FYI from BSF, 09.10.21
Education 2021
Historic. Pivotal.
You can’t read about Tuesday’s preliminary mayoral election without hearing those two words. With good reason.
Will that mean changes in education? After months of campaigning, this past week education suddenly leapt to the front of the mayoral race. It became the number one issue for voters in one of the last public poll before the election (page 2). Education dominated a large share of time during the two mayoral debates on Wednesday and Thursday.
And there were problems with buses.
Despite promises to “create creative solutions,” there were problems with buses. How many problems? Although described as “smooth,” almost of half the buses were late. This made a lot of news - probably because of the timing during an open election - but it’s not new.
Like in 2010, when software issues created bus mistakes and delays.
Like in 2013, when drivers staged a strike, stranding kids during the last open mayor’s race.
Like in 2015, when chronic late buses were identified at the start of the superintendency of Dr. Chang.
Like in 2017, when the city was going to change start and end times for schools, and then didn’t.
Like in 2019, when bus delays plagued the start of the superintendency of Dr. Cassellius.
It would be easy to give a shrug of low expectations or let out a cynical sigh, but that passes on the difficult truth. Yes, there are complexities in busing, but, at its core, transportation is a simple activity: move x kids from point A to point B.
Teaching kids to read is complex. Delivering high-quality services for students with special needs and English learners is complex. School funding is complex.
These disparate topics have a common thread - they are all explicitly cited in the state’s audit of Boston.
This arc extends across three mayors and five superintendents, and it says as much about leadership as it does about us and the culture of this city. About our unwillingness to participate in partnership and positive political accountability, and our tendency to talk about - but not actually solve or settle - systemic issues.
Buses aren’t the only example.
How about budget issues? Here is a compilation of nearly identical press clips over 14 years on the issue.
Exam schools? It was almost five years from the first signs of racial unrest at Boston Latin to the change in admissions policies this past year. And the policy is still incomplete.
Charter schools? Although that policy issue was settled (very convincingly) five years ago, it is still being discussed this week.
PreK? This issue received a lot of attention in the 2013 mayoral election, but it is eight years later and we are still working on it.
As recently noted: There is no silver bullet. Moving education forward will require city leaders to open up more seats at decision-making tables to those who have the most at stake, and to be accountable for delivering the change stakeholders demand. In Boston, it starts with political will and mayoral accountability.
We will be halfway to new leadership in this city by next Tuesday, but that alone is not the solution to old problems.
There is a lot of work for us all to do.
Reopening Schools in Boston, MA, and Beyond
With the first day of school in Boston yesterday (also, fun pics here) reopening work continues. Working conditions for teachers are finally official.
After many requests from Boston families, tents are coming for outdoor meals. Some families are asking for even more mitigation - extended remote learning options. Early data from across the country indicates interest in virtual options may be waning, and the warnings about the limits of remote learning are no longer theoretical: this week, Connecticut released assessment data that showed an alarming gap between students who were in-person, hybrid, and remote last year.
Questions about how schools will open across the country are coming home to Massachusetts. After an early outbreak in Melrose, the state has now reinstated its policy of tracking and reporting COVID-19 cases among students and educators. It is becoming increasingly clear that local vaccination rates will really matter. LA is poised to be the first major school district to require student vaccinations.
Recovery will require more mental health supports.
Here is a deep dive with experts in other cities/states for recovery.
Boston School Committee was spared much of the drama other school boards experienced this summer.
Louisiana and other areas in the northeast are contending with pandemic, as well as flood-damaged communities.