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{{#badges:SPN|AEX}}The '''Pioneer Institute''' (PI) is a conservative right-wing pressure group that describes itself as a "[[think tank]] " that describes itself as is "committed to individual freedom and responsibility, limited and accountable government, and the application of free market principles to state and local policy".<ref>Pioneer Institute, [http://www.pioneerinstitute.org/ Pioneer Institute], organizational website, accessed 2012</ref> It houses and runs the Center for School Reform,<ref>Pioneer Institute, [http://pioneerinstitute.org/pioneers-staff/ Staff], organizational website, accessed February 2013.</ref> the Shamie Center for Better Government,<ref>Pioneer Institute, [http://pioneerinstitute.org/tag/shamie-center-for-better-government/ Shamie Center for Better Government], organizational website, accessed February 2013.</ref> and the Center for Economic Opportunity.<ref>Pioneer Institute, [http://pioneerinstitute.org/center-for-economic-opportunity/ Center for Economic Opportunity], organizational website, accessed February 2013.</ref> It is known for having a staff that has served in various positions in the recent Republican Massachusetts governors’ governors' administrations (Weld, Cellucci, Swift,<ref>Paul Dunphy and Mark Umi Perkings, Political Research Associates, ''[http://www.publiceye.org/libertarian/pioneer-institute/pi-summ.html The Pioneer Institute: Privatizing the Common Wealth]'', book published by research organization, July 2002.</ref> and Romney).<ref name="Globe2">Yvonne Abraham, [http://w3.nexis.com/new/docview/getDocForCuiReq?lni=4857-DSH0-00SX-Y1NT&csi=8110&oc=00240&perma=true Pioneer Group’s Voice Grows Stronger, Think Tank’s Influence Seen In Romney’s Plan] (sub. req'd.), ''Boston Globe'', March 17, 2003.</ref> The Pioneer Institute is a member of the [[State Policy Network]] (SPN). {{About_SPN}}

The Pioneer Institute is has ties to the [[American Legislative Exchange Council]] (ALEC). It has been listed as a state think tank member of the ALEC [[State Policy NetworkEducation Task Force]]<ref>American Legislative Exchange Council, which is [http://www.commoncause.org/atf/cf/%7BFB3C17E2-CDD1-4DF6-92BE-BD4429893665%7D/35_day_mailing_ed_stfs2012(1).pdf Education Task Force Meeting, Spring Task Force Summit, The Westin Charlotte, Charlotte, North Carolina, May 11, 2012], organizational meeting agenda, May 11, 2012, document obtained and released by Common Cause.</ref><ref>Pioneer Institute, [http://pioneerinstitute.org/press_releases/rejection-of-anti-common-core-model-legislation-a-sad-end-to-a private sector member -bizarre-process/ Rejection of Anti-Common Core Model Legislation a Sad End to Bizarre Process], organizational press release, November 29, 2012.</ref> and the [[Health and Human Services Task Force]]. An August 2013 ALEC board document obtained by ''The Guardian'' suggests that the Pioneer Institute terminated its ALEC membership on March 18, 2013 after it was "kicked out of ALEC (?) because of education issue"<ref name="ALECboard">American Legislative Exchange Council, [https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.documentcloud.org/documents/841593/alec-docs.pdf ALEC 40th Anniversary Annual Meeting Board Meeting packet]] , organizational documents, August 6, 2013, released by ''The Guardian'' December 3, 2013.</ref> (presumably a resolution in opposition to Common Core that passed the Education Task Force twice but was voted down by ALEC's board).<ref>Pioneer Institute, [http://pioneerinstitute.org/press_releases/rejection-of-anti-common-core-model-legislation-a-sad-end-to-a-bizarre-process/ Rejection of Anti-Common Core Model Legislation a Sad End to a Bizarre Process], organizational press release, November 29, 2012.</ref> SPN is also a private sector member of ALEC.

PI is also a member of the ALEC '''See [[Education Task Force]SPN Ties to ALEC].<ref>American Legislative Exchange Council, [http://www.commoncause.org/atf/cf/%7BFB3C17E2-CDD1-4DF6-92BE-BD4429893665%7D/35_day_mailing_ed_stfs2012(1).pdf Education Task Force Meeting, Spring Task Force Summit, The Westin Charlotte, Charlotte, North Carolina, May 11, 2012], organizational meeting agenda, May 11, 2012, document obtained and released by Common Cause.</ref><ref>Pioneer Institute, [http://pioneerinstitute.org/press_releases/rejection-of-anti-common-core-model-legislation-a-sad-end-to-a-bizarre-process/ Rejection of Anti-Common Core Model Legislation a Sad End to Bizarre Process], organizational press release, November 29, 2012for more.</ref>'''