Charter Schools are public schools run independently from any district, often focusing on a certain subject matter or niche. MERA recognizes charter schools and offers the same support as any public school. These schools have to be open to all students and students must meet the same statewide standards set for all public schools. (1)

MERA also added requirements on the amount of time spent learning in schools. Now Districts must submit a calendar each year with at least 900 hours in elementary schools and 990 hours in secondary schools to study the core academic subjects. (1)

School funding can make or break a highly capable school district. The Act creates a "foundation budget" ensuring each school is at a functional level of funding. The amount is determined on certain demographic and economic statistics of the district. The average foundation budget in 1993 was $5500 per student. Currently, the total amount of divided state funding is roughly $2 billion. (1)

School districts will be evaluated as a whole to determine their performance and to identify school districts in need of improvement. If a district is deemed as "under-performing" the state can intervene as necessary to raise the district to the acceptable standard The measure of this criteria is determined by the Board and the Commissioner. (1)

Effective and relevant material is the first major component needed for a school's success. Before the Act history and physical education were the only recognized core subjects. MERA now instates a new contemporary and comprehensive framework for every teacher and school to develop their curriculum. The new framework was adapted from the Common Core of Learning Framework developed during the Education Reform period, improving the science/technology, mathematics, world languages, the arts, and health standards as well as further developing the English and language arts standards. (1)

In order to measure student development and therefore identify students, schools, and school districts in need, the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) was created as a statewide test. This test now shows each student's strengths in accordance with the state standards which will allow schools to identify areas where students may be lacking some comprehension. The Act requires that the tests be given to students in grades 4, 8, and 10. (1)

This Act more thoroughly standardizes the requirements needed for a student to graduate high school. In addition to meeting school-specific graduation requirements, students must pass a new 10th-grade test measuring comprehension of the basic subject areas acknowledged in the state's new framework. MERA also includes pathways that would allow students passing the new test to receive other certificates in the future like the Certificate of Occupational Proficiency or a Certificate of Mastery. (1)

Teachers are also held to higher standards with the MERA. The Act now requires that all new teachers are required to pass the Massachusetts Test for Educator Licensure (MTEL) to become certified to teach in Massachusetts public schools. Two MTELs must be passed, the communication/literacy skills and a test assessing knowledge of subject content. Veteran teachers certified before 1998 are required to take a test in their subject content as well. (1)