Education Policy

EMC Chairman, President, and CEO Joe Tucci is a leading member of the Business Roundtable (BRT), an association of 150 of the Fortune 500 CEOs, which advocates policies supporting America’s position as a world economic leader. Joe also served as chairman of the BRT’s Task Force on Education and the Workforce, which seeks to prepare U.S. high school graduates for success in a global economy.

In June of 2007, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick asked Joe Tucci to co-chair the Readiness Project, a fifteen-member group of business, education, and community leaders developing a 10-year strategic plan to improve education in Massachusetts, from pre-kindergarten through higher education. Among the goals of this project are:

• Expanding early childhood education
• Reducing the achievement gaps that persist between African-American and Hispanic students and their white and Asian-American peers
• Reducing the high school dropout rate and ensuring that high school graduates are ready for college and the workforce
• Improving math and science teaching
• Driving greater utilization of community colleges as part of a broad workforce strategy
• Integrating the education system from pre-kindergarten through higher education.

Double the number of graduates by 2015

The members of the Business Roundtable strongly believe that it is time to pursue a dramatically increased commitment to math and science. The Task Force on Education and the Workforce has prepared a statement—signed by presidents of major national business organizations—so that the national business community might speak with one voice on the need to address U.S. competitiveness in science, technology, engineering, and math education. This statement identifies the "Education for Innovation Initiative’s" goal to double the number of graduates in these areas of study by the year 2015.

EMC makes the case for education reform

EMC has hosted a number of events to discuss education reform with business leaders, government officials, teachers and others in the education community.

In July 2006, EMC hosted US Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings to discuss the region's math and science competitiveness and share best practices during a two-day Teacher-to-Teacher conference featuring national and state business and government leaders and more than 150 teachers from throughout the Northeast. And, at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. in 2005, Joe hosted a public forum with Secretary Spellings and Senator Edward M. Kennedy addressing the landmark No Child Left Behind Act education reform law.

In June 2007, EMC again hosted the U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings, this time in the fourth of five nation-wide Higher Education Summits. At EMC, Secretary Spellings addressed an audience of university and college presidents as well as business, government, community, and primary and secondary education leaders. She highlighted several of her Higher Education Act (HEA) reauthorization priorities and discussed the importance of access, affordability, and accountability in higher education.

EMC’s Goode serves on committee

As a result of Tucci's BRT leadership, the National Governor’s Association (NGA) asked Chris Goode, EMC Sr. Director of Corporate Government Affairs and Public Policy, to serve on the independent selection committee for the NGA's Honor States Grant Program in 2005. The committee made decisions about grant awards of $500,000-$1 million annually for two years to states to strengthen their high school students’ academic achievements and literacy.

Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney appointed Goode to the Massachusetts Development Finance Agency, which is the state’s finance and economic development authority. Mass Development provides the financial tools and real estate expertise needed to stimulate economic growth across the state of Massachusetts.

Previously, Goode served on the Massachusetts Board of Early Education and Care. Preschool education is another BRT priority for its importance in reducing dropout rates in years to come. Programs from these organizations give children a stronger foundation for academic success.

In September 2005, Goode represented EMC and the Business Roundtable on a research trip to China. Leaders in American business and public education visited schools and met with education officials to learn more about China's approach to teaching math and science. China has achieved its goal of universal compulsory education up to the ninth grade and now is focusing on high-school education. In rural areas, improving the quality of vocational education also is a priority. The summary of what they learned was compiled into a report, Education in China: Lessons for U.S. Educators.