Our Partners

The New England Secondary School Consortium is committed to creating in-state and cross-state networks that can help the five states pursue their common mission. The following partner organizations each play vital role in the Consortium, lending leadership, expertise, and resources to New England's educators.

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people's health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all people—especially those with the fewest resources—have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life. The Gates Foundation provided a $500,000 partnership grant to support the first eighteen months of the Consortium's work. [website]

Center for Education Policy Analysis
The Center for Education Policy Analysis (CEPA) at the University of Connecticut's Neag School of Education works to inform educational leaders on issues related to the development, implementation, and consequences of educational policies. CEPA provides assistance to schools, agencies, and organizations through policy research and evaluation, while bringing together key leaders to discuss important policy topics. CEPA is supported by Neag faculty and graduate students who specialize in education policy and policy analysis, and CEPA Associates are highly trained in qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, and are experienced policy analysts and program evaluators. The Center for Education Policy Analysis conducted a comprehensive review of education policies in the five Consortium states, completed case studies of potential high leverage policies, and authored High Leverage Policy Framework, a tool designed to guide policy makers and educational leaders as they develop new policies and work to enact transformative change in public schools. [website]

Maine Coalition for Excellence in Education
The Maine Coalition for Excellence in Education (MCEE) is a statewide alliance of business and educational leaders advocating for educational opportunity and equity. For nearly two decades, MCEE has championed standards-based education—the idea that students must demonstrate they have mastered what matters and schools must demonstrate continuous improvement in learning for all students, regardless of socioeconomic background. The New England Secondary School Consortium is working closely with the MCEE's PREPARE MAINE initiative—which is organizing a statewide network of advocates to support a bold vision for a high-quality 21st century education system that spans early childhood through lifelong learning—to develop educational messaging and community mobilization strategies that can be shared across New England. [website]

New England Association of Schools and Colleges
The New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) provides accreditation services for more than 2000 public and private institutions in the six state region—Pre-K through university. Emanating from high quality standards, NEASC accreditation uses self-reflection, peer review and best practices as integral components of its assessment process and monitors the follow-up endeavors leading to continuous school/program improvement. NEASC consists of six Commissions, each of which sets the standards for a particular segment of the educational community. NEASC is a member of the New England Secondary School Consortium Council. [website]

New England Board of Higher Education
Established in 1955, the New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE) is a nonprofit, congressionally authorized agency that works to develop and implement strategies to increase the economic competitiveness and well-being of the region and its citizens through expanded college participation and success. In pursuit of its mission, NEBHE works across the six New England states to engage and assist leaders in the assessment, development, and implementation of sound education practices and policies of regional significance; promote policies, programs, and best practices to assist the states in implementing important regional higher education policies; promote regional cooperation and programs that encourage the efficient use and sharing of educational resources; and provide leadership to strengthen the relationship between higher education and the economic well-being of New England. NEBHE is a member of the New England Secondary School Consortium Council. [website]

University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute
The University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute provides government, business, and non-profit organizations with effective solutions in the areas of research, organizational development, training, and technical assistance. We are the public service, outreach, and economic development unit of the University of Massachusetts President's Office. Working with our clients, we draw upon the faculty and staff from the five UMass campuses, bridging academic theory with real-world business applications. The Donahue Institute is the New England Secondary School Consortium's evaluator, providing detailed, in-process feedback to Consortium leaders. [website]