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Boston Public Schools Announces Next Steps in High School Redesign
Renewed Vision Includes Additional Coursework and Opportunities for Students to Graduate High School College and Career Ready
January 27, 2022 - Boston Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Brenda Cassellius outlined the next steps in the district’s High School Redesign initiative to deliver on a vision for an excellent and equitable education for every high school student, aligned with the district’s five-year strategic plan. The Superintendent provided the update at the January 26, 2022 Boston School Committee meeting.
Dr. Cassellius and her executive team shared with the Committee the action and progress that has taken place since 2020 when the original plan for High School Redesign was first announced and initiated. The plan’s areas of focus include: increasing academic rigor and expectations, adding access to enrichment activities including athletics and arts, updating and upgrading facilities to unlock and promote learning, and deepening family and community engagement by adding staff members and increasing support services.
“High school is an essential stepping stone for young people preparing for an enriching career and fulfilling life,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “We must ensure that every high school within BPS sees young people for who they are, gives them a voice in their own education, and guarantees safety and security for their students.”
“I am excited to see the next steps in our High School Redesign work,” said Boston School Committee Chairperson Jeri Robinson. “I have long said we needed a city-wide conversation about our high schools and the Superintendent and her team have been deeply engaged in that work for the past two years, focused on building a system of quality choices for students by enhancing the current work, directing strategic investments, and changing policy where needed to advance student access and achievement”.
“Despite the evolving challenges of the pandemic, BPS has made significant progress on our promise for High School Redesign and we are well placed to accelerate our efforts,” said BPS Superintendent Dr. Brenda Cassellius. “We will not stop until every high school in Boston provides the same level of access to high quality teaching and support services so that every student is ready for lifelong learning and success.”
Since May 2020 when High School Redesign was on the School Committee agenda, BPS took several steps to advance and enact policies to create more equitable opportunities for High School students, including:
- Passed the MassCore common graduation requirement for all high schools
- Passed equitable exam schools admissions policy
- Passed equitable attendance policies
- Identified equitable grading practices & drafted a comprehensive grading policy
- Revised the student Code of Conduct
- Passed a Student Data Privacy Policy
- Recorded 47 college and career pathways in 14 BPS secondary schools with 27 unique industry areas represented
- Expanded and launched 15 more career pathway programs
- Initiated International Baccalaureate (IB) applications at 8 high schools
- Added 44 teachers across 7 high schools in Pre-Advanced Placement (AP) & IB training
- Provided additional Instructional Facilitators, IB Coordinators, and IB/AP Directors
- Provided Family Liaisons, Social Workers and Full Time Nurse for every school
- Collaborated with career focused partners such as the Career Champions Network, MassInsight, CollegeBoard, New Skills Boston, Junior Achievement (JA3DE), and Succeed Boston
As part of the next phase of High School Redesign, Dr. Cassellius outlined a plan to add grades 7 and 8 to three high schools to take steps toward achieving the School Committee’s vision for fewer grade reconfigurations. The goal is to move to a PK-6 / 7-12 or PK-8/ 9-12 model to create fewer transitions for students, ensure more predictable pathways for families, eliminate the waitlist for preschool and provide our students with more co-curricular and athletic opportunities at an earlier age.
Dr. Cassellius outlined the following changes to advance this policy:
- English High School - Reconfigured to 7-12 starting September 2022
- Brighton High School - New addition to 7-12 expansion for September 2022
- Burke High School - New addition to 7-12 expansion for September 2022
- Trotter School - Reconfigured from a K-8 to a PK-6
- King School - Reconfigured from a K-8 to a PK-6
“Redesigning these High Schools is definitely going to have a significant impact on the education and future of our students,” said Amilcar Silva, Head of School at Burke High School. “The 7-12 reconfiguration will provide a longer runway and the opportunity to engage students in rigorous academic experiences, career pathways, and curricular activities including sports, arts, music, dance as well as other clubs. These experiences will enhance the development of self-confidence and identity, therefore helping them begin to imagine their future and to think about their careers.”
“The expansion of Brighton High is an exciting moment for students in Boston,” said Andrew Bott, Head of School at Brighton High School. “Now we are able to offer students six years of rigorous and engaging advanced courses. We can introduce students to career pathways beginning in 7th grade. Students can study multiple languages and take diverse course offerings in music, theater, and the visual arts. This expansion ensures access to a comprehensive, engaging, and enriching high school experience.”
BPS produced a short video to highlight the expansion at Burke and Brighton High Schools.
The addition of grades 7 and 8 to the high schools will allow for students to access a more well-rounded middle school experience in a secondary school with better equipped facilities and access to extracurricular activities and support services.
The reconfiguration of the two K-8 schools will allow for the addition of Pre-Kindergarten seats with a different utilization of the school facility, adding needed capacity to early childhood education.
This follows recent moves that took effect in September 2021, including:
- McCormack-BCLA School - Reconfigured to 7-12
- Charlestown High School - Reconfigured to 7-12
- East Boston High School - Reconfigured to add grade 7 (will add grade 8 in September 2022)
- Perry School shifted from K-8 to K-6
- Expansion from K-5 to K-6 at 15 schools
As part of the presentation, BPS highlighted additional efforts to bring more support to Students with Disabilities and students in English Learner programs, which included adding more classrooms that offer inclusion for students and expanding support for educators working with multilingual learners with a focus on achieving bilingual education.
BPS also announced the launching of Intervention Teams to three high schools:
- Charlestown
- Madison Park
- McKinley K-12
The Intervention Teams will include three appointments from the Boston Teachers Union, three appointments from the Superintendent, and one joint appointment. The team will specifically conduct a full assessment of Academics, Special Education, English Learner Programming, Staffing, Leadership, Facilities, Enrichment, and Student Support Services at each school and meet with school staff, families, and community members. They will deliver a plan to the Superintendent in four months.
Taken together, these policies and programs are part of the BPS Quality Guarantee for all students, and serve as the pillars for the district’s work to support students, families, and staff.