FYI from BSF, 4.24.20

Loyal readers know we typically don’t write during school vacations, but that appears to not apply now…

Good Fences Make Good Neighbors?

Tuesday, Governor Baker announced all schools in Massachusetts will be closed for the remainder of the school-year.  Additional state guidance will be provided on remote learning.  There are now 41 states with schools closed or recommended to close for the remainder of the academic year.

Students in Massachusetts will lose approximately 60 school-days - about 1/3 of their time in school this year.  

Holding aside the myriad other questions and concerns, we are in uncharted territory for student learning loss.  There was some research into the effects of school closure due to Hurricane Sandy, as an example.

But sizing COVID-19’s effects is muddied by the fact that different communities and different states have different expectations for academic activity.

Inequity and variance in expectations, support, and outcomes between and within school districts was clear when children were actually in school buildings.  

Now, we are doing it from home.

This crisis is not “changing” schooling; it is amplifying its current attributes. 

Our education inequity curve is likely bending each day.

Notes in the Margin

Late last Friday afternoon, BPS and BTU released a remote learning agreement.  Both the Superintendent and President of the BTU ran op-eds in the Globe the next day.

You can see how states are responding to remote learning (and how Massachusetts stacks up) here.

School closures are creating a tough time for high school seniors, particularly our highest needs students, as seen in an in-depth profile of a student with autism.

Remote learning is also particularly difficult for immigrant families. 

Experts are pondering the impacts of social distancing on child development.

US News and World Report released their annual high school rankings.

There is widespread thinking that higher education could be seriously damaged by the COVID-19 crisis.  One potential leading indicator - FAFSA applications are down.

School Matters

Wednesday was Administrative Professionals Appreciation Day, and schools were thoughtful in their (remote) thanks to school secretaries and office managers.