FYI from BSF, 9.18.20
Some things we have read through recently…
School Reopening, Boston
With Boston families and kids getting ready for day 1 of remote learning 72 hours from now, this week’s School Committee featured a very robust update of BPS reopening plans.
There has been a chipping away at some core uncertainties for families - those electing hybrid instruction received assignments this week (sample email) and BPS has settled what students will receive priority in-person support.
Questions do remain. There are buses to figure out, and there are questions around technology access (unless your student is white) and remote learning systems. There has been outside activity and pressure to secure childcare options, but nothing systemic is being offered by the city; the fact that BPS is using a hybrid model at least swats away the incongruity of redeploying school buildings not deemed fit for school use for child care instead (and charging families).
With all these pressing, immediate needs it is easy to overlook a longer term concern: enrollment.
Over the summer and into August, we were hearing from schools that registrations seemed down. We had already written about there is some precedent for massive events hurting urban school enrollment.
In their presentation, BPS reported its current enrollment, showing a trend already in decline.
There are three issues to call out.
First, this number is slightly inflated. It includes the enrollment of Horace Mann (or “in-district”) charter schools such as Boston Day Evening Academy. These are autonomous schools that operate through an MOU with the district; they are not actually part of the district for enrollment, accountability etc. These schools served over 2,700 students last year. True reported BPS enrollment is closer to 51,000.
Second, these numbers are inconsistent with past reporting. In October 2019, SY16-17 enrollment was reported as almost 3,000 kids less than what was reported Wednesday for SY16-17. Which one is right?
Which brings us to the last point - what constitutes “enrollment” now? Typically, districts have a bit of grace period to figure this out, providing their enrollment figures as of October 1. This report is very, very important - it plays a significant role in driving state and federal funding, for starters.
But some BPS students won’t enter a building, if at all, until November 19th. If a student doesn’t show up on Zoom for the first weeks of school, is s/he enrolled? Does s/he count for planning and funding purposes?
Going back to 2004, Boston has been moving along a perilous financial path - more city schools (+charters), more staff (+12%), and less kids (-19%). If FY22 budgets report lower enrollment as public revenue becomes tighter, the current model could become distressed very quickly.
This is not very surprising or provocative - math and history raise this concern.
It is one thing to try to respond to an emergency; it is a whole other thing to have the leadership and foresight to avert one.
School Reopening MA, and Beyond
This week, most kids across Massachusetts had their first days in school and in school at home.
Teenagers antagonizing town elders is less harmless in the movies and without COVID-19 - ask Dedham, Dover-Sherborn, and Lincoln-Sudbury high school students and their families.
Sharon is one town still experiencing tension between teachers and district leaders.
MA health experts suggest a return to school if community transmission rates are low and schools have strong policies and execution for public health. This perhaps gives some insight to the local and nationwide trend of Black and Latinx students being more likely to be remote to start this school this year as COVID-19 has disportionately affected Black and Latinx Americans.
Initial concerns about COVID-19 containment at Boston College are now spreading to other MA colleges and universities.
With last minute changes, New York City and Mayor Bill deBlasio have redefined “tardy” for schools.
Politico has a good weekly education newsletter; this week’s topic was the effect of COVID-19 on early education.
Other Matters
Boston Families Building Boston Schools launched Tuesday. You can watch the video or go to https://schoolfactsboston.org to learn more and sign on.
A lot more ground was covered at School Committee, including sharing student information with Boston Police and limiting athletics.
An interview of a student mistakenly not admitted to a Boston exam school.
A new report shows that a surprising amount of state education funding is going to wealthy school districts.
In the first poll of the 2021 mayoral race, education ranked 5th as an issue (although there is likely overlap with COVID-19, the #1 issue by far).