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BPS receives feedback on school choice plans from more than 1,850 people

‘What we are hearing’ report to External Advisory Committee includes results from 14 meetings and online survey

October 23, 2012

A new report released Monday by BPS shows Boston families value walk zone priorities and believe the school choice system can be improved to create a student assignment system that’s more predictable, more fair, and continues to offer more quality schools throughout the city. Independent reports have also determined the current three-zone system does not balance quality and diversity across the city and has room for improvement.

A new report released Monday by Boston Public Schools shows Boston families value walk zone priorities and believe the school choice system can be improved to create a student assignment system that’s more predictable, more fair, and continues to offer more quality schools throughout the city. Independent reports have also determined the current three-zone system does not balance quality and diversity across the city and has room for improvement.

Through 14 community meetings, an online survey and a dedicated website, BPS has engaged more than 1,850 people to provide feedback on five models the district presented to the External Advisory Committee (EAC) on School Choice in late September. The EAC is a citywide group of individuals, appointed by Mayor Thomas M. Menino and Superintendent Carol R. Johnson to support the integrity of the community engagement process and to provide feedback to the district on proposed school choice plans as they are developed. Monday, BPS presented the EAC with a 164-page “what we are hearing” report to summarize the feedback so far. Among the highlights:

Mayor Menino and Superintendent Johnson announce proposal to transform Dorchester Elementary School

Plan calls for Marshall Elementary School to be expanded to K-8 while also operating as an in-district charter school

October 22, 2012

Mayor Thomas M. Menino and BPS Superintendent Carol R. Johnson announced a proposal that, if approved, would transform Dorchester’s John Marshall Elementary School into an in-district charter school. The proposal calls for Unlocking Potential, a Boston-based nonprofit school management organization, to partner with BPS to manage the school beginning in fall 2013.

Mayor Thomas M. Menino and Boston Public Schools (BPS) Superintendent Carol R. Johnson today announced a proposal that, if approved, would transform Dorchester’s John Marshall Elementary School into an in-district charter school. The proposal calls for Unlocking Potential, a Boston-based nonprofit school management organization, to partner with BPS to manage the school beginning in fall 2013.

“Unlocking Potential has an excellent track record in Boston, and I look forward to seeing this unique partnership again transform one of our schools,” said Mayor Menino. “UP Academy Dorchester will provide opportunities for even more Boston students to receive a high-quality educational experience, especially as we further expand it to a K-8 school in the coming years. I salute the efforts of the Boston Public Schools and Unlocking Potential.”

In 2010, Mayor Menino and Superintendent Johnson strongly advocated for the education reform law to include a provision for BPS to operate in-district charter schools. Since then BPS has opened three in-district charter schools, in addition to two Horace Mann Charters that already existed in the BPS network.

Council of the Great City Schools names Superintendent Johnson ‘Urban Education Leader of the Year’

Recognition includes a $10,000 scholarship for a BPS high school student

October 19, 2012

Superintendent Carol R. Johnson has received the nation’s highest honor for urban education leadership. In a ceremony Thursday, Johnson was awarded the 2012 Richard R. Green Award at the Council of the Great City Schools’ 56th Annual Fall Conference. Ten big-city school superintendents competed for the top prize in leadership, which is given in alternating years to an outstanding school board member and superintendent from 67 of the largest urban school systems in the country. The Green Award is named in honor of the first African-American chancellor of the New York City school system.

INDIANAPOLIS – Boston Public Schools (BPS) Superintendent Carol R. Johnson has received the nation’s highest honor for urban education leadership. In a ceremony Thursday, Johnson was awarded the 2012 Richard R. Green Award at the Council of the Great City Schools’ 56th Annual Fall Conference.

Ten big-city school superintendents competed for the top prize in leadership, which is given in alternating years to an outstanding school board member and superintendent from 67 of the largest urban school systems in the country. The Green Award is named in honor of the first African-American chancellor of the New York City school system.

Johnson this fall began her sixth year as Superintendent. She and the Boston School Committee have established an Acceleration Agenda to serve as a blueprint for school leaders, teachers, parents and the community to close achievement gaps and contribute to the advancement of every learner.

Proposals aimed to improve student assignment unveiled

Community meeting schedule set, online survey and interactive maps available

September 24, 2012

Boston Public Schools (BPS) has unveiled five maps that detail different options the city could adopt in an effort to dramatically change the way in which pre-K through 8th grade students are assigned to schools throughout the city. The proposals are the latest and perhaps the most significant step forward in the process to improve school choice, urged by Mayor Thomas M. Menino during his State of the City address in January. The overhaul aims to ensure students are attending schools closer to home to help create stronger communities.

Test date set for entrance to BPS advanced work classes

Registration deadline approaching

September 26, 2012

Boston Public Schools (BPS) announced today test dates for non-BPS students interested in enrolling in Advanced Work Class (AWC).

Boston Public Schools (BPS) announced today test dates for non-BPS students interested in enrolling in Advanced Work Class (AWC). AWC is a full-day program that provides an accelerated academic curriculum for students in grades 4, 5 and 6. The AWC program includes the same subjects as the regular education program; however, each subject is studied in more depth at an accelerated pace and requires the completion of more classroom work and homework by the student.

BPS will test students currently enrolled in grades 3, 4, and 5 at private, parochial, and charter schools for possible entrance into the Advanced Work Class Program beginning in September 2013. The TerraNova exam, third edition, is used to determine eligibility for the AWC program and the SUPERA exam for the Spanish AWC program. Registration materials will be available at all non-public schools in Boston, BPS Family Resource Centers, as well as branches of the Boston Public Library in mid-September. The deadline for registration is October 5, 2012.

BPS 10th graders score at highest level of proficiency in the history of the district’s administration of the MCAS

Boston students making greater gains than peers statewide

September 19, 2012

BPS students in grade 10 reached the highest levels of proficiency in the history of the district’s administration of the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) exam, according to results released today. The results of the Spring 2012 exams also show that the students made greater gains than their peers statewide.

BOSTON -- Boston Public Schools (BPS) students in grade 10 reached the highest levels of proficiency in the history of the district’s administration of the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) exam, according to results released today. The results of the Spring 2012 exams also show that the students made greater gains than their peers state-wide.

73% of 10th graders reached proficient and advanced in English Language Arts (ELA), an increase of 6 percentage points from 2011. Similarly, 65% of 10th graders reached proficient or advanced in Math, an increase of 3 percentage points. In comparison, the percentage of students who reached proficient and advanced state-wide increased 4 percentage points in 10th grade in ELA and 2 points in Math.

BPS school bus transportation hits 93% on-time

Same level of on-time performance took 26 weeks to reach last school year

September 17, 2012

Boston Public Schools (BPS) Superintendent Carol R. Johnson announced that school buses reached a 93% on-time performance mark Monday, a level of service that took 26 weeks to reach last school year.
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Boston Public Schools (BPS) Superintendent Carol R. Johnson announced that school buses reached a 93% on-time performance Monday, a level of service that took 26 weeks to reach last school year. Additionally, 97% of school buses arrived within 5 minutes of the school bell and 99% arrived within 10 minutes of the school bell. On Friday, on-time performance broke the 90% mark.

“This is proof that the changes we have made are working,” said Dr. Johnson. “We are all very much focused on doing all we can to ensure more of our buses arrive at school on-time, as soon as possible. While this is not an announcement of complete success it is important that we recognize the incredible progress we’ve made compared to last school year.”

The weekly-average for on-time performance was 87% on-time for the first full week of school, which included the first day of kindergarten, compared to 63% at the same time last year.

Mayor Menino, BPS and Boston Teachers Union reach tentative agreement on teachers’ contract

Agreement highlights city’s education priorities, includes added flexibility and reforms to teacher hiring, evaluations and compensation

September 12, 2012

Mayor Thomas M. Menino, in a joint press conference with Boston Public Schools Superintendent Carol R. Johnson and leaders of the Boston Teachers Union announced a tentative agreement was reached early Wednesday morning on a labor contract that reflects the city’s student-focused plan to improve academic quality, increase graduation rates, and close achievement gaps.

“This contract is a big step forward in taking our school system to the next level – it’s what’s best for our students, it works for our teachers, and is fair to our taxpayers,” Mayor Menino said. “Teachers will now have the support they need to perform, schools will have the flexibility they need to succeed, and most importantly, students will be closer to having the district they need to grow and compete.”

The six-year contract, retroactive to August 1, 2010, includes:

Test date set for entrance to city's exam schools

Registration deadline approaching

September 10, 2012

Boston Public Schools (BPS) will offer the Independent School Entrance Examination (ISEE) for entrance to the city's three examination schools on Saturday, November 3, 2012 at 8:30 a.m. at twelve locations across the city. The registration deadline is September 21, 2012.

Boston Public Schools (BPS) will offer the Independent School Entrance Examination (ISEE) for entrance to the city's three examination schools on Saturday, November 3, 2012 at 8:30 a.m. at twelve locations across the city. The registration deadline is September 21, 2012.

Students must currently be in grades 6, 8 and 9 to take the test. Interested candidates may obtain application materials from the principal/headmaster of his or her present school. Applications will also be available at the Boston Public Schools Family Resource Centers and all branches of the Boston Public Library.

The three exam schools are Boston Latin Academy, Boston Latin School, and John D. O'Bryant School of Mathematics & Science. New students are admitted to grades 7 and 9 at all three exam schools. John D. O'Bryant is the only exam school that accepts new students for grade 10.

U.S. Dept. of Education recognizes Fenway High School as a National Blue Ribbon School

Just four schools in Massachusetts win the designation; Fenway is the fourth BPS school in three years to earn this honor

September 7, 2012

The U.S. Department of Education has named Fenway High School as one of this year’s National Blue Ribbon Schools. The designation is given to schools that achieve overall academic excellence and have success in closing achievement gaps. This is the third consecutive year that a Boston Public School has received this honor. Last year, Boston Latin School earned the designation. In 2010, Boston Latin Academy and John D. O’Bryant School of Math and Science were recognized.

BOSTON – The U.S. Department of Education has named Fenway High School as one of this year’s National Blue Ribbon Schools. The designation is given to schools that achieve overall academic excellence and have success in closing achievement gaps.

This is the third consecutive year that a Boston Public School has received this honor. Last year, Boston Latin School earned the designation. In 2010, Boston Latin Academy and John D. O’Bryant School of Math and Science were recognized.

“We have long viewed Fenway High School as a leader in successfully educating a diverse group of learners,” said Superintendent Carol R. Johnson. “The students, teachers and leaders of this exemplary school have certainly earned this recognition and we applaud them.”

Fenway High School has a waiting list of approximately 700 students for its 320 seats. Earlier this year the Boston School Committee approved a plan to expand the school by more than a hundred students. Fenway will move into a fully renovated, state-of-the-art building in Mission Hill next year.

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