FYI from BSF, 12.9.22
Boston Enrollment: Charters
One of the largest shifts in the Boston school landscape over the past decade has been the expansion of charter schools. The growth of charter schools in Boston stems back to 2010, with the passage of the Act Relative to the Achievement Gap. This resulted in more Boston students attending both Commonwealth charter schools, along with Horace Mann (or “in-district”) charter schools.
During a period when the child population and Boston Public School enrollment declined, Boston charter enrollment increased by nearly one-half.
Enrollment has plateaued as the charter sector neared its cap. The majority of Boston charter schools have lost enrollment since 2019, the exception largely being schools that are completing expansion.
Even with an increase in Hispanic/Latino enrollment, the racial demography of charters has remained remarkably consistent as enrollment increased.
Mirroring broader trends in the city, there is a higher concentration of high-needs and low-income students in Boston charters.
This data does not comport with simple narratives.
Over time, enrollment decline in Boston Public Schools is significantly greaterthan the enrollment increase in charters. The data does not indicate Boston families transferred from traditional district schools to charters during the pandemic. Our analysis will show METCO and private school enrollment as stable.
There are other, larger forces at play.
We have fewer kids in the city than we did even three years ago, and a lot fewer than we did a decade ago.
It is time to have an honest conversation about the child population in Boston, and what needs to be done to meet the needs of a changed and changing city.
Notes in the Margin
Boston School Committee met on Wednesday. Full materials here; from collective bargaining to an annual equity report, there is a lot of content.
An additional round of parent polling in Boston reflects concerns about the school system. A small group of parents have continued their fight in federal court to overturn exam school admissions in 2020-2021. Eliminating METCO admission requirements for parents could change access.
With Medford teachers voting no confidence, a strike could be coming; the Massachusetts Teachers Association is advocating to legalize this.
Should there be a history MCAS?
New York and other cities are seeing charter enrollment patterns similar to Boston.
The dramatic decline of teenage mental health continues to garner attention. You don't need ChatGPT to put these two graphs together.
Social media usage by teenagers passed 50% in 2006; smartphone ownership passed 50% in 2014.
Another primer on the groundswell to change US literacy curricula, as it is now estimated that academic recovery will require five or more years for students. School and system leaders would be wise to study the effects and missed opportunities of ARRA (the stimulus funding in response to the Great Recession).
Student loan forgiveness is not the only federal initiative stalled by legal threat; USDOE disbanded its first ever family engagement council.
Other Matters
Our annual Boston enrollment analysis will be released next week:
RSVP
Taking Attendance: Boston's Enrollment, Implications, and Opportunities
Wednesday, December 14th
Noon