FYI from BSF, 03.19.21

Things look a little different again this week…

Thanks for all the thumbs-up messages, usual follow-up questions (you can still reply directly to me here), and constructive ideas. Pardon me as we test and tweak things and work more kinks over the next few weeks...

5,000 students is roughly the equivalent of two Massachusetts school districts.

Changing Seasons

As of this week, we have summer, fall, and winter data on Massachusetts families and schools.  The third in a series of polls by MassINC was released on Wednesday.  

Summary.  Slides.  Get in the weeds if you want.

There are some clear trends.  There appears to be movement to one of two poles: remote learning or in-person learning.  Families are increasingly worried about academic progress and mental health.  Vaccination of educators, and children, is important.  Hybrid schooling continues to be unpopular.  There continues to be significant variances by race and income.

There are some clear policy implications.  School systems have to continue to keep their eye on remote learning even as more children and educators return to buildings.  With vaccines up to a year away for 6 month-12-year-olds, expect continued mitigation measures, like pooled testing, in schools.  System leaders and families seem to agree that programming this summer is a big priority.  There is certainly plenty of money to do all of this. 

However, the MassINC data was collected starting February 8th. 

Things can shift quickly in schools, and in politics for that matter.

A very recently fielded national poll - after more buildings opened, vaccination rates dramatically increased, and President’s Biden announcement of a faster vaccine timeline - had a pretty stark result: almost 80% of families now indicated a preference for in-person schooling.

The reopening divides - by race, income, and even partisanship - may have an underlying factor:  

“The strongest predictor of whether parents are willing to send their children back turns out to be whether their own school is open.” 

As more and more schools have reopened across the state and country, families’ trust and comfort appear to be following.

MassINC has done a great public service in amplifying family voice and opinion through the pandemic.

With so many high-stakes decisions and plans this coming spring, it would be useful to know where families stand in this new season.

Reopening in Boston, MA, and Beyond

With more students returning to classrooms this week, vaccine clinics set up, and new public reporting, Boston is trending to more in-person instruction.  Dr. Cassellius referenced a full return in the fall.

Before then?  There is no public indication yet that Boston will ask for a waiver for the state’s in-person mandate.  BPS re-surveyed all its families again this week to determine demand for remote vs. in-person learning.

Commissioner Riley reflects on the past year, and the recent push for reopening.  An emergency bill has been filed to delay that timeline, but not clear what state legislators will do about that topic or MCAS.  At a hearing on Tuesday, Riley testified that MCAS cancellation is unlikely given federal requirements, keeping in mind Riley committed to assessments even before Biden was president.

With more in-person school happening, pods still hold the interest of local and national media: how are they going and will they continue?

This is the most comprehensive take on schools, March 2020 - March 2021, that we saw last week.

The United States Department of Education is running its first national convening on the pandemic next Wednesday.

Education 2021

There was a School Committee Meeting on Wednesday, including summer updates and more details on the budget - be on the lookout for our next budget series installment.

Two City Councilors who also happen to be mayoral candidates testified and engaged with the School Committee.  With three and possibly more City Council members running for mayor, the BPS budget hearings that extend through June will likely have an even more pronounced political timbre this year.

Other Matters

Given the escalating acts of hatred and violence against Asian-Americans, it is important that schools leverage resources for students and educators.

Student perspectives of METCO were highlighted.

With a federal hearing this week and a trial set for April 6th, Boston’s exam school controversy has gone national.

Watch a powerful video chronicling the past year at Boston Collegiate.