FYI from BSF, 03.25.22
Conflict, as usual, draws the big headlines.
A state review of Boston Public Schools will commence next week, after much discussion at and after this week’s Board of Elementary and Secondary Education meeting.
But rather than distilling the daily experiences of children and educators into tweets and political caricatures, let's distinguish between what is actually happening versus political theater.
What is the state policy governing this?
This really starts with the Massachusetts State Constitution, one of the few in America that guarantees a right to an education. This constitutional analysiswas the backbone for the 1993 Massachusetts Education Reform Act. There are a ton of things that the law promulgated (e.g., school-based budgeting, standards, MCAS, etc.), but at its core it represents a “grand” deal between school districts and the Commonwealth: level the playing field between districts with a progressive funding system and, in exchange for the state dollars, districts agree to a set of standards and expectations for which the state can hold them accountable.
After nearly a generation, the law was reconsidered and updated to account for the persistent racial achievement and opportunity gaps identified by the Commonwealth. On Martin Luther King Day in 2010, then Governor Deval Patrick signed an Act Relative to the Achievement Gap.
Again, there were a ton of things the law promulgated, but at its core it represents more defined authority for the state to intervene in struggling schools or school districts. This includes the state's authority to act as a receiver for a chronically underperforming school district.
Why is it happening now? What did the last review find?
Some of the terminology has changed over the past 12 years, but a review is required before the state determines it wishes to intervene at a school or school district in some way (a “turnaround” is more common). The review is essentially an independent audit - data and financial checks, classroom visits and observations, interviews, etc. The Commissioner and his office possess the authority to start and run this process.
In the fall of 2019, reviewing annual data, Commissioner Riley called for a review of Boston Public Schools. When the results were released in February 2020, it immediately sparked concerns around receivership, when the state takes control of a local district (see: Lawrence, Holyoke, and Southbridge).
The Boston audit was 291 pages long, but it worth your time to read the its preamble, word for word.
"The attached report highlights major structural problems within the district, indicating that these are not issues that can simply be resolved on a school-by-school basis. Instead, district-wide policies and systems are significant contributors to student underperformance, particularly of Boston’s economically disadvantaged and other high needs students.
Special education. The report notes the district’s special education services are in “systemic disarray, [and] do not provide appropriate learning opportunities in the least restrictive environment for all students with disabilities.”
English learners. The district has not created equitable conditions to ensure that all English learners progress both academically and in English language development.
Curriculum and assessment. Curriculum guidance is scant, model curricula do not align to the state standards, and assessment is varied and allows the district little ability to track school performance across the district.
Support for principals. Principal turnover is significant and principals in particular express a fundamental disconnect between the activities of central office and the support they need to do their best work for students.
High school. High school graduation requirements vary by school, and inequities exist in access to advanced coursework. Chronic absenteeism is staggering, particularly at the high school level.
Facilities. The condition of some school facilities is poor and, in some cases, facilities do not meet basic student needs, contributing to sub-optimal learning environments.
Transportation. Parent frustration with the longstanding and worsening challenge of poor on-time bus performance is significant, and the amount of lost instructional time is a major concern.
School autonomy model. The autonomy model expanded under former Superintendent Carol Johnson has not been effectively monitored to ensure that only those schools with strong or improved performance receive these flexibilities.
Trust and confidence in central office. Teachers and administrators report little to no confidence in a central office that experiences constant turnover. When central office attempts to provide guidance and structure, it consistently fails to follow through."
As school closed in March 2020, Commissioner Riley and Superintendent Cassellius announced a plan to address the findings of the review. Two years later, however, targets and progress for this agreement have never been shared publicly.
In a letter dated March 9, 2022, Commissioner Riley exercised his authority to conduct another review.
What will happen next week?
A team from the American Institutes of Research (AIR) will fan out across Boston Public Schools. In executing the review, they will assess the district’s progress against the agreement struck in March 2020, and may present new findings.
What happens after the review?
Any answer to this is pure speculation.
What we do know is that a report will be released within the next 4-6 weeks. That report will include information from an independent, respected research organization. That report will include thousands of data points, ranging from observing a single classroom interaction to reviewing financial documents reflecting billions of dollars. That report will be public and available to all.
Ideally, the report establishes a common set of facts, as difficult as those can be to find in our current discourse.
But we can’t set a new course for our schools before we all understand and agree on where we are.
Reopening Boston, MA, and Beyond
School-reported COVID cases increased for the second straight week across Massachusetts and in Boston, approaching fall 2021 levels.
Boston School Committee met on Wednesday, passing its $1.3B+ budget with a 6-1 vote. Next up, City Council hearings before its vote, typically in June. The Superintendent’s report addressed questions around school safety. There was also an update on enrollment and registrations. Materials here.
The topic of schools came up in a 100 Day event with Mayor Wu, with the Mayor committing to maintain mayoral control of schools. With mayoral control and receivership discussion all around, it is worth examining how courts have played a role in shaping schools and school reforms.
Are we at the tragedy or farce stage of history repeating itself? With the partisan blob of masks and curriculum selection playing out in Massachusetts school committees, a New Yorker piece ties it back to the infamous Scopes trial with one clear through line: racial animus.
Are you dissatisfied with schools? If you actually have kids in school, you are less likely to be.
Other Matters
Two quick pictures and stories remind us our future is still bright:
Children in our schools understand the assignment.
Children in our schools achieve great things.
