FYI from BSF, 01.15.21

Some things we have read through recently...

Headlines

Glowing headlines that Boston schools are reopening, a centerpiece of Mayor Walsh’s likely final State of the City, reinforced at a press conference yesterday. 

But, if the past is a guide, we have one message Boston parents should hear and remember from this post: don’t go out and buy a new lunchbox just yet.

The reopening guidelines are very comprehensive and commendable.  Every health and safety consideration has been taken into account - testing, air filters, monitoring, PPE, and more.  There is a continued commitment to get more high needs kids back in buildings, as early as in 2 weeks or so.

But there are factors that make this BPS announcement “tentative,” in their own words.  Students, families, educators should be waiting and watching for a few key things.

Remote Learning

This is still how almost all students are learning.  How is it going?

The presentation at Wednesday’s school committee meeting was not heartening, given the rates of absences and racial disparities.  There was no data or summary of student learning or socioemotional needs.  As always, you can get a full meeting download from the Shah Foundation podcast.  

Building Readiness

There are a lot of things to do in ~100 buildings in the next 6 weeks.  Let alone buses.

What if one classroom, one school isn’t ready?  A bus route? Will some students return, and not others?  Or does the entire timetable gets delayed, as it was this fall?

Positivity Rates

Below the big headlines, there is the fine print: the Boston Public Health Commission still makes the call on whether school buildings open. 

A new threshold of a 10% 7-day positivity rate was set.  This week, Boston’s 7-day positivity rate was 8.7%.  The statewide infection rate (r) is borderline high.

Without stronger measures and with a more contagious virus, it is highly unlikely we will see a sharp decline in rates (that has only happened once - last spring, following lockdown).

As the weeks of February roll-on, families, educators, and leaders will be following this number carefully.

Vaccination Pace

Educators are in the next phase of vaccinations, although vaccination roll-out is behind across the country and in MA.  Phase 2 starts next month, but educators are not at the front of that line, putting aside the fact that there has been no plan or released collective bargaining about vaccination for teachers in Boston.  There has been a call to prioritize vaccination in low-income school districts.  By contrast, NYC teachers are already getting vaccinated.

Even assuming PK-12 educators were all vaccinated by March 1st, the same logistical issues that complicate hybrid instruction - buses, building capacity, schedules, communication - still apply because children are still not immune.  Recall, these things were never implemented in Boston this fall.

Keeping Classrooms Open

Will there be enough adults in buildings?   High community transmission rates means adults are more likely to be ill.  And, the agreement between the city and the Boston Teachers Union still allows teachers to opt-out and accommodate remote teaching.

High community transmission rates also mean it is more likely that students will be ill (resulting in not just danger and absences, but often closed classrooms).  Boston families will have the option to opt-in to in-person instruction, but tons of polling data indicate that Black and Latinx families prefer to learn remotely now.  3 out of 4 BPS students identify as Black or Latinx.

No one can expect leaders to predict or control the future.  But we should expect them to use facts to plan and communicate directly and proactively.  

In the waning days of the summer of 2020, Boston teachers and families studied and re-studied the sign below, Boston’s “plan.” 

Unfortunately, like too many things, the 2021 version doesn’t look that different yet.

Boston's families and students are waiting and watching.

Reopening in MA and Beyond

The big Massachusetts news of last week was rolling out pooled testing, with the hope of returning more students and teachers to buildings.  Nearly 1,000 school-based COVID-19 cases have been reported since January 7th.

Chicago’s reopening is off to a rough start.

With a light at the end of a long tunnel, thoughts turn to recovery.  Research indicates giving the MCAS this year would still provide a valid measure.  A detailed analysis by ERS starts to price the cost of recovery next year: $2,500/student.  Boston should expect about ~$2,000/student from the most recent federal stimulus.  How do we make up the gap (if not the Biden plan released last night)?  What will we spend it on?  

New polling data from MassInc shines some light on this.  Of many great insights, voters of color prefer bold investments in education.

Be sure to catch the video of last night's 39th Annual MLK Celebration, featuring dance, music, and art from BPS schools (including many of our partners).