FYI from BSF, 03.24.23
Educators' commitment to increasing graduation rates is often coupled with the goal to reduce the number students dropping out of school prior to completion.
Following on the state's data release, the trends for high school dropout rates closely track graduation rates.
Over the past decade, dropout rates in Boston and across Massachusetts have declined.
The rate of decline is more significant for Boston, moving closer to closing the gap completely. Not only has progress across Massachusetts stalled, there was a slight increase from 2021 to 2022. This appears to be a national trend.
Despite progress, there are still gaps among subgroups in Boston.
This data largely reflects graduation data, but close readers will notice we added data by gender. As noted by several readers, there is a gender gap in graduation rates (chart for Boston here).
There is high variability among Boston high schools (Horace Mann and Commonwealth charters included).
Schools with high graduation rates have low dropout rates, and vice versa.
Moving left to right, the line of fit is clear and significant (-0.8).
Overall, one sees a picture of progress, with gaps to address. But there are reasons to be concerned about future trends.
Most immediately, graduation rates may dip and dropout rates may rise next year just as a function of correcting data systems. Superintendent Skipper acknowledged this at Wednesday’s School Committee meeting.
More broadly, high school graduation rates and dropout rates are watched so closely because of their ties to college and career opportunities and success. Based on data released this week by Success Boston, rates of Boston students’ college enrollment directly after high school has dropped even as graduation rates have increased.
This mirrors national trends, which reflect a decline in higher education enrollment from the onset of the pandemic.
Like many things, time will tell whether this is a blip, or a new normal.
Notes in the Margin
Jam-packed Boston School Committee meeting this week. After long discussion and dissenting votes, the budget passed and now moves on the City Council. A new bus contract and an application for state funding for the new Shaw-Taylor building were also approved. Full materials here.
Concerning headlines from Boston Asian student survey data was followed by the release of more comprehensive student and educator survey data.
The City of Boston is funding the training of new early childhood educators.
From Quincy to Wellesley to LA, teachers and local governments are at budget impasses. What would be the effect of legalizing teacher strikes in Massachusetts?
Past attempts to opt out of standardized testing has been limited to other states and more affluent families. The Massachusetts Teachers Association wants more families and educators to opt out here.
Secretary Pat Tutwiler is interviewed, with a significant focus on the Governor’s proposed budget. The supplemental budget looks to extend universal free school meals. METCO advocates would like to see more funding, too.
Researchers continue to sift through data to explain the decline of 1.2M American children from public schools.
The nuances of teacher shortages, explained.
Remember this 1994 photo of the leaders of Big Tobacco testifying before Congress? If petitioning states get their way, it could be tech CEOs next, answering questions about how social media is contributing to the child mental health crisis. This was also a theme of this week’s Congressional hearings on TikTok.
Some school districts - closer to home such as Central Falls, RI, and farther away in New Mexico - are using federal funds to extend the school-year.
A unanimous decision by the US Supreme Court codifies expanded special education access.
The looming budget showdown in Congress could have implications for the US Department of Education (and marginalized students).
Other Matters
Winship Elementary's Tanoisha Inomata is Boston’s spelling bee champion.