The spring issue of CommonWealth is out today, with eye-opening reports on the state of special education in Massachusetts and the email ineptitude of many government websites. There is also provocative analysis of our follow-the-leader House and our efforts to embrace renewable energy, as well as commentary on the state’s achievement gap in education, the Group Insurance Commission, and the Massachusetts Port Authority. Be sure to check out our Conversation with Hollywood producer Lynda Obst about the Massachusetts film tax credit and read What Works, which explores the concept of “work colleges.”

The issue is in the mail and posted online in its entirety, in both HTML and PDF formats. Click here to see the full contents, or click on a link below to go directly to the story of your choice (one-time free registration required).

The CommonWealth cover story, by Jack Sullivan and Bruce Mohl, takes a hard look at special education in Massachusetts. It finds that more and more money is being funneled into special education, particularly for tuition to high-priced private schools, even as regular education students face big spending cuts. The story also documents how special education children as a group are falling further behind their regular education peers every year and how an achievement gap of large proportions has opened between special education students in wealthy and poor communities. For those interested in reviewing town-by-town special education data, go to our website.

Our reporting on political stagnation in Massachusetts continues with an analysis done by Michael Jonas on a House of Representatives where debate and dissent have all but disappeared. Gabrielle Gurley provides an update on the state’s efforts to embrace energy efficiency and renewable power, and Colman Herman finds that many government and political websites don’t do a good job of responding to citizen emails. Shawn Zeller, reporting from Washington, tells how scientists are very excited about the new Obama administration.

Alison Lobron filed three pieces for this issue. Her What Works feature shows how students learn life skills at “work colleges.” Her Conversation with Obst reveals that the Hollywood producer loves the state’s lucrative film tax credit but hired only a third of her crew here in Massachusetts. Lobron’s Real Talk column focuses on young adults finding opportunity, and frustration, in New Orleans.

In “Head Count,” Robert David Sullivan graphically analyzes a primary race between Gov. Deval Patrick and Treasurer Timothy Cahill, and in his “State of the States” column he explains why the state’s population is rising slightly.

In Perspectives, you’ll hear from Jay Ash, the city manager in Chelsea, on the achievement gap in education; John Coughlin, a vice president at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, on how the state’s Group Insurance Commission is no health-savings panacea, and John Quelch, the chairman of Massport, on how the quasipublic agency must remain independent.

Enjoy, and let me know what you think and your ideas.

Thanks,
Bruce Mohl
Editor
BMohl@massinc.org