where no one can say the Emperor has no clothes because no one else in business leadership will. The reality is thus: the people in charge either have no plan, or see no path forwards other than keeping their heads down. Not at banks, not at hospitals, not in our… ## [Vatican Denies Reports of Ex-Jesuit Father Marko Rupnik's Acquittal](https://thecatholicobserver.substack.com/p/vatican-denies-reports-of-ex-jesuit) _2026-07-22 · Gary Gately · The Catholic Observer_ The Holy See Press Office also defended the secrecy of the proceedings against the artist priest accused of abusing more than two dozen women. ## [keeping an eye on that $100M](https://who-cester.blogspot.com/2026/07/keeping-eye-on-that-100m.html) _2026-07-22 · Tracy Novick · Whos of Who-cester_ Regarding the $100M of Fair Share Governor Healey filled a supplemental budget to spend, a smidge of insight yesterday from Colin Young at State House News Service ( here being interviewed by NEPM ): Relatedly, yesterday, both the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 1 and the Department of Revenue sent out this letter from Healey addressed to "municipal leaders," praising what the… ## [Skunk at the garden party time](https://who-cester.blogspot.com/2026/07/skunk-at-garden-party-time.html) _2026-07-15 · Tracy Novick · Whos of Who-cester_ They're kind of cute, though, aren't they. Though it is, of course, not the done thing to express anything but enthusiasm for additional funding…It is time again for one of my periodic skunk at the garden party posts. Read more » ## [and we have official FY27 numbers](https://who-cester.blogspot.com/2026/07/and-we-have-official-fy27-numbers.html) _2026-07-10 · Tracy Novick · Whos of Who-cester_ And with the Governor's signature, we have a budget. As a result, DESE has released final Chapter 70 and Net School Spending numbers (including, yes, a new complete spreadsheet : download away!). Also, because Governor Healey did not make any changes to the budget, the conference committee numbers on the cherry sheets--for municipal and for regional schools--are now final. Happy fiscal new year… ## [How you frame the tale](https://who-cester.blogspot.com/2026/07/how-you-frame-tale.html) _2026-07-10 · Tracy Novick · Whos of Who-cester_ I posted about this over on Bluesky earlier this week, but I thought it also warranted attention here: The Cambridge Public Schools moved to a model where all eighth graders take algebra, and The Hechinger Report wrote an article on it. Here is the headline they used: Because Hechinger does good work, the resulting article is both worth reading and isn't the default "no" that Betteridge's Law has… ## [There is a foundation budget review commission in the conference committee budget](https://who-cester.blogspot.com/2026/07/there-is-foundation-budget-review.html) _2026-07-09 · Tracy Novick · Whos of Who-cester_ Yes, I am still playing catch-up from being away! the headline I saw from vacation The conference committee budget agreed to by both chambers does have a foundation budget review commission in it. As the guide to the outside sections notes, it is compromise language, which here means that they didn't just take the Senate's language, as, as you might remember, the House didn't have such language in… ## [I read the state graduation council report](https://who-cester.blogspot.com/2026/07/i-read-state-graduation-council-report.html) _2026-07-07 · Tracy Novick · Whos of Who-cester_ ...I am not going to say "so you don't have to," because I think if you have an interest in education, you probably should at least skim the report, which is online here. As always, this is me writing as me on behalf of me only. This image deserves more space than it gets in the report, as it isn't bad thinking and it's a solid try at an outline. How is it, though, that they managed parallel… ## [Marketplace for AI-Powered Professionals (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/2sdJkWKW0jYD) _2026-07-07 · **Sponsored**_ Find professionals who use ChatGPT, Copilot, and Claude to deliver work faster. ## [June 2026 Board of Ed; Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School](https://who-cester.blogspot.com/2026/06/june-2026-board-of-ed-pioneer-valley.html) _2026-06-23 · Tracy Novick · Whos of Who-cester_ the report is here completed the tasks described in the three conditions, around governance of their board different than demonstrating sustained improvement will have additional governance requirement; expected that they will apply for renewal next year now having some conversation around the transportation item condition was for them to develop a plan; they haven't fully implemented a plan Read… ## [June 2026 Board of Ed: translation and interpretation regulation](https://who-cester.blogspot.com/2026/06/june-2026-board-of-ed-translation-and.html) _2026-06-23 · Tracy Novick · Whos of Who-cester_ backup is here ; public comment summary is here ; redline is here Martinez notes there's no money attached to this strategic about what is in regs; "want to be nimble" "not intended to create a significant financial burden to any of our districts" balancing making sure that our children's needs are being met Read more » ## [June 2025 Board of Ed: special education regulations](https://who-cester.blogspot.com/2026/06/june-2025-board-of-ed-special-education.html) _2026-06-23 · Tracy Novick · Whos of Who-cester_ You can find the backup here, summary of public comment here , and the redline version here. Martinez, in introducing the topic, notes the intended move of special education from DoE to HHS at the federal level, stressing that it makes it that much more important that Massachusetts have strong laws and regulations to protect students. amend definition of individualized education program to… ## [June 2026 Board of Ed: Civics](https://who-cester.blogspot.com/2026/06/june-2026-civics.html) _2026-06-23 · Tracy Novick · Whos of Who-cester_ Super weird to me that the update includes this "look this curriculum is everywhere" civics law passed in 2018 student-led civics projects Oddly, this presentation is from iCivics, not from DESE staff or school district people, or...this is kind of weird; "goal of schooling is produced informed engaged citizens" "health of our constitutional democracy requires sustained commitment" now speaking… ## [June 2026 Board of Ed: State Student Advisory Council](https://who-cester.blogspot.com/2026/06/june-2026-state-student-advisory-council.html) _2026-06-23 · Tracy Novick · Whos of Who-cester_ State Student Advisory Council for some reason, they never link to the presentation from the SSAC on these...I wish they would used extensive amounts of data in their work host successful regional and statewide stakeholder engagement events Read more » ## [June 2026 Board of Ed: opening comments](https://who-cester.blogspot.com/2026/06/june-2026-board-of-ed-opening-comments.html) _2026-06-23 · Tracy Novick · Whos of Who-cester_ As I noted earlier this week, this agenda has the end-of-year group of reports today: one on civics, because 250th anniversary of the Declaration; the end of year Student Advisory Report; probably some talk about the statewide graduation report, which had its own meeting last night ; the Mitchell Chester award; plus they have regulations to update. There's a pre-meeting rally happening in the… ## [News of interest](https://who-cester.blogspot.com/2026/06/news-of-interest.html) _2026-06-23 · Tracy Novick · Whos of Who-cester_ Some things I have been reading: The Wall Street Journal covers the parent rebellion on about screentime at schools , particularly looking at Lower Merion School District in Pennsylvania, where the school board recently removed an opt-out provision on tech that they'd previously passed. (Cue "that's a bold strategy, Cotton" gif here). It isn't going away, and the level of resistance in some local… ## [It's a two meeting week for the Board of Ed](https://who-cester.blogspot.com/2026/06/its-two-meeting-week-for-board-of-ed.html) _2026-06-22 · Tracy Novick · Whos of Who-cester_ As a reminder: the Board has a special meeting tonight (Monday) at 5 PM virtually, specifically on the recently released graduation report . They have their regular June meeting tomorrow at 9 AM (yes, both agendas are a single page) in Everett. That agenda includes the end of the school year things--the Mitchell Chester award, the end of year report from the student rep from the State Student… ## [I was going to write up something on the literacy bill](https://who-cester.blogspot.com/2026/06/i-was-going-to-write-up-something-on.html) _2026-06-18 · Tracy Novick · Whos of Who-cester_ ...but instead I am going to tell you to read this , from someone in Connecticut, because we could learn from their example! You can do whatever you want creating (blue) hills of paperwork for teacher prep programs to prove to you that they’re doing what you already require them to do. But when it comes to fascism masquerading as curriculum reform, that’s a Yeah-No. Friends don’t let friends.… ## [Some days are like that](https://who-cester.blogspot.com/2026/06/some-days-are-like-that.html) _2026-06-17 · Tracy Novick · Whos of Who-cester_ We had a one-two punch of "who's in charge of this, anyway?" around public education late yesterday: The Trump administration announced that they are moving special education and civil rights enforcement out of the Department of Education ; special education is going to Health and Human Services and civil rights to the Department of Justice. This has of course something that this administration… ## [The graduation report is out](https://who-cester.blogspot.com/2026/06/the-graduation-report-is-out.html) _2026-06-17 · Tracy Novick · Whos of Who-cester_ ...and now rather than talking about what people think it might say, it can be read. You can find the whole thing here . (I haven't read it yet.) The report says it is to the Governor and "Legislative Colleagues," but the first formal discussion will take place at a special evening meeting of the Board of Ed on Monday evening at 5 PM. The agenda isn't up yet, but the livestreams come over this… ## [The voucher question is not entirely sliding below the radar in Massachusetts](https://who-cester.blogspot.com/2026/06/the-voucher-question-is-not-entirely.html) _2026-06-16 · Tracy Novick · Whos of Who-cester_ ...as it was mentioned today on NEPM in this exchange between Carrie Healey (NEPM) and Colin Young (SHNS): Pressure is mounting on Governor Maura Healey to opt Massachusetts into a new federal scholarship tax credit program. Donors can make contributions of up to $1,700 to an approved scholarship group in a participating state that would be distributed as aid. This is an issue that has quickly… ## [SCOTUS reject second student free speech case in two weeks](https://who-cester.blogspot.com/2026/06/scotus-reject-second-student-free.html) _2026-06-16 · Tracy Novick · Whos of Who-cester_ As we're winding down this session of the Supreme Court, there have been two decisions recently that centered on student speech in schools, and in both cases, the Supreme Court declined , backing up earlier decisions that have sided with school districts. The first centered on a 3rd grader wearing a baseball cap with a AK-47 and the words "come and take it" on it. The Appeals Court found:…