FYI from BSF, 12.11.20
Some things we have read through recently...
Feature, Not Bug (Part II)
We were really happy to collaborate with Boston Indicators on this report, using our analysis from last week on declining Boston Public Schools enrollment.
But what about the other kids in Boston?
There is self-reported data that Catholic school enrollment is up, and certainly anecdotal data that homeschooling has increased. Without firm numbers - the state has not typically reported this data until after the school-year (most recent example) - it is difficult to make any claims about where kids went and why.
However, there is one other puzzle piece that is clear: COVID-19 did not cause Boston charter school enrollment to decline.
As new schools were approved and scaled, Boston charter school enrollment substantially increased since 2015, sustaining through COVID-19 with a slight increase in enrollment (~300 students or 2.4%).
2. The enrollment increases were among Black students (1.2%) & Latino students (3.9%), the exact opposite trend in BPS.
3. The only substantial shift in special populations was Economically Disadvantaged students, tracking the exact same trend across Massachusetts and in BPS.
4. Most grade levels were stable or posted increases, with the notable exception of 5th grade (where BPS also saw substantial decline.
5. This was not the case with the six Horace Mann (or “in-district”) charters; their enrollment showed a decline of 127 students, a decline of 4.7%, nearly identical to the BPS average.
Boston charter enrollment has a floor - 0, to be exact, if no families or students choose them. And, Boston charter schools have a ceiling - with a cap in place, any future enrollment increases would be marginal. Long-term projections of Boston charter enrollment will continue to be driven by family demand for those schools.
On Wednesday night at 7 PM, Boston Families Building Boston Schools will host another Town Hall in its fall series.
Reopening Boston, MA, and Beyond
With continued mounting pressure from families and the state, Boston announced on Monday that 28 school buildings would reopen on Monday, December 14, serving 1,700 high need students. Despite continued questions around buildings and protocols, the Superintendent promised even more students returning after winter break.
This shift has been quick and pronounced - it is easy to forget the controversy that erupted around this topic when in-person learning stopped at BPS two months ago. Boston’s rates are 4x this week than they were in October. Yesterday, Mayor Walsh signaled further rollbacks.
Two meetings for Boston School Committee next week, the typical one next Wednesday, and a special retreat scheduled for tomorrow. Agenda is posted. BPS will present on the current strategic plan (35 minutes), remote learning (30 minutes), and budget (30 minutes); the Council on Great City Schools will also present (120 minutes). Despite many comments in the last School Committee, no agenda item concerning anti-racism. To date, there has been no public release of remote learning or academic data, aside from grades at one school (because they were noticed by a parent who also happens to be a city councillor).
The strain of remote learning, however, is clear, considering technology gaps (especially in Latino communities) and out-of-school-time centers like the Boys and Girls Clubs converting to remote learning centers. Also, it appears that learning time is going to be addressed at the state Board meeting next Tuesday.
Some more Boston student voices are being heard.
MCAS tests slated for January have been delayed, as well as ACCESS for ELLs.
The announcement of a rollback due to higher COVID-19 rates was quickly followed by news from the state about the initial release of the vaccination schedule.
All Massachusetts educators could be vaccinated by the end of Phase 2 in April. But how that will roll out and how will that affect or not affect the school in May or June or summer services remains to be seen.
Until then, last week saw the highest school-reported rates since recording began, increasing concerns around in-school transmission, and new criticism of the Governor.
Other Matters
Thanks, Shah Foundation, for highlighting our recent work with your latest podcast episode.