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Boston School Committee Approves Boston Public Schools Strategic Vision
The Boston School Committee approved the Boston Public Schools (BPS) 2020-2025 Strategic Vision presented by Superintendent Brenda Cassellius. The bold vision and concrete commitments within the plan will guide the work of the district over the next five years to improve student experiences and accelerate outcomes, close opportunity gaps, and increase instructional quality and rigor.
“I believe in a Boston where every single student has access to high quality schools, where our children are nurtured by supportive communities and equipped with the skills needed to reach their full potential,” said Mayor Martin J. Walsh. “Under the guidance of this strategic vision, BPS is well positioned to close the opportunity gaps that persist for too many of our students. We must meet the needs of our young people now if they are to flourish and exceed our expectations in the future.”
The Strategic Vision aims to accelerate the district’s efforts to offer an excellent, equitable, and highly relevant education for every student in every classroom across every neighborhood of Boston, and aligns all of BPS’ work into a cohesive vision.
“I believe in a Boston where every single student has access to high-quality schools, where our children are nurtured by supportive communities and equipped with the skills needed to reach their full potential”
- Mayor Martin J. Walsh
“This community-inspired vision reflects our shared expectation that every child deserves an excellent, high-quality and inspiring education,” said Superintendent Brenda Cassellius. "It provides a roadmap to transform the way we support our students by creating high expectations, building trusting relationships with our families and partners, and allocating resources to achieve better outcomes for every student in every school. Now it's time to roll up our sleeves and work to make our vision a reality, with equity at the heart of all we do, no matter our circumstance or current reality."
The six commitments outlined in the plan include:
(1) Eliminate Opportunity and Achievement Gaps
(2) Accelerate Learning
(3) Amplify All Voices
(4) Expand Opportunity
(5) Cultivate Trust
(6) Activate Partnerships
Each commitment is tied to a set of priorities and progress will be measured by clear and measurable goals. The plan aspires to lift up and support schools, starting with those most in need, increase academic rigor in all grades across all schools, improve funding equity in the way resources are distributed, and provide deeper engagement with students and families.
Boston Public Schools budget proposal was approved by the Boston School Committee on March 25th and is now before the City Council. The $1.26 billion budget directly supports the strategic plan -- designed to improve academic outcomes, promote deeper levels of student engagement, bolster professional development and training for teachers, and increase support and service to families. Additionally, because of the reliability provided by Mayor Walsh’s historic three-year, $100 million investment, the district is now able to strategically plan intensive, targeted investments that will support students and educators of every school, starting with those with the highest need.
“The Boston School Committee is proud to adopt the 2020-2025 Strategic Vision for the Boston Public Schools,” said Boston School Committee Chairperson Michael Loconoto. “Just as authentic input from the BPS community was critical to the plan’s development, our collective support and continuous feedback will also be critical to the plan’s successful implementation. The strength and coherence of the Strategic Vision paved the way for Mayor Walsh’s historic investment of $100 million in new funding for BPS over the next three years - dollars that will go directly to students and services supporting students.”
The draft strategic plan was developed and informed by the Superintendent’s robust community engagement tour during the fall of 2019, followed by continued engagement through a 30-day public comment period earlier this year where community members reviewed and commented on the plan. The recommendations build upon the Boston School Committee's current strategic plan, which was created through a community-driven process in 2013, 2014 and 2015.
