FYI from BSF, 7.19.24

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Summer Reading

Boston held one of its summertime School Committee meetings on Wednesday.  Full materials here, including an overview of the Superintendent’s annual evaluation and an inventory of summer facilities work.  The White Stadium renovation was approved by the BPDA last night, but there may be continued legal obstacles.

What about new school buildings?  BPS released an RFP to hire a consultant to help to create a facilities plan, the latest in 7 years of iteration.

A new working paper asserts that there are long-term negative academic and economic impacts of closing schools.

Boston Indicators displays the decline and shifts in Boston's public school children population.

More coverage of summer learning, and there are federal and city funds to continue universal meal access until school starts again in the fall.    

A new report builds on previous research/released data related to the MCAS high school graduation requirement.

Inside the data of Massachusetts vocational education applications and admissons.

A new report calls for charter schools nationally to improve access for students with special needs, although Massachusetts is cited as an exception/model.

Gone are the days of the sometime “phone call from your teacher.”  Technology means more communication, and more data on what is being said.  Apparently, it is mostly “don’t forget about the field trip” or a thumbs up emoji.

Long form piece that questions whether or not the Commonwealth is still carrying the mantle as the leader in American public education. 

Another profile of how Richmond, VA has dramatically improved school attendance.

Backed by new state aid, enrollment in community colleges is up.  Will the graph below start sloping up, too?

Even more funding is on the way, given reports of the compromise Massachusetts budget, which includes more money for early child care paid for by a new online lottery.  So continues our curious tradition of pursuing equitable social policy through regressive means.