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Schools
This School District Is Tops In Massachusetts In Brand-New National Rankings This School District Is Tops In Massachusetts In Brand-New National Rankings
This School District Is Tops In Massachusetts In Brand-New National Rankings It’s no secret that Massachusetts is home to some of the nation’s finest public school districts. But which top the list? A school district in Middlesex County overwhelmingly earned top marks in the commonwealth, according to a newly released ranking. Each year, Niche issues its rankings of the top districts across the US, factoring in reviews from parents, students, and data from the US Department of Education. According to Niche, ranking factors include state test scores, college readiness, graduation rates, SAT/ACT scores, teacher quality, public school district ratings, and other data…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
New Elementary, Middle School Rankings Launched By U.S. News & World Report New Elementary, Middle School Rankings Launched By U.S. News & World Report
New Elementary, Middle School Rankings Launched By U.S. News & World Report State-by-state high school rankings by U.S. News & World Report have become eagerly awaited by parents, students, educators, and even real estate agents. Now, the media company has launched rankings of elementary and middle schools. Unlike the high school rankings, there are no national rankings of elementary and middle schools.  There are overall state rankings and state rankings broken down by school district.  "We also published statewide rankings specific to charter schools and magnet schools," U.S. News & World Report said. "We hope these statistical assessmen…

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by Joe Lombardi
Schools
COVID-19: Massachusetts National Guard Activated To Test Students For Virus COVID-19: Massachusetts National Guard Activated To Test Students For Virus
Covid-19: Massachusetts National Guard Activated To Test Students For Virus Hundreds of members of the Massachusetts National Guard have been activated to help support the testing of Kindergarten through 12th-grade students across the Commonwealth. Gov. Charlie Baker issued an order on Tuesday, Oct. 12 enlisting up to 450 members of the state’s National Guard to help support two missions. The Governor’s orders activate up to 200 members of the Guard to support COVID-19 testing in K-12 schools throughout the Commonwealth and up to 250 members to offset potential staffing shortages at the Department of Correction (DOC). “We are grateful that the National Guard has …

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by Zak Failla
Schools
COVID-19: Harvard Business School Moves Courses Online After Surge In Breakthrough Cases COVID-19: Harvard Business School Moves Courses Online After Surge In Breakthrough Cases
Covid-19: Harvard Business School Moves Courses Online After Surge In Breakthrough Cases Some students at the Harvard Business School will temporarily be transitioning to remote learning this week as it contends with a surge in breakthrough COVID-19 cases on campus. The school in Boston will go remote for first-year MBA and some second-year students through Sunday, Oct. 3 due to a rise in newly confirmed cases, despite the majority of students and staff being vaccinated. According to the school, approximately 95 percent of students and more than 96 percent of staff are vaccinated against COVID-19. Students have been advised by school officials to avoid unmasked indoor events, …

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by Zak Failla
Schools
'Devious Licks' Social Media Challenge Leads To Criminal Charges For Kids Across US 'Devious Licks' Social Media Challenge Leads To Criminal Charges For Kids Across US
'Devious Licks' Social Media Challenge Leads To Criminal Charges For Kids Across US Some students are facing legal troubles after taking part in a controversial social media trend. The "Devious Licks" challenge on the TikTok app encourages people to steal or vandalize school property. Many students have targeted their school's bathrooms, stealing soap dispensers, clogging toilets, and more.  Some students are reportedly facing criminal charges. A 15-year-old was arrested in Arizona for stealing a school toilet paper dispenser, authorities reported. Some students are now being required to keep their phones on their desks so they can’t make recordings in school bathro…

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by Nicole Valinote
Schools
COVID-19: Hundreds Of CT School Bus Drivers Planning To Walk Off Job Ahead Of Vaccine Mandate COVID-19: Hundreds Of CT School Bus Drivers Planning To Walk Off Job Ahead Of Vaccine Mandate
Covid-19: Hundreds Of CT School Bus Drivers Planning To Walk Off Job Ahead Of Vaccine Mandate Hundreds of school bus drivers in the region are ready to walk away from their jobs as they face a mandate to get vaccinated against COVID-19 or else potentially lose their positions. Amid a national school bus driver shortage, nearly 300 drivers are ready to walk away with the state’s COVID-19 vaccinate mandate set to go into effect on Monday, Sept. 27. Related story - Massachusetts Calls On National Guard To Assist In School Bus Driver Shortage As part of Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont’s vaccination mandate, drivers who are unvaccinated must undergo weekly testing. According to reports, …

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by Zak Failla
Schools
Five Massachusetts Schools Awarded Blue Ribbon Status Five Massachusetts Schools Awarded Blue Ribbon Status
Five Massachusetts Schools Awarded Blue Ribbon Status Five schools in Massachusetts have earned top marks in 2021 by being recognized with National Blue Ribbon status. US Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona announced 325 schools across the country were recognized for their overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among students. In Massachusetts, these schools were designated as National Blue Ribbon recipients: John D. Hardy Elementary School in Wellesley (Norfolk County); Josiah Haynes Elementary School in Sudbury (Middlesex County); Northfield Elementary School in Northfield (Franklin County); Weston Middle Sc…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
Massachusetts Colleges Rank 1, 2 Nationally For Liberal Arts Massachusetts Colleges Rank 1, 2 Nationally For Liberal Arts
Massachusetts Colleges Rank 1, 2 Nationally For Liberal Arts Two Massachusetts colleges were listed as the top two liberal arts colleges in the country, according to a new ranking.  Williams College in Williamstown in Berkshire County ranked No. 1 and Amherst College in Hampshire County was ranked second for Best National Liberal Arts Colleges in the U.S. News & World Report's 2022 Best College Rankings.  U.S. News said it created the rankings to help prospective students compare schools. The rankings are calculated based on a number of factors, including graduation and retention rates, undergraduate academic reputation, and m…

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by Nicole Valinote
Schools
Massachusetts Calls On National Guard To Assist In School Bus Driver Shortage Massachusetts Calls On National Guard To Assist In School Bus Driver Shortage
Massachusetts Calls On National Guard To Assist In School Bus Driver Shortage Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker is calling in the cavalry to help the state with transporting students to class at the beginning of the new school year. Baker announced that he is activating as many as 250 Guard members to assist with school transportation as the country contends with a massive bus driver shortage that left some districts scrambling to get students to class. 
“We asked a bunch of communities if they'd be interested in having Guard people drive vehicles for them, especially the smaller buses," Baker said in a briefing this week. "A bunch of communities said if y…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
COVID-19: School District In Hampshire County Considering Vaccine Mandate COVID-19: School District In Hampshire County Considering Vaccine Mandate
Covid-19: School District In Hampshire County Considering Vaccine Mandate A school district in Western Massachusetts is considering a COVID-19 vaccination mandate to go along with orders to wear facial coverings while in school buildings. Officials in the Amherst-Pelham Regional School District are considering taking the extra step to provide extra protection against the spread of the virus by mandating faculty and staff members all get the COVID-19 vaccine. The decision will now move forward to a special school committee vote. Officials noted that if mandated, particular religious and health exemptions would have to be agreed upon between the school and its se…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
COVID-19: Massachusetts District Quarantines Two Classrooms Right After School Starts COVID-19: Massachusetts District Quarantines Two Classrooms Right After School Starts
Covid-19: Massachusetts District Quarantines Two Classrooms Right After School Starts The new year got off to a false start for some schools in Massachusetts that are contending with new COVID-19 cases. The Melrose School District in Middlesex County is reporting seven confirmed positive COVID-19 cases in the district among adults and students, forcing some students and staff who were considered close contacts to quarantine. In Melrose, the new outbreak impacted at least two classrooms, though Gov. Charlie Baker said that returning to remote learning is not an option following a lost year for many students. “Schools have a certain number of days baked into their calendar t…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
COVID-19: CDC Outlines 'Key Strategies' Schools Should Employ To Keep Kids, Staff Safe COVID-19: CDC Outlines 'Key Strategies' Schools Should Employ To Keep Kids, Staff Safe
Covid-19: CDC Outlines 'Key Strategies' Schools Should Employ To Keep Kids, Staff Safe The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released its COVID-19 safety guidelines for schools as students return to the classroom.  CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said the most important recommendation from the agency is that everyone eligible for COVID-19 vaccination gets vaccinated before school starts.  Walensky shared the guidelines at a White House press briefing on Tuesday, Aug. 31. Walensky said universal masking is also important for students, teachers, staff and visitors, regardless of their vaccination status. The CDC also recommended that schoo…

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by Nicole Valinote