FYI from BSF, 3.20.20
Some things we have read through recently...
Recovery
Schools will reopen.
We don’t know when. It may be April 27. It may not be until the fall. That’s the case in Kansas. Dallas, too. More states and districts are likely to follow.
It is difficult to comprehend that a little less than a week ago, 1 Boston school was closed. By day’s end, all of them were closed for up to six weeks, setting off a massive community effort to ensure as many kids as possible would have a safe place to be, food to eat, and learning opportunities.
As emergency responses and deployment settle into a new normal, we are spending some time thinking about that first day back at school for Boston kids, whether it is in April or some day thereafter.
No answers, yet, but some questions.
How are decisions made about the best interests of kids and families? Are they “in the room” for those discussions and decisions? If not, who is and who is speaking for them?
How do we account for weeks and potentially months of learning loss? Kids, in general, get one shot at each grade. What do we owe them?
What resources will be needed for kids and staff for counseling/adjustment?
The gaps between schools and systems to communicate effectively with families, to provide technology and adequate and effective remote learning, and to coordinate social services was laid painfully bare. How do we avoid another equity fire drill?
What else did this crisis tell us about the limits and opportunities of our current systems and schools?
We hope our city can marshall the leadership and resources it takes not just to respond, but to recover and build.
School Matters
If you want to see a few exemplars (there are tons to choose from) of great hubs of school-based information:
If you need Boston school and family information, Boston School Finder has put together a great hub with frequent updates.
If you need resources and information for families (and are getting way, way too much already), sign up for EdNavigator’s One Great Thing for Tomorrow.
If you want to get money directly into the hands of Boston families that desperately need it now, go to Union Capital Boston’s COVID-19 Support Fund.
Notes in the Margin
This sudden break in routine and the annual planning process has thrown some big, important issues up in the air.
Implementation of the Student Opportunity Act - Deep in the weeds of municipal governance and finance, but COVID-19 has many towns and cities contemplating the need to simply extend this year’s budget into July with 1/12 increments, and the act’s April 1 report deadline seems to be moving. For some cities and towns, there are tens of millions of dollars on the table - of course, that is if the state can afford that given where tax revenue is probably headed.
Boston Public Schools Budget - As of the morning, BPS appears to still be moving ahead in presenting a budget assuming a massive increase in revenue (now +$80M) and staffing (+300 FTEs). But it is hard to project where the city general fund will be several months from now, with significant new expenses from COVID-19.
Exam School Admissions - Respondents to the RFP for a new exam school admissions test was due yesterday. What were the responses? Will there be time and capacity to have a new test by fall?
DESE-BPS Partnership - Following a “scathing” state review, the Commonwealth and Boston have agreed to a set of measures to improve and reform BPS. What’s next here?