Mayor Menino and BPS officials kick off the new school year

Today at the newly expanded TechBoston Academy in Dorchester, Mayor Thomas M. Menino and Superintendent Carol R. Johnson announced the beginning of the 2009-2010 school year for the Boston Public Schools (BPS) featuring a host of new and expanded programs designed to bolster students’ learning experiences.

Mayor Menino and Superintendent Johnson were joined by School Committee Chairperson Rev. Gregory G. Groover, Sr., Boston Teachers Union President Richard Stutman, as well as teachers, parents and students.

“This is going to be a wonderful school year for the kids of Boston, and we are eager to get going,” said Mayor Menino. “Students will find a lot has changed as teachers introduce new, creative programs meant to enhance their learning experiences. From the expanded Chef in Schools program to more K-8s and a re-engagement center designed to help students who have dropped out make a smooth transition back to school, I feel confident we’re ready to get this school year going.”

TechBoston Academy is an example of progress, having added 6th, 7th and 8th grades this year as the result of an increased interest for younger students in technology-focused education. TechBoston is an example of an effective upper school reaching down to younger grades that are in need, and the results have been remarkable. Most students pass the MCAS with flying colors; 40 percent have qualified for Massachusetts’ Adams Scholarship, which awards students pursuing a college education.

“The start of a new school year is always an exciting time in the city of Boston,” said Superintendent Johnson. “For so many reasons we are excited to welcome our students back to class. Innovative new programs await our students to help them prepare for college and beyond. The new TechBoston Academy is just one of many examples of the programs that are working in our schools.”

BPS also opens six new K-8 programs this year in what is perhaps the largest realignment of schools in Boston’s recent history. These schools are popular with parents, who are looking for a seamless K-8 experience for their children. Approximately 6,000 students will be accommodated at the following schools: the Edison School in Brighton; the King School in Dorchester; the Higginson/Lewis School in Roxbury; the Mildred Avenue School in Mattapan, all of which were middle schools expanded to K-8s this year; the Beethoven/Ohrenberger Schools in West Roxbury, and the Grew/Rogers Schools in Hyde Park.

Five new pilot schools, which permit a longer school day and the flexibility to try innovative ideas, will be taking in 2,000 new students this year. The Boston Teachers Union School in Jamaica Plain, the Haley School in Roslindale, the Lyon School in Brighton, TechBoston Academy in Dorchester, and Young Achiever in Mattapan, will accommodate these students.

Also this month the BPS Re-engagement Center will open to help students who have dropped out of school return to complete their education. BPS officials hope the center will help reduce the overall dropout rate and support former dropouts in making a successful re-entry to high school.

In addition to strong minds, students need to maintain healthy bodies. This year, the Chef in Schools program, which serves nutritional lunches that aren’t always available with traditional school lunches, has been expanded. The program was so successful in its first two years—a preliminary report by the Harvard School of Public Health praised the program for boosting participation in school lunch and access to healthy food—that it was expanded from three to a total of eight schools. As a result, over 3,000 students will be served even healthier meals every day.

Last month, the Boston Scholar Athlete Program was established as a multifaceted initiative with a mission to support academic achievement through athletics. The private-public partnership will bring together the significant resources of our city to help all BPS students excel on the field, in the classroom and after graduation.

BPS students entering grades 1 through 12 will be welcomed back to class Thursday, September 10. Kindergarten classes will begin Monday, September 14.

Watch the Superintendent's video message to BPS staff:

Visit the back-to-school page and download the fact sheet below.